Keeping an eye on thyroid levels

I'VE PUT on a lot of weight in the past couple of months, have no energy and feel cold even when temperatures are high. I wonder could it be hypothyroidism as my sister was diagnosed with this condition last year and I seem to have many of the same symptoms she had.

The thyroid gland is a bowtie-shaped gland that lies in the neck wrapped around the windpipe just below the Adam's apple. This gland produces the hormone, thyroxine, which regulates the body's metabolism, affects the heart and respiratory rates, skin maintenance and repair, growth, heat regulation, fertility and digestion.

When thyroid hormone levels are low it can cause weight gain, tiredness and sensitivity to the cold. It can also cause sluggishness, dry skin, thinning hair, and long, heavy menstrual periods.

It is thought that the condition is the result of an autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system attacks the thyroid gland itself. It can also develop following treatment for hyperthyroidism, a condition where the gland produces too much thyroxine.

Hypothyroidism affects two in every 100 women and two in every 1,000 men, and as symptoms of hypothyroidism tend to develop insidiously it can often take some time to recognise them for what they are.

How can I have my thyroid levels checked?

You should make an appointment to see your GP to discuss your symptoms. A simple blood test measures the level of thyroid hormone (T4) in your body as well as that of another substance, TSH, that directly controls the release of T4.

While in most cases this is an accurate means of confirming the diagnosis, it is possible to have a normal blood test result and still have symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Will I have to take medication?

The condition is easily and safely treated with a synthetic form of the thyroid hormone called levothyroxine. You will be started on a low dose and will need regular blood tests to monitor the drug level in your blood. Regular monitoring allows the dose to be adjusted to suit your particular needs.

Even when the initial blood tests are negative for hypothyroidism, some doctors treat the clinical symptoms with levothyroxine, monitoring the symptoms closely for their response to treatment.