Description:
Hypothyroidism, which is also known as under active thyroid, is a condition that will develop if the thyroid gland does not secrete enough T4 (thyroxine) that the body requires at that time. Thyroxine is very important in the body since it is responsible for the regulation of various functions in the body such as physical growth, digestion, heart rate, mental development among others. This means that underproduction of the hormone will damage body tissues and organs. Thus, if the processes of life sustenance are slowed, this could lead to various complications that could threaten one’s life.
Failed Body Immune System
When the thyroid gland undergoes inflammation, a condition known as chronic thyroiditis or Hashimoto’s disease, it may lead to Hypothyroidism. This condition is as a result of the body immune system failing to recognize the thyroid gland as part of the body tissues and instead attacks it the way it would a foreign body. This attack will impair its function or if not destroy the gland. The other cause of this disease is that, as the medics treat the disease Hyperthyroidism (which is the condition where the thyroid gland produces much more T4 than required) or cancers of the neck and the head using the radioactive iodine; it can in fact destroy the gland. Iodide is the mineral that is used to make T4 and when one takes food that does not contain the mineral; it is possible that he or she will suffer from Hypothyroidism.
Various Types of Foods
In addition, various food substances such as spinach, cabbage, peanuts and soybeans that can interfere with the production of the thyroid hormone and this would lead to the underproduction of T4. To solve this problem, iodine should be added to common foods so should table salt. TSH produced by the pituitary gland is the chemical substance that activates the production of T4 in the thyroid gland. When pituitary gland does not produce TSH due to impairment, this could eventually lead to the occurrence of Hypothyroidism. The other cause could be what is referred to as a congenital defect, whereby a person is born with the thyroid glands not functioning as they are supposed to. The other major cause of this disease is excessive use of some medications such as lithium or nitroprusside. Bacterial and viral diseases can cause infections that effect the normal production of the hormone and this can cause Hypothyroidism. Finally, contaminants such as PCBs that are manmade and found at high levels in the environment can cause the disease.