What is Hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism is the condition wherein the thyroid gland fails to produce the normal quantity of the thyroid hormone. The gland remains under active. It is located in the lower front of your neck.

The thyroid hormone regulates body's energy. When its level goes abnormal, the body starts burning the energy more slowly, and as a result heartbeat and temperature regulation slow down in process.

Hypothyroidism Causes

• Thyroid surgery or radio-iodine ablation treatments to cure thyroid cancer or hyperthyroidism 
• An autoimmune disorder, wherein body's immune system starts attacking the thyroid
• Inborn thyroid defect

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

• Fatigue: Initial symptom of hypothyroidism is fatigue. This feeling of weakness also appear as lethargy and slow movement. 

• Depression: Men even experience depression when the level of thyroid hormone starts decreasing. Initially it can be quite mild but with the continuous decrease in thyroid level, the depression tends to become severe.

• Weight Gain: It's common with all people suffering from hypothyroidism. Decreased levels of physical activity leads to excess weight gain. However, in case of men suffering from this condition, the weight gain takes place a little later with the progression of the disease. But once it occurs, it happens to be very quick and severe.

• Muscle Pain: Most men work out or involve in physical labor throughout the day, which often leads to muscle pain. However, muscle pain is also a symptom of hypothyroidism. Many ignore the aches relating it to the physical activity they get involved in. This apparently delays the diagnosis of hypothyroidism. 

• Loss of Hair: Hair loss is another common symptom of hypothyroidism. Though it stands to be more common on the eyebrows, some people experience it in the scalp as well. 

• Sexual Dysfunction: The decrease in level of thyroid hormone in men is also related to sexual dysfunction. Men suffering from this condition tend to experience decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, as well as delayed ejaculation. 

Diagnosis of Hypothyroidism

The doctor examines you to inspect if the thyroid gland is enlarged. You will even be checked for the  characteristic signs of it which include, dry skin, thinning of hair, and slow heart rate. 

Hypothyroidism is diagnosed on the basis of blood tests levels of the thyroid hormone and the serum TSH. The TSH test happens to be the most sensitive hypothyroidism test known to be caused by a problem with thyroid gland. 

Treatment

It is treated via replacement doses of the thyroid hormones. These hormones are used in their synthetic forms which include levothyroxine, liothyronine (Cytomel) or liotrix (Thyrolar).

While taking thyroid medication, a blood test must be done periodically to ensure that dose so taken is helping in maintaining the appropriate level of the thyroid hormone.