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Recall the importance of homeostasis for optimal functioning of all body processes and systems.
Endocrine disorders in general usually result from having an under-secretion or over-secretion of hormones.
This includes the thyroid gland and the importance of having the correct amount of thyroid hormones (such as T3, T4, and calcitonin) in the bloodstream and targeting body cells at any given time.
Hypothyroidism results from an under-active thyroid. It is a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones (T3, T4 and/or calcitonin).
Causes for hypothyroidism may include:
dietary iodine deficiency (Iodine is required for the thyroid gland to produce T3 and T4, and therefore it is important to have a small amount of iodine in your diet);
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (an autoimmune disease that attacks otherwise healthy thyroid tissue)
surgical removal of the thyroid gland;
and other damage to the thyroid gland, such as the use of radiation treatment for cancers of the head and neck
Hypothyroidism can be treated with medication that restores homeostasis with synthetic thyroid hormones.
Figure 10. Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism
Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism; Mikael Häggström; Public domain; https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Signs_and_symptoms_of_hypothyroidism.png
Read more about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of hypothyroidism at the Mayo Clinic website (click here).
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