Hypothyroidism is an endocrine disorder in which your thyroid gland does not produce consistent hormone levels for your body. Left untreated, it can cause a number of physically uncomfortable symptoms. If you think that you may be suffering from hypothyroidism, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor who will either conduct tests or refer you to an endocrinologist.
How is Hypothyroidism Diagnosed?
If a doctor suspects that a patient may have hypothyroidism, he or she will then conduct tests in order to definitively establish a diagnosis. The most common diagnostic method is a TSH test. The test looks for TSH levels in the blood in order to measure thyroid activity. Elevated levels of TSH usually indicate that a patient has hypothyroidism.
If the initial test results are unclear, then the doctor may conduct a T4 test, which measures the actual amount of thyroid hormone circulating in the patient's blood stream. A patient with hypothyroidism will have a T4 level that is well below normal parameters.
In some cases, a thyroid antibody test may be necessary. This is a way to look for the presence of thyroid antibodies in the patient's blood. You will probably only need this test if your doctor or endocrinologist thinks that your hypothyroidism is caused by another thyroid disorder called Hashimoto's disease.
What Medications are Prescribed for Hypothyroidism?
Most doctors will prescribe synthetic thyroid hormones to patients with clinical hypothyroidism. Synthetic thyroxine is reasonably priced and readily available in most pharmacies and drug stores across the country. The prescribed dose must be taken daily in order to keep the patient's hypothyroidism under control. Patients will have a dosage prescribed to them based on their weight and age. This dose can be adjusted over time and as needed. If you are given a prescription for synthetic thyroxine, you will be regularly tested to make sure that the treatment is working. Another TSH test is usually administered six to eight weeks after beginning the treatment regime. The dosage is then adjusted and another blood test is performed at six months. Annual tests after this point will be enough to monitor a patient's TSH levels in most cases. If your TSH levels are elevated but not too far off from normal levels, then your endocrinologist or doctor may diagnose you with subclinical hypothyroidism. Either may then choose to regularly monitor your TSH levels instead of prescribing medication.
With treatment and medical supervision, most people diagnosed with hypothyroidism will live normal lives. While the initial onset of hypothyroidism can be frightening for some patients, there are many hypothyroidism remedies, and treatment and control is within relatively easy reach.
