Abstract

A REVIEW ARTICLE ON HYPOTHYROIDISM

Dr. Indu Mundel*, Dr. Ravi Sharma and Dr. Kamlesh Kumar Sharma

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Abstract

One clinical condition that primary care doctors frequently see is hypothyroidism. Infertility, dyslipidemia, hypertension, cognitive decline, and neuromuscular dysfunction can all be exacerbated by untreated hypothyroidism. An estimated one in three Americans suffers from hypothyroidism, according to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The prevalence is higher in females than in males, and it rises with age. Primary gland failure or insufficient pituitary or hypothalamic stimulation of the thyroid gland can also result in hypothyroidism. The most frequent cause of hypothyroidism in the US is autoimmune thyroid disease. Hypothyroidism can present with nonspecific, modest clinical signs, particularly in older adults. Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone testing is the most effective laboratory test for evaluating thyroid function. There is no proof that screening adults who don’t have symptoms leads to better results. Oral administration of synthetic levothyroxine can alleviate symptoms in most people, and most patients will need lifelong treatment. It is not advised to use combination triiodothyronine/thyroxine therapy as it offers no benefits over thyroxine monotherapy. Among patients with subclinical hypothyroidism, those with raised thyroid peroxidase antibody titres and thyroid-stimulating hormone level above 10mlU/l are at higher risk of developing clinical illness and may be candidates for treatment.

Keywords: Hypothyroidism, hypertension, Subclinical hypothyroidism.