The disease affects 1 to 6% of people up to the age of 60, and the incidence of this disorder increases with age. It occurs much more often in women than in men.Methods of prevention and treatment of hypothyroidism
1. Treatment with thyroid hormones
2. Supplementation with iodine preparations
3. Diet prophylaxis, e.g. in the form of iodinated table salt. 1. PRINCIPLES OF TREATMENT WITH THYROID HORMONESWhat is hormonal treatment?
The principle is supplementation, or supplementation of missing thyroid hormones. To this end, thyroid hormone preparations are used.
Proceedings in a typical case
When I started treatment for hypothyroidism I had a TSH pituitary hormone score - 7.80 mU / l. From the moment when I started taking a preparation with thyroid hormones (levothyroxine) the result improved at 2.75. The next one was 3.05. Another 5.70, however. Then the doctor increased the dose of thyroxine and the result stabilized for a few months at the level of 2.05 mU / l. The attending physician said that this result is already good and he recommended to continue taking the same dose. I learned from him that the standard for TSH in adults is 0.4-4.0 mU / l (μU / ml). From what he told me - I understood that the treatment of hypothyroidism is a long-term process and getting stabilization of hormonal indicators requires time as well as periodic corrections.
[10 - compilation of several authentic posts from an online forum]
General principles of thyroid hormone treatment
Early implementation and proper dosage of the hormone is considered a completely safe therapy that prevents the development of late consequences of hypothyroidism, while increasing the comfort of life. However, hypothyroidism at the time of diagnosis is generally well established and requires treatment with thyroid hormones throughout life. Supplementing the missing thyroid hormone T3 and T4 pool consists in the oral administration of synthetic levorotatory thyroxine in a dose-compensating dose - on average 1.5-2.0 μg / kg body weight / day. The effectiveness of the hormone dose used is assessed for the first time after at least 6 weeks of treatment. [2]
What should the patient know about the dosage principles?
Thyroxine is administered orally, in one daily dose, in the morning on an empty stomach, 20-30 minutes before the first meal. This is because of poor absorption in the presence of food and to avoid adverse drug interactions. Dosage starts with a low dose, which is then gradually increased until complete elimination of hypothyroidism.
In designing the dose, however, the physician should consider a differentiated individual response to the preparation, as it depends on many factors, including the age of the patient.
2. THE PROCESS OF HORMONAL TREATMENT
Treatment of hypothyroidism in the elderly and with heart disease
Elderly or afflicted with heart disease may not tolerate treatment. For example, too fast increase in the dose of thyroxine, especially in the elderly, suffering from coronary heart disease may be poorly tolerated by them and cause increased specific cardiac complaints. In these cases, the dose of thyroxine must be reduced, which will result in only a partial improvement in health.
Treatment of hypothyroidism in children and pregnant women
In the case of children, to avoid disturbances in development, it is important to quickly recognize and start therapy.
Children, adolescents and pregnant women with hypothyroidism require the administration of relatively higher doses of thyroxine than other patients. The results of treatment are usually good. [8]
More - Iodine prophylaxis in pregnant women and children
The course of treatment
Patients with hypothyroidism usually require substitution treatment for life. It is then necessary to periodically check the level of TSH hormone in serum every 6-12 months.
The effectiveness of hormonal treatment is assessed on the basis of:
1. Normalization in the blood of the TSH pituitary hormone -Thyrotropin - the basic indicator of normal thyroid function. TSH hormone regulating thyroid function is secreted by the pituitary gland.
More -THYROID LOSS - DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
2. Elimination of disease-related symptoms caused by hypothyroidism
More -SYMPTOMS OF THYROID ILLUSABILITYOverdose of thyroxine preparations
Overdose of thyroxine preparations may lead to symptoms of hyperthyroidism, such as palpitations, diarrhea, sweating, or excessive excitability or insomnia. You should then report symptoms to your doctor, who will usually reduce the dose of the medicine, and may even stop treatment for some time (2).
Complicated course of the disease
Hypothyroidism may be accompanied by: deficient anemia (iron, folic acid, vitamin B12), hypercholesterolemia, hyperprolactinemia. Primary hypothyroidism in the course of Hashimoto's disease may be associated with other autoimmune disorders, such as adrenocortical insufficiency, gonads, hypoparathyroidism, type 1 diabetes or vitiligo. Secondary hypothyroidism may be accompanied by secondary adrenal insufficiency or gonads.
Medical consultation of the article
Dr. med. Aleksandra Baumann-Antczak, endocrinologist
- contact. Literature
1. Thyroid disease in family practice; Dr hab. n. med. Marek Bolanowski Chair and Clinic of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Treatment with Isotopes AM in Wroclaw Head: prof. dr hab. n. med. Andrzej Milewicz; "THERAPY" No. 9, item 1 (183), SEPTEMBER 2006, page 64-66
2. Hypothyroidism in the practice of a family doctor; Author: Maria Magdalena Bujnowska-Fedak, Andrzej Steciwko; Source: "THERAPY" No. 2 (221), FEBRUARY 2009, page 58-62
3. Iodine Pregnancy in Urine and Newborn, Prof. hab. n. med. DANUTA PISAREK-MIEDZIŃSKA; "MY HEALTH" 1996
4. Thyroid disorders in women during pregnancy and their impact on fetus and newborn development - a common problem for obstetricians and pediatricians authors: dr n. Med Beata Kędracka, dr n. Med. Ewa Barg Chair and Clinic of Endocrinology of Developmental Age AM in Wroclaw 5 .HYTHONESHORMONES medicine med. Barbara Zalewska from the Osteoporosis Center for Osteoporosis; "Let us live longer" 4 April, 1999
6. Diagnosis of thyroid thyroid - DocEdu educational materials - prepared by teams of outstanding specialists in various fields of medicine and practicing family doctors from home and abroad. Project implemented with the financial support of the European Communities. Project Promoter: College of Family Physicians in Poland. http://www.docedu.klrwp.pl/inde10.php?kat=7
7. Iodine and thyroid - medicine. med. Ewa Pakuła - "I care for health" August 2002 (the article was updated on September 30, 2005 - http://www.grabieniec.pl/)
8. TREATMENT OF THYROID DISEASES; AUTOR S dr. n. med. Tadeusz Górowski "Żyjmy longer" 8 (August) 1998
9. THE MEANING OF IODIN IN A DIET; http://www.resmedica.pl; article mgr. Magdalena Makarewicz-Wujec and dr. n. med. Małgorzata Kozłowska-Wojciechowska from the Institute of Food and Nutrition
10. Internetweestheropedia - VIKIPIEDIA, http://luskiewnik.strefa.pl/biochemia/iodum. e.t.c.
11. Medical Encyclopedia of PWN
