Myths and Facts About Hypothyroidism

Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the lower part of your neck. It makes thyroid hormones that help you use energy and stay warm. They also keep your brain, heart, muscles, and other organs running normally.

If you have hypothyroidism, your thyroid gland doesn't make enough thyroid hormones to do its job right.

It's more common in women, especially if you're over 50. Still, you can have low thyroid levels at any age. Even babies and older children can have an underactive thyroid.

Fatigue, weight gain, numbness and tingling in your hands and, yes, always feeling cold can all be signs that you have low thyroid levels. Symptoms tend to come on slowly over a few years.

Hypothyroidism can be tricky to diagnose because your symptoms can look like other conditions.Bloodtests that check how well your thyroid gland is working are the only way to know for sure if you've got it.

Your doctor will also check for other signs of the condition, like dry skin, hair loss, and a hoarse voice.

When someone has an autoimmune disease, the immune system attacks and destroys healthy cells in the body. Some people make proteins that incorrectly attack their thyroid gland, which can lead to hypothyroidism. Hashimoto's disease and other autoimmune diseases are the major causes of hypothyroidism.

Other reasons for the condition include removal of part or all of the thyroid, radiation treatment, and too much or too little iodine in your diet.

You can't cure hypothyroidism, but with the right dose of medicine, you'll start to feel better and symptoms typically go away. People with the condition take daily pills to replace the hormones that their thyroid can't make. 

It may take a few tries to get the dose right. If you don't get enough replacement hormone, you may still have symptoms. If you get too much, your thyroid might become overactive (hyperthyroidism).

Without treatment, you may have a higher risk of heart disease. That's because people with hypothyroidism may have high levels of LDL "bad" cholesterol, which can cause fatty deposits in your arteries.

There's nothing you can do to prevent the condition. But be on the lookout for symptoms, and see your doctor if you're concerned.

With the right treatment, you can manage the disease and live a normal and healthy life.