Hypothyroidism In Women: Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Hypothyroidism in women

Hypothyroidism is a dangerous disease of the endocrine system, which is characterized by a decrease in the production of the required amount of hormones by the thyroid gland. Usually this is due to either pathological changes in the body that negatively affect the hormonal background, or with malfunctions of the gland itself.

Hypothyroidism in women is a fairly common disease, especially in old age, but it is very often diagnosed in the later stages. This is due to the insignificance of the manifestation of symptoms, which are often perceived as the result of overwork.

Content:

• Signs of hypothyroidism in women
• Features of hypothyroidism in women
• Causes and types of hypothyroidism in women
• Hypothyroidism during pregnancy
• Treatment of hypothyroidism in women

Signs of hypothyroidism in women

Most women do not associate feeling unwell with symptoms of the disease and attribute their condition to fatigue or short-term illness.

The main signs of hypothyroidism in women include:

• sudden unreasonable changes in a woman's weight;
• violation of the menstrual cycle;
• constant fatigue, apathy, powerlessness;
• systematic headaches, tension in joints and muscles;
• numbness of the limbs;
• decreased libido;
• change in appearance, swelling and puffiness of the face;
• lethargy, forgetfulness;
• changes in body temperature;
• decreased appetite, constipation;
• tendency to frequent infectious diseases;
• ringing in the ears, blurred vision;
• hoarseness, snoring during sleep.

Hypothyroidism has a negative effect on heart function. Patients exhibit a slowdown in heart rate up to 60 beats per minute. The negative effect on the menstrual cycle is expressed in irregular heavy periods or their complete cessation.

Features of hypothyroidism in women

Since the disease is mostly latent, a woman may experience manifestations such as changes in cholesterol levels, increased blood pressure. Often, latent hypothyroidism is expressed by slight tingling in the hands or neck and can be mistaken for cervical osteochondrosis.

Also, hypothyroidism negatively affects the functioning of the nervous system, which can cause severe headaches and sudden attacks of fear. These symptoms are often associated with cerebral atherosclerosis, which leads to incorrect, unsuccessful treatment and significant progression of the disease.

Causes and types of hypothyroidism in women

Depending on the characteristics of the disease, 3 forms of hypothyroidism are distinguished:

• congenital;
• primary;
• secondary.

The congenital form of hypothyroidism is observed from birth, and girls are most prone to this type of disease. The cause of the disease is genetic disorders in the body. This form of the disease poses a danger to the newborn. Hypothyroidism significantly inhibits the development of the infant's central nervous system and has a negative effect on his psychomotor functions.

The primary form of hypothyroidism in women occurs due to a malfunction of the endocrine system. The main cause of the disease is a pathological change in the functions of the thyroid gland after various inflammatory diseases and iodine deficiency. In rare cases, primary hypothyroidism is caused by cancer and chronic infections.

Secondary hypothyroidism develops when the pituitary gland is dysfunctional or its congenital abnormalities. In the patient's body, there is a decrease in the amount of thyroid hormones and an intensive extinction of the thyroid gland. The main causes of secondary hypothyroidism include brain trauma and malfunctioning of the pituitary gland caused by various tumors.

Hypothyroidism during pregnancy

Pregnant women are rarely exposed to this disease. The low incidence in this period is explained by the fact that the presence of an advanced form of hypothyroidism before pregnancy often leads to infertility.

While carrying a child, the symptoms of the disease are accepted as usual ailments of pregnant women.

Common signs of hypothyroidism can be joined by:

• yellowness and severe swelling of the face;
• convulsions;
• hair loss;
• drowsiness;
• dry skin;
• constipation and nausea.

The development of hypothyroidism during pregnancy poses the greatest danger to the fetus. This disease has a negative effect on the development of the child's brain and interferes with its normal formation and functioning. However, after the birth of a baby, the disease detected in time can be corrected, which gives positive predictions for a speedy recovery.

In the case of an untreated disease in the mother at the time of pregnancy, the formation of the fetal nervous system is exposed to an insufficient supply of thyroid hormones. This can lead to deficiencies in the nutrients needed for brain development and irreversible mental impairment.

Treatment of hypothyroidism in women

An important factor that has a positive effect on recovery is proper nutrition of the patient. It is recommended to eat a high protein diet and limit the amount of carbohydrates and fats. Excellent results are brought by a full-value diet, enriched with iodine.

On the subject: Diet for a week with hypothyroidism

The most effective treatment for hypothyroidism is therapy with medications that contain thyroid hormones. The preparations consist of the thyroid gland of animals, specially processed and ground into powder.

The maximum content of hormones in the preparation, which is not enough for the patient's thyroid gland, has a beneficial effect on the course of treatment. The systematic use of thyroid hormones compensates for their deficiency in the body and promotes a rapid healing process.

Also, effective results are brought by the appointment of a drug called triiodothyronine by an endocrinologist. It is based on valuable hormonal substances of the thyroid gland, which are obtained in laboratories by a synthetic method. The action of this drug is rapid, and after a day there is a significant improvement in the patient's condition.

Hypothyroidism is an unpleasant and difficult disease. In the absence of proper treatment, serious malfunctions in the body can occur, which are fraught with a dangerous hypothyroid coma. However, high-quality and timely treatment with modern drugs prevents the progression of the disease and provides favorable prognosis for recovery.

The author of the article: Kuzmina Vera Valerievna | Endocrinologist, nutritionist

Education: Diploma of the Russian State Medical University named after NI Pirogov with a degree in General Medicine (2004). Residency at Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, diploma in Endocrinology (2006).