• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Patient Education

• Highlights
• Introduction
• Causes
• Symptoms
• Diagnosis
• Risk Factors
• Complications
• Treatment
• Resources
• References

Hypothyroidism

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of hypothyroidism.

Alternative Names

Autoimmune thyroiditis; Hashimoto's thyroiditis

Symptoms

Early Symptoms. Early symptoms of hypothyroidism are subtle and, in older people, can be easily mistaken for symptoms of stress or aging. They include:

• Chronic fatigue
• Sensitivity to cold
• Headache
• Muscle and joint aches
• Weight gain, despite diminished appetite
• Constipation
• Dry skin

In premenopausal women, early symptoms can interfere with fertility. They may experience heavy periods or, in rare cases, a milky discharge from the breasts. A history of miscarriage may be a sign of impending hypothyroidism. Studies suggest that even if thyroid levels are normal, women who have a history of miscarriages often have antithyroid antibodies during early pregnancy and are at risk for developing autoimmune thyroiditis over time.

Later Symptoms. As free thyroxine levels fall over the following months, other symptoms may develop:

• Impaired mental activity, including concentration and memory, particularly in the elderly.
• Depression. Some experts believe that even mild thyroid failure may increase susceptibility to major depression.
• Muscle weakness, numbness, pain, and cramps. This can cause an unsteady gait. Muscle cramps are common, and carpal tunnel syndrome or symptoms similar to arthritis sometimes develop. In some cases, the arms and legs may feel numb.
• Numbness in the fingers.
• Hearing loss.
• Husky voice.
• Continuing weight gain and possible obesity, in spite of low appetite.
• Some people experience less sweating, and their skin becomes pale.
• Skin and hair changes. Skin becomes pale, rough, and dry. Patients may sweat less. Hair coarsens and even falls out. Nails become brittle.
• Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (a condition in which in the soft palate in the throat collapses at intervals during sleep, thereby blocking the passage of air).

Symptoms of Secondary (Pituitary-Related) Hypothyroidism

Secondary hypothyroidism, caused by tumors or other growths on the pituitary, produces the usual symptoms of primary hypothyroidism. In addition, sexual drive and fertility may be impaired in both men and women. Patients may also feel exhausted, crave salt, and have low blood pressure. Headaches and visual disturbances may develop, which are directly related to the pituitary tumor.

Symptoms in Infants and Children

All babies are now screened for hypothyroidism in order to prevent retardation that can occur if treatment is delayed. Symptoms of hypothyroidism in children vary depending on when the problem first develops.

• Most children who are born with a defect that causes congenital hypothyroidism have no obvious symptoms. Symptoms that do appear in newborns may include jaundice (yellowish skin), noisy breathing, and an enlarged tongue.
• Early symptoms of undetected and untreated hypothyroidism in infants include feeding problems, failure to thrive, constipation, hoarseness, and sleepiness.
• Later on, symptoms in untreated children include protruding abdomens; rough, dry skin; and delayed teething. Rarely, in advanced cases, yellow raised bumps (called xanthomas ) may appear under the skin, the result of cholesterol build-up.
• If they do not receive proper treatment in time, children with hypothyroidism may be extremely short for their age, have a puffy, bloated appearance, and have below-normal intelligence. Any child whose growth is abnormally slow should be examined for hypothyroidism.

• Review Date: 4/19/2006
• Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, M.D., Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.