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Hypothyroidism
(ND008)

Introduction


Hypothyroidism refers to any state that results in a deficiency of thyroid hormone, including diseases of the hypothalamus or pituitary gland and generalized tissue resistance to thyroid hormone, as well as disorders that affect the thyroid gland directly.

Thyroid hormones are part of the communication system of the human body. Controlled by the central nervous system (the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary gland), the thyroid gland secretes thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Thyroid hormone production is dependent upon an adequate intake of dietary iodine. The thyroid gland takes up the amount that it needs for hormone production; the rest is excreted by the kidneys.

Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disorder affecting 1.4% to 2.0% of women and 0.1% to 0.2% of men.

The principle of care for hypothyroidism is to replace the body with thyroid hormone that it is not able to manufacture for itself.

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The Medifocus Guide on Hypothyroidism provides answers to the following important questions and medical issues:


What Your Doctor Reads:


This MediFocus Guide contains an extensive listing of citations and abstracts of recent journal articles that have been published about this condition in trustworthy medical journals. This is the same type of information that is available to physicians and other health care professionals. A partial selection of journal articles that are abstracted in this MediFocus Guide includes:


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