Thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland that is normally located in the lower front of the neck. Thyroid’s job is to make thyroid hormones, which are secreted into the blood and then carried to every tissue in the body. Thyroid hormone helps the body use energy, stay warm and keep the brain, heart, muscles, and other organs working as they should.What is hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism is an under active thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism means that the thyroid gland can’t make enough thyroid hormone to keep the body running normally. People get hypothyroid if they have too little thyroid hormone in the blood. Common causes are autoimmune disease, surgical removal of thyroid, and radiation treatment.

SYMPTOMS

What are the symptoms? When thyroid hormone levels are too low, the body’s cells can't get enough thyroid hormones and the body’s process starts slowing down. As the body slows down you may notice that

- You feel cold

- You get tired easily

- Your skin gets drier

- You become forgetful and depressed

- You start getting constipation

- You get more sleep

- Your periods become irregular

- Your hair fall increases

- You start gaining weight


CAUSES

What causes hypothyroidism?

EMOTIONAL CAUSES

Like depression, continuous grief, suppressed anger, sudden death of a closed one, continuous domination.•

Autoimmune disease : In some people’s bodies, the immune system that protects the body from invading infections can mistake thyroid gland cells and their enzymes for invaders and can attack them. Then there aren’t enough thyroid cells and enzymes left to make enough thyroid hormone. This is more common in women than men. Autoimmune thyroiditis can begin suddenly or it can develop slowly over years. The most common forms are Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and atrophic thyroiditis.

Surgical removal of part or all of the thyroid gland.Some people with thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer, or graves’ disease need to have part or all of their thyroid removed. if the whole thyroid is removed, people will definitely become hypothyroid. if part of the gland is left, it may be able to make enough thyroid hormone to keep blood levels normal

Radiation treatment.•Congenital hypothyroidism (hypothyroidism - that a baby is born with)

•Thyroiditis

•Too much or too little iodine: The thyroid gland must have iodine to make thyroid hormone. iodine comes into the body in food and travels through the blood to the thyroid. Keeping thyroid hormone production in balance requires the right amount of iodine. Taking in too much iodine can cause or worsen hypothyroidism

•Damage to the pituitary gland : The pituitary,“master gland,” tells the thyroid how much hormone to make. When the pituitary is damaged by a tumor, radiation, or surgery, it may no longer be able to give the thyroid instructions, and the thyroid may stop making enough hormone

How is hypothyroidism diagnosed?

The correct diagnosis of hypothyroidism depends on the following:

You should tell your doctor:

•About changes in your health that suggest that your body is slowing down

•If you’ve ever had thyroid surgery

•If you’ve ever had radiation to your neck to treat cancer

•If you’re taking any of the medicines that can cause hypothyroidism— amiodarone, lithium, interferon alpha, interleukin 2, and maybe thalidomide

•Whether any of your family members have thyroid disease

•Physical exam. The doctor will check your thyroid gland and look for changes such as dry skin, swelling, slower reflexes, and a slower heart rate

Blood tests
There are two blood tests that are used in the diagnosis of hypothyroidism - TSH AND T 4

How is hypothyroidism treated In HOMEOPATHY?

In almost every patient, hypothyroidism can be completely cured.It is treated in homeopathy by constitutional medications which activates thyroid gland and which initiates release of thyroid hormones i.e t4 and tsh to bring your T4 and TSH back to normal levels. Thus, constitutional homeopathic medications restore your body’s thyroid hormone levels and your body’s function.