Diseases That Causes The Hypothyroid Condition
Hyporthyroidism is a condition that’s indicated by inadequate output of thyroid hormones by the thyroid glands. Though iodine deficiency may cause this condition, more often than not it’s a consequence of an underlying condition. Majority of them are autoimmune conditions, in which the immune system assaults the person’s own areas of the body, and in the case of hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism is a very considerable health concern because it includes other systems of the body. Here are a few of the illnesses that are frequently associated with hypothyroidism.
Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disease that is indicated by hyperthyroidism, the contrary disorder of hypothyroidism, wherein the thyroid glands creates excessive thyroid hormones. People who have Graves’ disease have a malfunctioning immune system that creates antibodies that act like thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), causing the thyroid gland to make too much. Treating Graves’ disease involves the use of antithyroid medications, iodine-131 (a radioisotope of iodine), or thyroidectomy, which effectively suppresses or fully gets rid of the thyroid gland. This in turn will lead to the hypothyroid condition of those who have Graves’ disease.
An additional autoimmune disease that is related to hypothyroidism is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. It is one among the frequent cause of hypothyroidism in North America. In this ailment, the immune system directly attacks the thyroid gland, mistaking it as a foreign body and triggering its destruction. In this case, antibodies like leukocytes interrupt thyroid peroxidase, thyroglobulin, and TSH receptors. This can lead to the inflammation and consequently, the devastation of the thyroid gland thus creating the hypothyroid condition. It is also theorized that this condition is genetic.
Yet another autoimmune condition that is also connected together with hypothyroidism is Addison’s disease. Addison’s disease is an endocrine disorder wherein the adrenal glands make inadequate quantities of cortisol and aldosterone. Sometimes, this condition develops along with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This condition is called Schmidt’s syndrome. In addition to the symptoms of Addison’s disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, those who have Schmidt’s syndrome can also acquire type 2 diabetes, alopecia, myasthenia gravis, Graves’ disease, pure red cell aplasia, pernicious anemia, immunoglobulin A deficiency, vitiligo, or sarcoidosis.