Overactive thyroid

face and bags under the eyes, slow speech, movements and thoughts, depression, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, a slow heartbeat, slightly raised blood pressure and raised cholesterol.

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Immune involvement

THERE are different types and causes for thyroid dysfunction. The BTF says autoimmune thyroid disease, where the immune system attacks the thyroid cells, is the biggest cause of hypothyroidism. The most common form is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

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Getting the balance right

HYPOTHYROIDISM is treated with synthetic levothyroxine. Cheryl McMullan, CEO of the BTF, says: “The correct dose of levothyroxine is one that restores good health. If you feel your dose isn’t correct, make a note of each of your symptoms and discuss them with your doctor. They can advise you about tweaking your dose as a way of helping you feel better.”

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Beware grapefruit!

GRAPEFRUIT is known to increase the absorption of levothyroxine, as it increases acidity in the stomach.

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Be careful with cough medicine

SOME cough medicines containing large amounts of iodine can interfere with thyroid function too.

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Go easy on the seaweed

THE BTF says that some health foods taken in excess for example, kelp, a form of seaweed – can cause hypothyroidism.

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Brain malfunction may be a factor

HYPOTHYROIDISM can also be caused by a malfunction of the pituitary gland in the brain, which regulates thyroid hormones.

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Congenital hypothyroidism

SOMETIMES babies are born with hypothyroidism, possibly because the thyroid hasn’t developed or because it doesn’t form thyroid hormones properly. This is known as congenital hypothyroidism.

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THE thyroid gland can also become overactive, so TSH usually falls and becomes undetectable, as the body tries to stop the thyroid from working. This is hyperthyroidism, which leads to an increase in metabolism.

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Spotting hyperthyroidism

HYPERTHYROIDISM symptoms can include weight loss despite an increased appetite, palpitations/a racing heart, sweating and heat intolerance, tiredness and weak muscles, irritability, shakiness, mood swings, thirst, loose bowels, thyroid eye disease (prominent eyes that feel sore, double vision), and an enlarged thyroid gland.

Symptoms may be subtle, but they can also come on suddenly.

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Graves’ disease

WHEN hyperthyroidism is associated with thyroid antibodies in the blood, it’s known as Graves’ disease, an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, which becomes overactive in response.

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Stress can be a trigger

PEOPLE with Graves’ disease may have experienced major stress a year or so before their diagnosis. It’s believed that for various autoimmune conditions, people who are