Hypothyroidism refers to any state that results in a deficiency of thyroid hormone, including diseases of the hypothalamus or pituitary gland and generalized tissue resistance to thyroid hormone, as well as disorders that affect the thyroid gland directly.
Thyroid hormones are part of the communication system of the human body. Controlled by the central nervous system (the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary gland), the thyroid gland secretes thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Thyroid hormone production is dependent upon an adequate intake of dietary iodine. The thyroid gland takes up the amount that it needs for hormone production; the rest is excreted by the kidneys.
Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disorder affecting 1.4% to 2.0% of women and 0.1% to 0.2% of men.
The principle of care for hypothyroidism is to replace the body with thyroid hormone that it is not able to manufacture for itself.
The Medifocus Guide on Hypothyroidism provides answers to the following important questions and medical issues:
What are the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism?
Are there any recognized risk factors for developing hypothyroidism?
What kinds of medical tests are used to establish the diagnosis of hypothyroidism?
What is the current standard of care for the treatment of hypothyroidism?
What treatment options are available for the management of hypothyroidism?
Are there any promising new developments or potential breakthroughs in treatment?
Who are the most notable medical authorities who specialize in hypothyroidism?
Where are the leading hospitals and centers of research for hypothyroidism?
What are the most important questions to ask my doctor about hypothyroidism?
What Your Doctor Reads:
This MediFocus Guide contains an extensive listing of citations and abstracts of recent journal articles that have been published about this condition in trustworthy medical journals. This is the same type of information that is available to physicians and other health care professionals. A partial selection of journal articles that are abstracted in this MediFocus Guide includes:
Update on the management of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Archives of Family Medicine. 2000
Hyperthyroidism after hypothyroidism. Southern Medical Journal. 2000
Primary hypothyroidism masquerading as hepatic encephalopathy: case report and review of the literature. Postgraduate Medical Journal. 2000
Genetic aspects of central hypothyroidism. Journal of Endocrinological Investigation. 2000
Update on the management of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Archives of Internal Medicine. 2000
Diagnosing and treating hypothyroidism. Nurse Practitioner. 2000
Recent advances in understanding the molecular basis of primary congenital hypothyroidism. Molecular Medicine Today. 2000
Congenital hypothyroidism: etiologies, diagnosis, and management. Thyroid. 1999
Hypothyroxinemia in premature infants: is thyroxine treatment necessary?. Thyroid. 1999
Maternal hypothyroidism: recognition and management. Thyroid. 1999
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