Hypothyroidism: Causes, Diagnosis and Therapies

The medical condition that affects the functioning of the thyroid gland is termed as thyroid disease. The most common forms of thyroid disease are hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, goiter and tumors. Hypothyroidism refers to a disorder of the endocrine system in which the thyroid gland does not produce adequate amount of thyroid hormones. The various symptoms of hypothyroidism include poor ability to tolerate cold, tiredness, constipation, slow heart rate, depression and weight gain. The most common factor that leads to this disease is intake of too little iodine in diet. Other causes of hypothyroidism include injury to the hypothalamus or the anterior pituitary gland, certain medications, lack of a functioning thyroid at birth, or previous thyroid surgery. The diagnosis of this disease is carried out using blood tests to measure thyroid-stimulating hormone and thyroxine levels. Patients with hypothyroidism are treated with a synthetic long-acting form of thyroxine called levothyroxine. The topics covered in this extensive book deal with the recent studies on the causes, diagnosis and therapies for hypothyroidism. It is appropriate for students seeking detailed information in this area as well as for experts.