I f you’ve been feeling run-down, the problem could be your thyroid gland. Research suggests that hypothyroidism (thyroid deficiency) is far more common than previously believed. One study found signs of the disorder in 8% of women and 3% of men.
Hypothyroidism is especially common among older people. Over age 60, up to 17% of women and 8% of men have it.
The thyroid gland, located just below the Adam’s apple, is responsible for regulating body metabolism. Besides reducing your energy level, hypothyroidism can cause elevated cholesterol levels, weight gain, depression, constipation and/or brittle hair and nails.
The leading cause of hypothyroidism is scarring of the gland caused by inflammation. This condition is known as Hashimoto’s disease.
Mild cases of hypothyroidism often go undetected—because the symptoms are too subtle to be detected by the individual.
Doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston studied a group of patients with mild hypothyroidism. Most of these patients thought they were well. In a double-blind study, each was treated, in turn, with thyroid and placebo tablets.
result: Most patients felt better when taking the thyroid tablets. Some felt more energy, others were less depressed or less constipated.
These findings suggest that low-dose thyroid treatment may be beneficial even for people who don’t know they have thyroid trouble.
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