Thyroid Health

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 56: Levothyroxine and Hair Loss ⎥ Thyroid Health, with Dr. Susanne Breen 

https://docthyroid.com/susanne-breen-thyroid/ 

Your thyroid has an important job to do within your body — releasing and controlling thyroid hormones that control metabolism. Metabolism is a process where the food you take into your body is transformed into energy. This energy is used throughout your entire body to keep many of your body's systems working correctly.

The thyroid controls your metabolism with a few specific hormones — T4 (thyroxine, contains four iodide atoms) and T3 (triiodothyronine, contains three iodide atoms). These two hormones are created by the thyroid and they tell the body’s cells how much energy to use. When your thyroid works properly, it will maintain the right amount of hormones to keep your metabolism working at the right rate. As the hormones are used, the thyroid creates replacements.

Thyroid disease can affect anyone — men, women, infants, teenagers and the elderly. It can be present at birth (typically hypothyroidism) and it can develop as you age (often after menopause in women).  

Thyroid disease is very common, with an estimated 20 million people in the Unites States having some type of thyroid disorder. A woman is about five to eight times more likely to be diagnosed with a thyroid condition than a man.  

You may be at a higher risk of developing a thyroid disease if you: 

- Have a family history of thyroid disease.

- Have a medical condition (these can include pernicious anemia, type 1 diabetes, primary adrenal    insufficiency, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren’s syndrome and Turner syndrome). 

- Take a medication that’s high in iodine (amiodarone). 

- Are older than 60, especially in women.

- Have had treatment for a past thyroid condition or cancer (thyroidectomy or radiation).