Hypothyroidism

Hypothyreosis · Snížená funkce štítné žlázy (hypotyreóza)

What it is

The thyroid underproduces; everything in the body slows down.

call 112 / 911 now Very drowsy, confused, very cold or breathing slowly
see a doctor soon Chest pain or palpitations after starting or raising thyroxine
see a doctor soon Neck lump that grows fast or makes swallowing hard
see a doctor soon Pregnant or planning pregnancy while on thyroxine

Levothyroxine on an empty stomach when the thyroid has genuinely failed trials support
Treating mildly raised TSH with normal T4 in older people — trials (TRUST) found no benefit in symptoms or tiredness not confirmed in trials
Check coeliac disease and B12, which travel with it trials support
Antibodies confirm the cause; they are not themselves treated trials support

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

Selenium in Hashimoto's — lowers antibodies; no proven effect on the dose of hormone needed mixed evidence
Desiccated thyroid (Armour) — some patients prefer it; a small trial found similar results and more patient preference mixed evidence
Gluten-free diet in Hashimoto's — small studies lowered antibodies; clear benefit only with coeliac disease early / small studies
Ashwagandha — a small trial raised thyroid hormone levels early / small studies
Iodine megadoses — sold for 'thyroid support'; can worsen autoimmune thyroid disease anecdotal / traditional