Hypothyroidism: MedlinePlus

Hypothyroidism: MedlinePlus
A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
National Institutes of Health

Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, just above your collarbone. It is one of your endocrine glands, which make hormones. Thyroid hormones control the rate of many activities in your body. These include how fast you burn calories and how fast your heart beats. All of these activities are your body's metabolism. If your thyroid gland is not active enough, it does not make enough thyroid hormone to meet your body's needs. This condition is hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism is more common in women, people with other thyroid problems, and those over 60 years old. Hashimoto's disease, an autoimmune disorder, is the most common cause. Other causes include thyroid nodules, thyroiditis, congenital hypothyroidism, surgical removal of part or all of the thyroid, radiation treatment of the thyroid, and some medicines.

The symptoms can vary from person to person. They may include

• Fatigue
• Weight gain
• A puffy face
• Cold intolerance
• Joint and muscle pain
• Constipation
• Dry skin
• Dry, thinning hair
• Decreased sweating
• Heavy or irregular menstrual periods and fertility problems
• Depression
• Slowed heart rate

To diagnose hypothyroidism, your doctor will look at your symptoms and blood tests. Treatment is with synthetic thyroid hormone, taken every day.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA  

• Chronic thyroiditis (Hashimoto's disease)
• Factitious hyperthyroidism
• Hypothyroidism
• Neonatal hypothyroidism
• Silent thyroiditis
• Subacute thyroiditis
• Thyroid scan

Related Topics

• Hyperthyroidism
• Thyroid Cancer
• Thyroid Diseases
• Endocrine System

National Institutes of Health

• The primary NIH organization for research on Hypothyroidism is theNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

• Start Here

  • Hypothyroidism(American Academy of Family Physicians)
  • Hypothyroidism(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
  • Underactive Thyroid: What You Need to Know(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - PDF - In English and Spanish

• Overviews

  • Hypothyroidism(American Thyroid Association)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

• Diagnosis/Symptoms

  • T3 (Triiodothyronine) Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
  • T4 (Thyroxine) Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
  • Thyroid Function Tests(American Thyroid Association)
  • Thyroid Function Tests(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
  • Thyroid Function Tests(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
  • Thyroid Scan and Uptake(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)

• Treatment

  • Medicines for Hypothyroidism(Hormone Health Network) - PDF
  • Thyroid Hormone Treatment(American Thyroid Association)
  • Thyroid Medications(Food and Drug Administration)

• Specific Conditions

  • Goiter(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Hashimoto's Disease(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Hashimoto's Disease(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - PDF
  • How Do You Treat Myxedema?(InteliHealth, Harvard Medical School)
  • JAMA Patient Page: Subclinical Hypothyroidism(American Medical Association)
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• Related Issues

  • Hypothyroidism: Can It Cause Peripheral Neuropathy?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Hypothyroidism: Does It Cause Joint Pain?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Iodine Deficiency(American Thyroid Association)
  • Myth vs. Fact: Wilson's Temperature Syndrome(Hormone Health Network) - PDF
  • Thyroid and Weight(American Thyroid Association)
  • What Is an Endocrinologist?(Hormone Health Network)
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• Anatomy/Physiology

  • What Does the Thyroid Gland Do?(Hormone Health Network)
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• Clinical Trials

  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Hypothyroidism(National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Thyroiditis, Autoimmune(National Institutes of Health)
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• Dictionaries/Glossaries

  • Thyroid Disease Definitions(Nemours Foundation)
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• Directories

  • Directory of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Organizations(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
  • Find an Endocrinologist(Hormone Health Network)
  • Find an Endocrinology - Thyroid Specialist(American Thyroid Association)
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• Organizations

  • American Thyroid Association
  • Hormone Health Network
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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• Children

  • Congenital Hypothyroidism(Hormone Health Network)
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• Women

  • Hashimoto's Disease(Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
  • Patient's Guide to Detecting and Treating Hypothyroidism Before, During, and After Pregnancy(Hormone Health Network) - PDF
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• Patient Handouts

  • Chronic thyroiditis (Hashimoto's disease)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Factitious hyperthyroidism
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Hashimoto's Disease(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - PDF
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Neonatal hypothyroidism
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Silent thyroiditis
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Subacute thyroiditis
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Thyroid Function Tests(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
  • Thyroid scan
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Return to top