The medical name for an underactive thyroid is hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid doesn’t make enough of the hormone thyroxine. The risk of an underactive thyroid problem increases with age; between 9 & 17% of all adults over 60 will have an underactive thyroid.

Common symptoms linked with an underactive thyroid include the following:

• Fatigue
• Weight gain
• Increased flow during menstruation
• Dehydrated skin and hair
• Mood swings
• Constipation
• Depression

This is just an outline of some of the numerous symptoms could be an warning of an underactive thyroid.

There are many more and if left undiagnosed and untreated, there could be some severe implications. Untreated underactive thyroid might possibly cause a significant condition called myxedema coma. This would only happen should thyroid hormones reach a very low level when very low blood pressure and very low blood sugar could possibly trigger loss of consciousness.

An underactive thyroid could lead to heart problems, speech problems, infertility or miscarriage and even possible birth defects. If evidence any of the symptoms leading you to suspect a thyroid disorder, all that is needed is a visit your GP who will carry out a blood test to decide if any thyroxine hormone alternate is needed.

Approximately two thirds of everyone who has a thyroid disorder has the underactive thyroid disorder (hypothyroidism), rather than the overactive thyroid disorder (hyperthyroidism). There is no treatment that can make the thyroid produce the hormone thyroxine again.

Accordingly, the treatment consists of prescription to take the place of the hormone that is no longer being created. As this is the case, sufferers of an underactive thyroid would need to take pills for the rest of their life to maintain the correct amount of thyroxine necessary for full health. A small price to pay for being returned to good health!

Regular testing for any thyroid disorder is essential for aging adults as the symptoms that are present could also be put down as ‘old age’, such as constipation, dry skin and tender muscles. When in it is an underactive thyroid that is causing the problems.

Having an underactive thyroid, although inconvenient because of having to take prescription daily, is not a disability. Once diagnosed and , any disagreeable symptoms will very quickly subside.