Pearl Wise

If the thyroid is not producing enough of the hormone called T4, then the gland is under-active or hypothyroid. Sometimes the thyroid produces enough T4, but there’s not enough of it being converted into T3; this is also hypothyroidism. If T3’s mirror hormone, RT3, is being made in excessively large amounts, that also creates a hypothyroid state. Blood tests can determine each of these scenarios, but many doctors are only concerned about T4. If tests reveal low T4, then the patient is prescribed synthetic T4 (levothyroxine) and sent on his/her way. For some patients, this is all they need, but others require more help.

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When testing for T3, most doctors test for total T3, which includes both T3 and RT3, so there’s no way to know if a person has too much RT3 and not enough T3. If the test is in the normal range, then it’s assumed that the person is converting T4 to T3 in normal amounts, which isn’t always the case.

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When physicians talk of hypothyroidism, they are usually referring to one of two main types: autoimmune hypothyroidism and non-autoimmune hypothyroidism. Autoimmune hypothyroidism is by far the most common type.

 

Autoimmune Hypothyroidism, commonly called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, occurs when the immune system attacks the thyroid gland. The exact cause of this condition is unknown, but it often presents alongside other types of autoimmune diseases like diabetes, celiac disease, and Addison's disease. Like most forms of hypothyroidism, there are usually no symptoms in the early stages of the disease.

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Non-Autoimmune Hypothyroidism is under-active thyroid function that's not caused by an underlying disease. In other words, the primary disease is hypothyroidism itself. The main causes of this condition are long-term lack of exercise, and long-term poor diet. Chronic alcohol consumption and smoking can also contribute to this condition.

 

Other types of hypothyroidism can generally be considered sub-types of the main two we just discussed.

 

Euthyroid Sick Syndrome, occurs when there is hypothyroid dysfunction caused by a sudden severe illness, or a long-standing chronic illness. Low T3 is more common in ESS, but low T4 production can happen in people that suffer from lengthy illnesses.
 

Maternal Hypothyroidism is low-thyroid function that is present during pregnancy. It can begin with the pregnancy, but is most often already present in the mother prior to her pregnancy. Sometimes only the mother is affected with maternal hypothyroidism, sometimes both the mother and the fetus are affected, and sometimes only the fetus is affected, which is called fetal hypothyroidism. Children born with hypothyroidism have congenital hypothyroidism.

 

Symptoms of hypothyroidism are numerous. Here are some of the most common:

• Fatigue

• Cold hands and feet

• Constipation

• Muscle weakness

• Puffy face

• Uncontrolled weight gain

• Intolerance to exercise

• Thinning eyebrows

• Head-hair loss