<div class="text-justify">

<sup>**I saw a video on X (formally Twitter) and the lady was explaining that she suffered HYPOTHYROIDISM and didn't know early enough until she went to the hospital for something else then she was asked to do some test which got her to be admitted to begin treatment. So, do you know that the Thyroid gland which is a small gland in the neck can be responsible for fatigue, dry skin, and weight gain? Well, when this gland has a malfunction, it could be the beginning of another phase of your life.**</sup>

<sup>**People can suffer from hypothyroidism and you know that where there is a word, there would be an opposite of it so people can also supper from hyperthyroidism but today, we are dealing with the former explicitly. Either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, the problem affects the thyroid gland which is located in the neck above the collar bone.**</sup>


https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/Hypothyroidism.jpg
<sup>[wikimedia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hypothyroidism.jpg)</sup>

<sup>**If you are able to see your thyroid visible in a enlarged manner, then you need to visit the hospital because that is Goiter and it is a sign of hypothyroidism. The brain releases Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) which tells the thyroid gland to produce the thyroid hormone and the thyroid gland to get bigger to be able to produce it but when there is a problem with the thyroid gland or a deficiency that affects the thyroid gland like Iodine deficiency, then no matter how big the gland becomes, it wouldn't produce the thyroid hormone.**</sup>

<sup>**Another sign that people notice is dry skin but they are so quick to use lotions and creams with the believe that their skin is just reacting to the weather. In the case of hypothyroidism, the skin produces less oil leading to dryness and a rough skin leading to Asteatotic Eczema. Also, when the thyroid gland is not working properly, the skin doesn't shed properly leading to a build up of skin cells and protein. It leads to the skin thickening over time and this can be noticed in the palm and sole of the hands and feet respectively leading to a condition known as Palmoplantar Keratoderma.**</sup>

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Thyroid_hypothyroidism.jpg
<sup>**[wikimedia](https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thyroid_hypothyroidism.jpg)**</sup></div>

<sup>**Hair thinning is another sign that might be noticed and this is because it makes up the hair and nails and an under-active thyroid can lead to loss of hair as a result of the hair not producing properly and causing the follicles to reach the resting phase very fast. Also since keratin is present in the nail also, hypothyroidism can also cause the nail growth to slow down and stop growing leading to thick nails that can split and break easily.**</sup>

<sup>**People who suffer from hypothyroidism could also experience large tongue caused by Myxedema and when the thyroid gland becomes big, it could lead to sleep apnea where breathing is being blocked as a result of obstrcuction by the gland. If you notice that you all of a sudden start to struggle with breathing when you sleep like there is something in your neck blocking your airways, then it could be a sign of hypothyroidism, please visit the doctor. This is a rare cause of sleep apnea but once you notice it, you should get to the hospital and do not be scared because the cause can be treated.**</sup>

<center>https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/Myxedema.jpg</center>
<sup><center>**[wikimedia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Myxedema.jpg)**</center></sup>

<sup>**One final sign you might notice is the orange or yellowing your the skin known as carotenemia which is as a result of a buildup of carotene in the body which should have been converted into vitamin A but with hypothyroidism, the thyroid doesn't work and the carotene isn't converted. While it might not be a big issue, it is not a sign that you are getting lighter, it is a warning to get to the hospital as soon as possible.**</sup>

<sup>**After all I have said, you do not need to be scared because hypothyroidism can be treated after the doctors do a test to check the TSH level in the blood. If it is high, then it means they thyroid gland isn't working properly and doctors can begin treatment with Levothyroxine to help with thyroid hormone and other forms of treatment can be done as well. You need to take your health serious and report any sign or symptom you notice to a doctor so you can be treated.**</sup>

_____
_____
#### <center><sup>Reference</sup></center>
_____
_____
<sup>**https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/levothyroxine/
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/hypothyroidism
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/underactive-thyroid-hypothyroidism/symptoms/
[https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information](https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/hypothyroidism-underactive-thyroid)
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothyroidism/symptoms-causes/syc-20350284
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2838360/
[https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622](https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(07)02012-9/abstract)**</sup>