Hypothyroidism is a relatively typical medical condition and approximately 3% to 5% of the population have it.

It is marked by a deficiency of thyroid hormones that may directly or indirectly include the thyroid gland.

Here are some of the key causes of hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism Causes

One of the significant reason behind hypothyroidism is the hereditary condition named Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. It is an autoimmune condition wherein the immune system assaults the thyroid gland. As a result, the thyroid gland becomes enlarged and has a reduced ability to make thyroid hormones. Females are 5 to 10 times more likely to have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis than males, thus making them a lot more prone to hypothyroiditis.

Iodine deficiency may also bring about an under active thyroid. Iodine is an important major component in the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine and for that reason deficiency of it in the body can cause difficulties in the production of these important hormones.

One more cause of an under active thyroid is a condition of the thyroid glands called lymphocytic thyroiditis. A white blood cell called lymphocyte causes the swelling of the thyroid glands. This is very common after giving birth, affecting 8% of women soon after childbirth. The condition will be started by a hyperthyroid period where the thyroid gland produces too much amounts of thyroid hormones. It is followed by the hypothyroid phase that may go on as much as six months.

Ironically, a few treatments may also result in hypothyroidism. Iodine-131, a radioisotope of iodine that is utilized to help remedy a thyroid condition called Graves’ disease, can greatly affect the thyroid gland. Other medications which are used to cure hyperthyroidism could also cause an under active thyroid as well such as methimazole and propylthiouracil. The psychiatric medication lithium and drugs containing large amounts of iodine like amiodarone and potassium iodide may also change the thyroid function, resulting  in the hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism that not directly involves the thyroid glands are classified as secondary and tertiary hypothyroidism. This happens when there is problem in the pituitary glands and the hypothalamus, respectively, and they can’t signal the thyroid glands to make enough hormones. This happens when the pituitary glands are unable to release thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), usually because of a tumor in the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus.

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Hypothyroidism Disease

Hyporthyroidism is a disease that’s characterized by limited production of thyroid hormones by the thyroid glands. Although iodine deficiency could cause this condition, much of the time it’s a consequence of an underlying disorder. Most of them are autoimmune conditions, where the immune system assaults the person’s own body parts, and in the matter of hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism is a very significant health concern since it involves other systems of the body. Below are a few of the conditions that are typically connected with hypothyroidism.

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disease that is indicated by hyperthyroidism, the contrary condition of hypothyroidism, wherein the thyroid glands makes too much thyroid hormones. People who have Graves’ disease have a malfunctioning immune system that produces antibodies that act like thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), causing the thyroid gland to create too much. Treating Graves’ disease entails the use of antithyroid medications, iodine-131 (a radioisotope of iodine), or thyroidectomy, which basically inhibits or fully gets rid of the thyroid gland. This in turn will result in the hypothyroid state of those who have Graves’ disease.

An additional autoimmune condition that is associated with hypothyroidism is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. It is among the most common cause of hypothyroidism in North America. In this ailment, the immune system directly assaults the thyroid gland, mistaking it as a foreign body and causing its destruction. In this case, antibodies like leukocytes interrupt thyroid peroxidase, thyroglobulin, and TSH receptors. This may lead  to the inflammation and subsequently, the devastation of the thyroid gland thus creating the hypothyroid state. It’s also theorized that this ailment is genetic.

An additional autoimmune condition that is also related with hypothyroidism is Addison’s disease. Addison’s disease is an endocrine condition wherein the adrenal glands produce not enough levels of cortisol and aldosterone. At times, this condition develops together with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This disorder is called Schmidt’s syndrome. Besides the symptoms of Addison’s disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, individuals who have Schmidt’s syndrome may also develop immunoglobulin A deficiency, vitiligo, sarcoidosis, type 2 diabetes, alopecia, myasthenia gravis, Graves’ disease, pure red cell aplasia, or pernicious anemia.

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