Hypothyroidism is one of the most common thyroid dysfunctions and occurs when the thyroid is destroyed, removed or underactive and cannot produce enough thyroid hormone to keep the body healthy. Doctors treat hypothyroidism with a hormone replacement drug to increase the amount of thyroid hormone being produced.
Hashimoto’s disease is caused by an autoimmune response in the body, and some doctors do not treat it on principle. They prefer to wait until hypothyroidism can be tested for by antibodies and only start treatment once the symptoms of hypothyroidism start to appear. There is some evidence to suggest that thyroid replacement drugs can be beneficial before TSH levels start to increase, and that treating Hashimoto’s disease while TSH levels are still normal can stop the disease from progressing fully.
Other doctors make recommendations like dietary supplements, iron supplements, yoga, changes to the diet or a combined approach to therapy.
Hyperthyroidism is caused by an over active thyroid that produces too much thyroid hormone. It can be caused by thyroid nodules, Grave’s disease, a viral infection or illness. There are a number of different approaches that could be employed, including administering anti-thyroid medication, RAI or radioiodine ablation, or removing all or part of the thyroid surgically.
Your doctor will make a decision based on the extent of the problem, how old you are and if you are pregnant. Your doctor may also have had success with one particular kind of therapy before and may want to use that approach. It is useful to know what your options are in case you are not offered any choices, as certain treatments tend to be more popular than others.
It is also important to ensure you follow up on any potential side effects with your doctor, as it could be a sign of a more serious underlying condition. Your doctor may need to perform a few different tests before coming to a diagnosis, so low cost clinics in Las Vegas can make the process more affordable.