Complications can be encountered if thyroid hormone deficiency

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted with General Internal Medicine Doctor - Department of Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.
If the body is deficient in thyroid hormone, also known as hypothyroidism, if not detected and treated early, it will lead to extremely dangerous complications, directly affecting the health and life of the patient. When a pregnant mother has a deficiency of thyroid hormone, it can also negatively affect the development of the fetus in the womb.

1. Why lack of thyroid hormone?

The thyroid is a part of the neck located in the middle of the neck, responsible for producing hormones that are important for the normal development of the body, helping to control body temperature, regulate heart rate and energy production. and maintain a healthy body weight and metabolism.
A lack of thyroid hormone is a manifestation of hypothyroidism, when the body does not have enough thyroid hormone to supply the body's cells. In this case, the patient will have an enlarged thyroid gland or not.
In case the patient has primary hypothyroidism, the cause is due to immunological causes, recently undergone thyroidectomy, radioactive iodine treatment, severe iodine deficiency or due to the use of synthetic antithyroid drugs. treat diseases of the body.
If you have secondary hypothyroidism, it may be due to anterior pituitary failure. However, this is usually rare.
Hypothyroidism or lack of thyroid hormone is common in women, especially for pregnant women, this can be the cause of miscarriage or make the baby's brain weak.

2. Signs of thyroid hormone deficiency

Patients with thyroid hormone deficiency often see the following signs:
The body is tired often. Frequent headaches, dizziness, absent-mindedness. There are symptoms of depression. Dry skin and hair. Mood swings. Menstrual disorders. Cold hands and feet, feeling extremely cold in winter and excessively hot in summer...

Người thiếu hormone tuyến giáp có thể xuất hiện triệu chứng rối loạn kinh nguyệt
Người thiếu hormone tuyến giáp có thể xuất hiện triệu chứng rối loạn kinh nguyệt

3. Is thyroid hormone deficiency dangerous?

Thyroid hormone plays a very important role in the human body, therefore, if the body is deficient in thyroid hormone for a long time and is not treated properly, it can lead to dangerous complications such as: :
Goiter: The body lacks thyroid hormone, which will stimulate this part to work continuously to produce more hormone, this will make the thyroid gland enlarge and cause goiter. Although it does not cause much discomfort, a large goiter will affect the aesthetics and function of chewing and swallowing food and breathing.
Heart disease: Few people would have thought that a lack of thyroid hormone would lead to heart disease. The reason for this situation is because the content of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is the bad cholesterol that will have the opportunity to increase when the thyroid gland is underactive and reduces the heart's ability to contract. can lead to dilated heart chambers and heart failure.
Mental problems: People with long-term thyroid hormone deficiency are at increased risk of developing depression, which becomes more severe over time.
Peripheral neuropathy: A lack of thyroid hormone for a long time can affect the patient's peripheral nervous system, manifestations of this complication include numbness, pain, and tingling in the affected area. nerve damage. In particular, it can also cause muscle weakness or loss of muscle control in patients.
Myxedema: The result of prolonged hypothyroidism. When there is this complication, the patient will have signs of nausea, deep coma, loss of consciousness ... need urgent treatment.
Infertility: One of the dangerous complications that thyroid hormone deficiency can cause is infertility, because thyroid hormone levels can interfere with ovulation and impair fertility. In this case, the treatment of hypothyroidism with thyroid hormone replacement therapy may not completely restore fertility and may require other interventions.
Birth defects: Occurs in cases where the pregnant mother has a deficiency of thyroid hormone, the baby will be born with a higher risk of birth defects than other children, especially susceptible to brain problems and development.

4. Prevention of thyroid hormone deficiency


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If there is a deficiency of thyroid hormone, besides taking medication, the patient needs to apply some effective prevention measures as follows:
Do not use soy foods: Scientific research has shown that, if the amount of estrogen (female hormone) in the body is high, it will reduce the ability to produce thyroxin; People with thyroid hormone deficiency due to iodine deficiency should not eat cabbage, cauliflower, radish... because they can block the absorption of iodine by the thyroid gland, especially when eaten raw; Limit the use of fatty foods because they will reduce the amount of hormones produced by the thyroid gland; In particular, people with thyroid hormone deficiency should also not eat foods containing a lot of sugar, caffeinated drinks and absolutely abstain from alcohol because they not only have serious effects on the thyroid gland, but also reduce the ability to thyroid hormone production and the body's ability to utilize the hormone. Instead of foods that should not be used, people with thyroid hormone deficiency can add iodine-rich foods to improve the body's metabolism as well as stabilize thyroid activity. Fresh juices or necessary spices such as ginger, pepper, cinnamon, chili are also very good for people with thyroid hormone deficiency.

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