What is it?

• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) is a condition in which your thyroid gland doesn't produce enough of certain important hormones.
• Women, especially those older than age 50, are more likely to have Hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism upsets the normal balance of chemical reactions in your body. It seldom causes symptoms in the early stages, but, over time, untreated Hypothyroidism can cause a number of health problems, such as Obesity, joint pain, Infertility and Heart Disease.
• The good news is that accurate thyroid function tests are available to diagnose Hypothyroidism, and treatment of Hypothyroidism with synthetic thyroid hormone is usually simple, safe and effective once the proper dosage is established.

How do I regognise it?

• Fatigue
• Sluggishness
• Increased sensitivity to cold
• Constipation
• Pale, dry skin
• A puffy face
• Hoarse voice
• An elevated blood cholesterol level
• Unexplained weight gain
• Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness
• Pain, stiffness or swelling in your joints
• Muscle weakness
• Heavier than normal menstrual periods
• Brittle fingernails and hair
• Depression

Causes

When your thyroid doesn't produce enough hormones, the balance of chemical reactions in your body can be upset. There can be a number of causes, including autoimmune disease, treatment for Hyperthyroidism, radiation therapy, thyroid surgery and certain medications.

How do you treat it?

Like any disease, even if there is no cure, there is almost always something you can do to manage it and take control. There are three main areas involved in the treatment of any disease:

• Conventional medicines
• Complementary medicines
• Complementary therapies

For information on medicines and therapies relevant to Hypothyroidsim, make an appointment at Lynch's Pharmacy, Broadale, Douglas, Cork on 021-4366923.

Learn all about the drugs used to treat the disease and any complementary medicines or therapies proven to help. Equip yourself with the tools to manage the condition and not be managed by it.

How do you live with it?

Certain adjustments may be needed to get on with your life, and often, some simple tips and advice can go a long way to making these changes. 

When you come to a Lynch's Pharmacy Clinic, we give you all the necessary information available to make your life more manageable and allow you to better live with your condition.

References

Hypothyroidism-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism, a comprehensive review                                                                                                                                                      http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hypothyroidism/DS00353

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/hypothyroidism-underactive-thyroid