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Hypothroidism
Were you looking for information on Hypothyroidism? Hypothroidism is a common misspelling of hypothyroidism.
An underactive thyroid, also known as hypothyroidism, occurs as a result of a condition that causes the thyroid gland to decrease its hormone production. This can be due to illness, injury, surgery, or radiation treatment, among other things. Symptoms vary widely -- in fact, some people don't experience any signs of the disease at all. (This is called subclinical hypothyroidism.)
Treatment for this condition typically involves medications, although a healthcare provider may decide to delay treating the condition if a person does not currently have any symptoms. The goal of thyroid hormone replacement therapy is to return TSH and T4 levels to normal. This often occurs within six to eight weeks of beginning treatment, and these drugs will need to be taken for life.
(Click Hypothyroidism to read the complete eMedTV article, which explains other causes for the condition, possible symptoms, the role of the thyroid gland, and more. You can also click any of the links in the box to the right for specific information.)
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD