Generic Name:
Too little thyroid hormone
Reference Link:
Definition:
Hypothyroidism is the name of a condition in which the body has little or insufficient thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone operates the body's metabolism, therefore, anyone afflicted with hypothroidism will have the same affects as someone with a slow metabolism.
Approximately 3% of Americans (or 10 million people) have Hypothroidism, and as much as 10% of women suffer to some degree on the spectrum of hypothyroidism.
The two most common causes of this condition listed in order of prevalence are:
- Autoimmune thyroiditis (or, Hashimoto's thyroiditis), which is inflammation of the thyroid resulting from one's own immune system
- Inflammation of the thyroid that leaves cells in the thyroid damanged and unable to function normally to produce thyroid hormone
Term Type:
