Symptoms rarely appear in the early stages, but as the disease progresses, many signs appear; they also differ depending on the severity. All symptoms tend to develop slowly. These signs and symptoms include: fatigue, unexplained weight gain, puffy face, muscle weakness, aches, tenderness, and stiffness, elevated blood cholesterol level, slowed heart rate, depression, impaired memory, and many more. When a case of hypothyroidism turns severe, it is known as myxedema, which can be life-threatening. Constant stimulation of the thyroid can make matters worse, by causing the thyroid to become enlarged. Untreated hypothyroidism can lead to heart …show more content…
In fact, most older women are tested for the disorder when they have routine annual physicals. The process of diagnosis depends on the symptoms experienced and the outcomes of blood tests; the blood tests issued measure the amount of TSH and the thyroid hormone, thyroxine. High levels of TSH combined with low levels of thyroxine reveal an underactive thyroid. TSH is made by the pituitary gland in order to trigger the thyroid gland to produce more hormones. After you’ve been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, you will routinely take blood tests to determine the appropriate quantity of medication.
Treatment is usually effective, though commonly lifelong, with dosages always fluctuating. Synthetic hormones, customarily levothyroxine, levothroid, or synthroid, are taken daily. These synthetic hormones revive sufficient hormone levels, which can stop signs and symptoms. Within 1-2 weeks, most patients start feeling less fatigued, and steadily cholesterol levels are lowered and weight gain will diminish. Too much medication can cause insomnia, increased appetite, shakiness, and heart