What drugs are prescribed for hypothyroidism. Treatment of hypothyroidism

Endocrine diseases associated with impaired production of thyroid hormones and hypothyroidism are today one of the most common pathologies. Fatigue, drowsiness, slow metabolism and malfunctions internal organs- symptoms that should not be ignored.

How to beat hypothyroidism: treatment with herbs and others folk remedies– a panacea or an outdated method of therapy? Is long-term use of pills always the only way to cope with the disease? And is it possible to recover forever: let's figure it out.

The most common cause leading to decreased activity thyroid gland- insufficient intake of iodine in food and water. Also, uncontrolled intake can lead to such a problem. medicinal substances, low-quality food (containing pesticides, dyes, preservatives, etc.), insufficient protein intake and severe calorie restriction.

Hyperfunction and hypofunction of the thyroid gland can occur due to autoimmune processes in the body, chronic pathologies internal organs (especially in the endocrine system), hormonal disruptions (puberty, pregnancy, menopause), congenital anomalies or tumor processes in the thyroid.

Due to the fault of these reasons, there is a reduced or increased function of the thyroid gland, the symptoms and treatment of which differ significantly from each other. However, some recommendations for hypothyroidism are also suitable for hyperthyroidism, since the main task of the endocrinologist's appointments is to restore the health of the thyroid gland.

Considering the causes of the manifestation of pathology, it is impossible not to mention the fact that hypothyroidism can be congenital and acquired.

A comparative characteristic confirming the fundamental differences is given in the table:

The main forms and types of hypothyroidism
Form	Description
congenital	It often manifests itself in the perinatal period and is in latent form up to a certain point. Symptoms of pathology often manifest themselves in adulthood. A feature of the manifestation is thyroid dysfunction against the background of a significant decrease in the intensity of the process, the production of hormones. The manifestation of pathology in childhood entails serious consequences in the form of a decrease in brain activity. Children can differ significantly from their peers in physical and mental development.
Acquired	The pathology of the acquired form manifests itself as a consequence of autoimmune processes concentrated on the cells at the base of the gland. Among the reasons provoking the manifestation of pathology, radioactive exposure, the presence of cancer cells or cyst.
Type	Characteristics
Primary	Pathological processes occur directly in thyroid gland. It manifests itself against the background of a decrease in TSH, which provides the synthesis of triiodothyronine and thyroxine.
Secondary	It manifests itself as a result of the presence of pathologies of the hypothalamic-pituitary system. The disease is diagnosed after determining the indicators of the thyroid hormone in the blood. At secondary manifestation a decrease in thyroxine and triiodothyronine in the complex is monitored.

Patients should pay attention that the pathology requires medication, regardless of the type and form. The instruction of action in each case is well known to those skilled in the art. You should not try to determine the method of influence on your own. Thus, with your own hands you can cause irreparable damage to the entire endocrine system.

What does official medicine offer?

The standard treatment regimen for hypothyroidism includes:

• lifestyle modification;
• drug normalization of hormonal levels;
• elimination of the consequences of metabolic disorders.

A detailed review below and the video in this article will help you understand all the intricacies of returning a normal endocrine status.

Step 1. Healthy lifestyle

As in the treatment of any other disease, it is important to follow the principles of a healthy lifestyle with hypothyroidism. Especially if hormonal disbalance caused . In this case, all patients are prescribed a balanced diet with a high content of this trace element.

Foods that should be on the table for people with iodine deficiency include:

• kelp - seaweed;
• sea ​​(fatty) fish;
• seafood - shrimp, mussels, squid, octopus;
• cottage cheese and milk.

Note! With severe iodine deficiency, special preparations - Iodomarin, Iodine-active - can compensate for the lack of this microelement in the body. In preventive and therapeutic doses they are prescribed for endemic goiter.

In addition, seasonal fruits and vegetables, meat and cereals should be regularly present in the diet. A sufficient amount of water (1.5-2 liters per day) will help "disperse" the metabolism and protect against constipation - a common problem with hypothyroidism.

Physical activity - running or walking fresh air, swimming, active species sports - saturate the nervous system with oxygen and help fight another characteristic features violations of the production of thyroid hormones - weakness, decreased performance, fatigue and drowsiness.

Step 2. Taking hormones

Medical treatment with - the main method of treatment of the disease. Levothyroxine, a synthetic analogue of the thyroid hormone thyroxine, is used as the drug of choice.

How does the medicine work?

Entering the body through the gastrointestinal tract, it is absorbed into the blood through the walls small intestine, turns into an active form of thyroxine and has a biological effect at all levels. Thus, the daily intake of tablets can mimic the daily secretion of thyroid hormones and provide the body with the missing amount of thyroxine.

This is interesting. Despite the fact that the thyroid gland produces two main hormones - thyroxine and triiodothyronine, replacement therapy is carried out only by an analogue of the first. Studies have shown that long-term use of more active triiodothyronine increases the load on the heart and causes cardiomyopathy. His intravenous infusions shown only in hypothyroid coma, when you need to act quickly.

Main Representatives pharmacological group hormone replacement agents do not have significant differences.

Table: Preparations of levothyroxine:

The instructions for any of these drugs indicate that the selection of the dosage should be carried out only by the attending endocrinologist.

The following rules are considered standard:

1. In adults, the initial dosage of the drug is usually 25-50 mcg / day. In the future, after 2-3 weeks, it is gradually increased or reduced to the required level for each patient individually. Criteria for the correct dose - good health and the norm in analyzes for thyroid hormones.
2. The need to increase the dose of the drug is judged only after 4-5 weeks of stable hormone intake.
3. In children, increasing the dose is carried out carefully, since an excess of thyroid hormones can provoke increased excitability in them, anxiety disorders, insomnia.
4. Patients with heart pathology are also under special control. Before and after any change in the dosage of L-thyroxine, an electrocardiographic study is performed.
5. Lifelong daily hormone intake is usually assumed (however, there are exceptions).

Step 3. Dealing with the effects of hypothyroidism

Even after the normalization of the hormonal background for a long time, the patient may be disturbed by the long-term consequences of hypothyroidism of the thyroid gland - they are treated by prescribing:

• cardioprotectors (Riboxin, Mildronate, Preductal) to accelerate metabolic processes in the heart muscle and prevention of bradycardia;
• cardiac glycosides (Strophanthin, Digoxin) when signs of heart failure appear;
• multivitamin complexes;
• hormonal drugs (Dufaston, COCs) to stimulate ovulation and treat infertility in women;
• means for stimulating metabolism in brain tissues (Nootropil, Piracetam).

Note! Treatment with these drugs without hormone replacement therapy does not make sense. Elimination of symptoms will not help if the cause of metabolic disorders - thyroxine deficiency - is not eliminated.

Treatment with folk remedies

Many patients are frightened by the need to take medication for years, so they often have a reasonable question: is it possible to cure hypothyroidism without hormones?

Consider popular means traditional medicine that affect the functioning of the thyroid gland. Treatment of hypothyroidism with herbs is one of the most popular areas of herbal medicine.

The symptoms of the disease can be reduced by:

• white cinquefoil (pictured) - a plant with a mild effect on the body, which helps to normalize metabolism and restore hormonal levels;
• a collection of equal parts of flowers of strawberries, mountain ash, thyme, dandelion, budva;
• collection, including St. John's wort, birch buds, elecampane roots and rowan fruits.

Medicinal plants for hypothyroidism will help mobilize the body's internal reserves, have a stimulating effect on the digestive tract, cleanse the body of toxins and toxins. The dosage of infusions and decoctions, as well as the duration of the course of treatment, is selected by the phytotherapeutist individually for each patient.

Above, we examined how to treat hypothyroidism of the thyroid gland. Despite the great popularity of traditional medicine methods, you should not completely rely on them.

Herbs or familiar products will only help eliminate some of the symptoms of the disease, but are unlikely to seriously affect the hormonal background of the body. Therefore, the use of home-made remedies for the treatment of hypothyroidism does not exclude the need to take pills.

Content

According to the official medical statistics The most common disease of the endocrine system is hypothyroidism. Especially often such a diagnosis is made to women over 65 years of age and people living far from the sea, which is the cause of iodine deficiency in the body. The disease can be acquired and congenital in nature, in the initial stages it does not make itself felt, and as it develops, it will require a long and heavy treatment. What is the danger of the disease and is it necessary to take hormonal drugs to eliminate it?

What is hypothyroidism

The name of the disease is formed from the Latin word "thyreoidea", meaning "thyroid gland", with the Greek prefix "hypo" added to it, which speaks of not reaching the norm or limit. In official medicine, “hypothyroidism” is understood as a condition that is caused by a persistent and prolonged deficiency of thyroid hormones, which is common to people of all ages. The disease has 2 extreme clinical forms:

• myxedema (in adults) - characterized by tissue edema against the background of a violation of protein metabolism;
• cretinism (in children) - characterized by a delay in mental and physical development, since thyroid hormones affect the growth and formation of the body.

The disease was first described in 1873; a severe (extreme) form under a specific diagnosis was discussed 5 years later. The specific state of the body, which is hypothyroidism, completely disappears after compensation for hormonal deficiency. In Russia, the disease is diagnosed in 19 out of 1000 women and in 21 out of 1000 men, but is not detected on early stage, since the primary symptoms are erased, and the forms of the development of the disease are nonspecific. The clinic of hypothyroidism (manifestations) includes several syndromes:

• Metabolic-hypothermic: chilliness, yellowing skin(against the background of the accumulation of carotene), hypothermia (a strong drop in body temperature), overweight cold intolerance.
• Anemic: development of anemia.
• Myxedematous: puffiness of the face and extremities, swelling of the tongue with the appearance of imprints of teeth along the lateral (lateral) edges, difficulty in nasal breathing, hearing impairment, coarsening of the voice.
• Hyperprolactinemic gonadism: disorders of the ovaries (amenorrhea - delayed menstruation for several cycles, infertility, menorrhagia - large blood loss during menstruation), galactorrhea (excessive secretion of milk or colostrum, not related to childbirth or lactation) in women, erectile dysfunction (decreased potency) in men.
• Ectodermal disorders: dullness, brittle hair, loss, slow growth (hair on the eyebrows and body is also affected), dry skin, thinning and delamination of nails.
• CNS lesions (central nervous system): inhibition of actions and thinking, drowsiness (especially daytime, a person can sleep up to 12 hours at night), depression, decreased tendon reflexes, muscle pain, impaired attention, intelligence, memory.
• Defeats of cardio-vascular system: bradycardia (impaired sinus rhythm), hypotension (low blood pressure), hypertension (increased pressure, an atypical symptom), signs of pericarditis (inflammation of the pericardium with the appearance of effusion - fluid - in its cavity), slowing of the heartbeat (below 60 beats / min).
• Lesions of the musculoskeletal system: joint edema, pain during movement, muscle weakness.
• Defeats digestive system: hepatomegaly (liver enlargement), biliary tract or colon dyskinesia, frequent constipation, loss of appetite, nausea, weight loss, vomiting.

At the initial stage, the clinical picture is non-specific: most people experience only weakness, decreased performance, memory impairment, complain of dry skin, chilliness, hair loss. They may have swelling of the limbs or face, coarsen the voice, increase body weight. The severity of symptoms depends on the cause of hypothyroidism, the level of hormone deficiency and individual features organism. According to the severity of the disease is divided into the following types:

• Subclinical (latent) - an increase in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) with normal level thyroxine (T4), symptoms are almost absent.
• Manifest (clinical) - an increase in TSH against the background of a fall in T4, the clinical picture is pronounced.
• Complicated - supplemented by cardiac disorders, secondary pituitary adenoma, can lead to myxedematous coma and death.

Causes

The main prerequisite for the spontaneous development of primary hypothyroidism, doctors call the presence of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis: inflammation of the thyroid gland, in which the body perceives its own cells as "enemies" and stimulates the synthesis of antibodies against them. Primary hypothyroidism is based on pathologies that reduce the mass of glandular tissue and inhibit the production of thyroxine and triiodothyronine, which is facilitated by:

• nutritional features in which the body lacks iodine or selenium, an excess of thiocyanates, lithium ions, calcium (these substances block the uptake of iodine);
• irradiation of the thyroid gland, removal of its part, taking medications;
• congenital anomaly of the thyroid gland (hypoplasia - underdeveloped tissues, aplasia - the absence of individual sections, agenesis - the complete absence of tissue);
• congenital disorder of the synthesis of thyroid hormones;
• thyroiditis (inflammatory diseases of the thyroid gland);
• hereditary predisposition to the disease (genetically transmitted defects in the biosynthesis of hormones T3 and T4);
• exogenous (internal) effects in the prenatal period (the baby will experience skeletal development disorders, mental retardation).

Separately, doctors mention idiopathic hypothyroidism, the causes of which have not been identified. In addition to the direct damage to the tissues of the thyroid gland, doctors in the classification of hypothyroidism distinguish dysregulation of its functions in case of problems with the hypothalamus (the center of the autonomic nervous system, brain area) and the pituitary gland (lower cerebral appendage). Secondary hypothyroidism is called hypothalamus or pituitary (depending on the type of disorder) and among the causes is:

• craniocerebral injuries, among the complications of which are brain hematomas, necrosis;
• pituitary tumors;
• ischemic brain damage;
• damage to the pituitary autoimmune diseases;
• meningoencephalitis;
• long-term therapy with serotonin drugs.

Some specialists also classify hypothyroidism as tissue or peripheral, in which the functioning of the thyroid hormones present is disrupted. They can initially be produced defective, or receptors for them are damaged in the body, there are defects in transport proteins that transport hormones into cells. Less commonly, there is a problem with the functioning of the structures of the enzyme system of the kidneys or liver, due to which the conversion of T4 to T3 is disrupted.

Treatment

To prescribe a competent therapeutic regimen, it is necessary to carry out differential diagnosis hypothyroidism, which helps to separate it from other endocrinopathies and requires control of the level of thyroid hormones for some time. Additionally, the patient is prescribed magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound of the neck, radiography, computed tomography, thyroid puncture. Treatment is complex and involves:

• etiotropic therapy (elimination of primary and concomitant diseases);
• symptomatic effect;
• hormone replacement therapy;
• diet (nutrition correction to increase the level of iodine and selenium in the body).

Drug therapy is not prescribed in the subclinical form, when TSH level below 4.2 μIU / ml, and with peripheral, if the symptoms are erased. Here, often the replenishment of the level of thyroid hormones is based on the correction of the diet. The exact treatment regimen is compiled exclusively by an endocrinologist: this is especially true for the dosages of hormonal drugs.

Drugs for hypothyroidism

Most doctors advise starting the treatment of thyroid hormone deficiency with etiotropic therapy: it affects the cause of this disease. Here it is often necessary to take iodine preparations (Betadine, Iodide, Endorm), to fight thyroiditis and other inflammatory diseases thyroid glands. At the same time, the patient is prescribed symptomatic treatment, implying acceptance:

• cardiac glycosides (Korglikon, Digoxin, Strofantin), if heart failure is present;
• cardioprotectors (Preductal, Riboxin, Mildronate, Trimetazidine) to protect the heart muscle;
• medicines that improve brain activity(Piracetam);
• vitamins and multivitamin complexes (Milgama, Neurobeks).

Treatment of hypothyroidism also necessarily involves replacement therapy with synthetic analogues of thyroid hormones: the rest of the drugs are auxiliary. In hypothyroid coma, T3 is administered intravenously to the patient, but in other cases, thyroxine preparations (T4) are prescribed - Levothyroxine, Euthyrox, Bagothyrox. Their lifetime reception is not excluded. Most Effective hormonal medications with hypothyroidism of the thyroid gland:

• L-thyroxine - tablets contain 25-200 mcg of levothyroxine sodium, activate the functions of the nervous system, blood vessels, heart, accelerate metabolic processes, are prescribed for primary and secondary forms of the disease. The clinical manifestation of treatment is observed on the 5th day. The drug is prohibited in thyrotoxicosis, myocardial infarction, inflammation of the heart muscle, it is used with caution in patients with diseases of the cardiovascular system. Side effects when treated under medical supervision are absent. Dosages are selected individually, tablets are drunk on an empty stomach, half an hour before meals. The duration of treatment is determined by a specialist.
• Euthyrox - cheap pills levothyroxine sodium at a dosage of 25-150 mcg, affecting the growth and development of tissues, metabolic processes. Therapeutic effect from treatment manifests itself after a week (at low dosages - after 12 days) and the same amount persists after discontinuation of the drug. General indications, contraindications and recommendations for admission are similar to those presented for L-thyroxine, drugs can replace each other.

Treatment in women

If hypothyroidism was detected in a pregnant woman, it is mandatory to prescribe drugs for substitution treatment and monthly monitoring of the level of thyroid hormones: this minimizes the risk of illness to the fetus. Patients over 50 years of age are also recommended to take a full course of thyroxine and triiodothyronine preparations (non-lifelong prescription is allowed). Treatment for hypothyroidism in women includes:

• normalization of activities reproductive system and correction of the menstrual cycle with hormonal drugs (selected by a doctor);
• replenishment of iodine deficiency (Endonorm, Iodomarin).

Medicines on thyroid hormones can be combined (Thyreocomb, Thyreoidin), or based only on thyroxine (L-thyroxine, Bagotiroks). The initial dosage is always minimal (25 mcg), increasing gradually every 2 weeks. The most prescribed drugs:

• Thyroxine - tablets of levothyroxine sodium 50/100 mcg, a synthetic thyroid hormone, in large doses affecting the work of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus. Allowed during pregnancy, dose adjustment is not required, negative impact does not affect the fetus. It is forbidden for exacerbations of heart disease, adrenal insufficiency, thyrotoxicosis, diabetes mellitus. Take the tablets in the morning on an empty stomach with water. Treatment is often lifelong, the dosage is determined by the doctor.
• Thyroidin - combined remedy on the hormones T3 and T4, inhibits the thyroid-stimulating function of the pituitary gland and leads to protein breakdown in large doses. It is prescribed for people who do not tolerate treatment with single thyroxine, who have severe form hypothyroidism (myxedema, cretinism), cerebral-pituitary diseases. Reception is carried out after meals in the morning, the dosage is set individually. The effect of the treatment is visible after 2-3 days. Contraindications - heart disease, diabetes, thyrotoxicosis.

How to cure hypothyroidism without hormones

Due to the large number side effects from thyroxine and triiodothyronine preparations at the initial stage of hypothyroidism, some doctors suggest trying to do without hormonal treatment. Homeopathy (Spongia, Ignatia), nutrition correction, herbal medicine, traditional medicine recipes, vitamin complexes, acupuncture (acupuncture) used in combination become an alternative. You can do without hormones when it comes to:

• subclinical form of the disease with mild symptoms;
• peripheral hypothyroidism;
• slight hormonal imbalance;
• iodine deficiency as the main cause of hypothyroidism.

In children

If the disease is congenital, it is necessary to start treatment already 1-2 weeks after the baby is born: this will help prevent severe disorders of psychosomatic development. If the form of hypothyroidism is not subclinical, the child is prescribed synthetic hormone replacement therapy for life, for which Levothyroxine sodium is used (initial daily dose– 10-15 mcg/kg). With the development of cretinism, the violations are irreversible, but the drug has a positive effect on the course of the disease. Additionally, the treatment regimen includes:

• vitamins A, B12;
• nootropic drugs(Gopantenic acid, Piracetam) - improve brain activity;
• massage (courses);
• physiotherapy under the supervision of a specialist.

How to treat hypothyroidism at home

Drug therapy is carried out on an outpatient basis (at home) - the patient only needs to visit the hospital for regular examinations and tests to check hormone levels. In rare cases, in addition, the doctor prescribes physiotherapy (electrophoresis with iodine, massage, decimeter microwaves), and the rest of the treatment is carried out at home and involves:

• correction of the diet (first of all, remove foods that suppress the production of T3 and T4);
• phytotherapy (application medicinal fees with a diuretic effect, sedative, normalizing the menstrual cycle);
• local impact iodine (well absorbed from the skin, better tolerated than when taken orally).

Diet

Treatment for hypothyroidism of the thyroid gland necessarily involves a nutritional correction: cholesterol-rich foods and sources of saturated fats are removed from the menu. fatty acids, fast carbohydrates, hard to digest food. It is desirable to cook for a couple, or boil, do not use oil. If constipation is present, the amount of fiber consumed increases. It is advisable to take salt iodized, reduce the volume of water to 1.5 liters. To treat a lack of thyroid hormones, they are introduced into the diet:

• sea ​​fish, cod liver, seafood;
• beef, chicken;
• eggs (without yolk);
• milk, cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese;
• cucumbers, zucchini, bell peppers, tomatoes, carrots, apples, grapes, cherries, currants, kiwi, dates, bananas;
• buckwheat, millet;
• walnuts;
• dried fruits.

The restriction is imposed on products containing soy, strong coffee and tea. Spicy, fatty, fried, smoked, fast food, alcohol are completely excluded. It is advisable to forget about products made from corn and wheat flour, polished rice, onions, beans, garlic, avoid using sauces, marinades, and do not add salt to dishes. To avoid obesity, the amount of confectionery products is reduced to 100 g / day, and once a week it is recommended to spend a fasting day on fresh plant foods.

Folk remedies

In the subclinical form, or as an addition to the main treatment regimen, traditional medicine recipes can be used, but the feasibility of each of them should be discussed with the doctor. The following remedies work well for hypothyroidism:

• Seaweed - no more than 100 g per day of a fresh product. The powder is diluted in an amount of 1/2 tsp. in 200 ml of warm water, let it swell and take 2-3 rubles / day after meals. With tuberculosis, kidney disease, pregnancy is prohibited.
• Application of iodine mesh on the neck area - 3 vertical lines and 3 horizontal cotton swab, plot 7*7 cm. The procedure is carried out once a day.
• Dissolve 5% iodine solution (1 drop for weight up to 65 kg, 2 drops for over 65 kg) and Apple vinegar(1 tsp) in warm water (200 ml). Divide into 3 doses, drink with meals. This tool is used with an interval of 3 days.

Video

One of the main causes of hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroiditis, however, it can also develop as a result of inflammation of the thyroid gland, due to thyroid treatment, radiation therapy in the neck, iodine deficiency, pituitary / hypothalamus disease, thyroid surgery (removal of all or a large part of your thyroid gland can reduce hormone production), and medications (such as lithium, often used for mental disorders).

6. Cleansing the body of heavy metals

Eat foods rich in healthy fats that will help balance hormones. These foods include coconut milk, organic beef, avocado fruit and avocado oil, chia and hemp seeds.

9. Color therapy

This is a visual meditation technique that helps to calm and heal certain parts of the body. All you have to do is just close your eyes and imagine blue light entering your thyroid as you breathe in and out.

10. Melissa officinalis

This plant is beneficial for those suffering from hypothyroidism. Melissa basically helps normalize reduced function thyroid, thereby increasing the production of thyroid hormones.

11. Eleutherococcus senticosus

It is an excellent herbal remedy for those suffering from hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. It regulates the level of hormones in the body and helps to normalize the functioning. thymus and adrenals. Take 100-200 mg of Eleutherococcus (Siberian ginseng) extract twice a day (before breakfast and before lunch).

12. Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is an Ayurvedic remedy that has antioxidant properties and helps in the production of the right amount of thyroid hormones and keeps hormone levels in balance.

13. Nettle

14. Flax seeds

15. Black walnut

Another amazing rich iodine herbal remedy for the treatment of hypothyroidism is black walnut, which optimizes the functioning of the thyroid gland and helps to eliminate the symptoms that occur with its reduced function.

16. Bubbly Fucus

Fucus is an important tool for the treatment of a number of diseases, including hypothyroidism, as it contains a large amount of iodine. Fucus vesicles also contains essential substances that help in reducing the size of thyroid goiter and in restoring normal functioning of the thyroid gland. You should take Fucus 200mg supplements to reverse your disease and normalize your thyroid.

17. Licorice

In people with hypothyroidism, the production of cortisol (a hormone that fights stress) in the body is reduced. Licorice tea can help you improve your condition. Steep licorice roots in boiling water for a few minutes. Strain and drink the resulting decoction.

18. Guggul (Commiphora mukul)

Guggul is obtained from the resin of an Indian tree called Kommiphora Mukul. The active compounds guggulsterones are useful in the treatment of hypothyroidism, as they stimulate the normal functioning of the thyroid gland. In addition, it also helps fight obesity, has anti-inflammatory properties and lowers blood cholesterol levels. Guggul can be taken as a dietary supplement.

Note: If you are taking beta-blockers, birth control pills and other medications - check with your doctor before using guggul.

19. Evening primrose oil

This oil allows you to eliminate the problems associated with hypothyroidism, and also contributes to the normal functioning of the thyroid gland. If you have hypothyroidism, take 1 tablespoon of evening primrose oil daily. To enhance the benefits of evening primrose oil, you can also take 1 tablespoon of evening primrose oil daily and

A prolonged and persistent decrease in hormonal levels due to a malfunction of the thyroid gland is called hypothyroidism. initial stage disease usually resolves without visible symptoms, but this does not mean that the solution of the problem can be postponed for more long term. Late diagnosis of the disease, as well as delay in treatment, can lead to serious consequences for the whole organism.

The treatment of hypothyroidism is based on the use of synthetic thyroid hormones. This method is considered the most effective and relatively safe. The success of the therapy depends on the individual characteristics of the organism and on how correctly the dosage of the drug is selected.

Prescribing the right treatment

With thyroid disease, metabolic disorders occur, which negatively affects all organs and systems. human body. As the clinical picture of the onset of hypothyroidism is determined, the attending physician may prescribe a rather long-term replacement therapy.

Currently, medicine has not found ways to restore the natural function of thyroid hormone (TSH) production, so synthetic maintenance of hormonal levels can be lifelong. In addition, replacement therapy should be carried out against the background of a special diet.

Treatment starts with diagnosis

Establishing the cause of the disease is the initial stage of future treatment. According to the results diagnostic study the patient is assigned a strictly individual scheme for taking a hormonal drug.

To make an accurate diagnosis, the following procedures can be performed:

• examination of the thyroid gland to determine the amount of autoimmune antibodies;
• blood test for TSH, T3 and T4 levels;
• x-ray of the thyroid gland;
• biopsy.

In addition, mechanical diagnostic methods are used to examine the thyroid gland:

• Thyroid scan using radioactive iodine. This method helps to determine the absorption rate of this micronutrient. Understated values, identified as a result of the scan, will indicate the presence of hypothyroidism.
• Ultrasonographic examination is a safe method of mechanical diagnosis of the disease. This method is used to identify pathological abnormalities, the degree of enlargement of the diseased organ and the presence of areas of compaction.
• When conducting a laboratory study of hormonal levels, it is also necessary to take into account the most obvious symptoms, which the patient himself must tell about.

A joint assessment of the results of laboratory tests and the symptoms of the disease will help to get the most clear clinical picture.

The appointment of hormonal drugs

Treatment of hypothyroidism with hormonal drugs is by far the most effective way problem solving. Dosage necessary medicine appointed by an endocrinologist based on the results of the tests. According to statistics, most often patients suffer from a lack of the T4 hormone, which is responsible for protein synthesis and tissue metabolism. To restore it, endocrinologists prescribe L-thyroxine. If a laboratory test shows a lack of T4 and T3, then in this case it is recommended to take combination drug- triiodothyronine. Replacement therapy requires a rather long intake, so the prescribed dosage should be periodically adjusted based on the tests taken.

The drug L-thyroxine is a synthetic analogue of the T4 hormone. This medicine has a tablet form of 50 and 100 micrograms. During the reception of such a drug, in no case should you change the dosage yourself. With proper treatment, stabilization of the replacement hormone concentration at the natural level should be observed.

The medication is taken 30 minutes before meals once a day. A visible result from substitution therapy can be seen only six months after the start of hormonal adjustment. Medical treatment of hypothyroidism must be accompanied by diet food and vitamin complexes.

Treatment of thyroid iodine deficiency

The need to restore iodine in the body occurs with iodine deficiency hypothyroidism, so taking drugs containing this trace element is mandatory for patients. The following drugs can be called the most effective:

• Iodomarin is an effective prophylactic agent prescribed for violations of the thyroid gland. If the thyroid gland is unable to maintain the production of iodine at the proper level, this trace element has to be added to the body from the outside. Iodomarin is able to prevent many endocrine disorders and has several important indications to application.

1. First of all, such tablets are prescribed for hypothyroidism of the thyroid gland to adjust the hormonal background.
2. Secondly, this drug is a prophylactic agent for the recurrence of the disease.

To prevent iodine deficiency, children are recommended to drink the drug at 100 mg per day, adults - 200 mg. If a chronic iodine deficiency was detected during the diagnosis of the disease, then the dosage of the drug is doubled. It should be noted that the appointment of such a drug should be carried out only by a professional doctor.

• Laminaria is an alternative substitute for iodomarin. In fact, kelp is an algae that is sold in a pharmacy in dried form. This herbal preparation must be added to daily meals. Pharmacists also offer various medical preparations, which include kelp. In addition, this plant is a component of some dietary supplements.

Recovery of iodine deficiency in the body is a very important procedure. The chronic lack of this element negatively affects the functioning of many organs and systems. It is especially important to maintain the natural balance of iodine in children.

Maintaining a balance of vitamins

When diagnosing a hormonal imbalance, the appointment of a vitamin complex is considered mandatory. A full restoration of metabolic processes is impossible with vitamin starvation. Patients with hypothyroidism need the following vitamins:

• Vitamins A and B - help restore immunity.
• Vitamin E - improves blood circulation of organs, which significantly speeds up the process of restoration of all body systems.
• Vitamin C - contributes to the return of the thyroid gland to normal operation.
• Omega 3 - starts the process of regeneration of diseased cells, and also helps to restore metabolic processes.

Complex vitamin preparations are quite widely represented among pharmaceutical products, so finding a suitable option is not difficult. Doctors pay special attention to such a drug as fish oil. This product contains most of the vital trace elements and vitamins, and, therefore, will be a good prophylactic for hypothyroidism.

Therapeutic diet

The chances of successful restoration of the hormonal background increase significantly if the patient observes a certain therapeutic diet, which is developed in compliance with certain rules:

• Products that are eaten daily should contain a large amount of vitamins and minerals.
• Fatty foods will have to be completely eliminated. To restore intercellular metabolism, products that are easily digested are needed.
• During treatment, you will also have to exclude flour products and sweets.
• Soy is the main enemy in hypothyroidism, so it should also be removed from the daily menu.
• Every day, the patient should consume iodine-containing foods, such as seaweed, walnuts, persimmons, seafood. You also need to replace regular salt with iodized salt.
• With hypothyroidism, nutritionists recommend eating more vegetables and fruits, as well as protein foods.

Quite often in patients with hypothyroidism, there is a phenomenon such as constipation. To prevent such a nuisance, it is necessary to include foods with a high fiber content in the diet. Due to the slowdown of metabolic processes, the liquid is excreted from the body for a rather long time, resulting in swelling of tissues and internal organs. In connection with this phenomenon, it is worth limiting the consumption of water and other liquids to 1.5 liters per day. At proper diet improves not only the metabolism, but also the psycho-emotional state of the patient.

ethnoscience

Treatment endocrine disease folk methods should take place in conjunction with drug therapy. The use of herbal preparations and natural products aimed at maintaining immune system, stabilization psycho-emotional state and removal of visual symptoms of the disease.

Recipes alternative medicine can be used indoors and outdoors. When using herbal medicine, it is important to maintain regularity. Herbal preparations must be consumed in certain courses, between which there must be mandatory breaks.

To relieve a symptom such as puffiness, you can use herbal preparations with diuretic properties. Typically, such mixtures include St. John's wort, parsley, oregano, mint. Also, when edema occurs, careful massotherapy and various cosmetic baths and compresses.

found in the plant kingdom different kinds herbs, the composition of which is identical to thyroid hormones (white cinquefoil, beaver uterus). Such plants are able to take an active part in the restoration of hormonal levels, so the use folk recipes must be agreed with the attending physician.

Description:

Hypothyroidism is a disease state caused by the cessation or a significant decrease in the level of secretion of thyroid hormones. Hypothyroidism can be either congenital or acquired. With its congenital character or acquired in early childhood (up to 3 years), patients develop cretinism with its inherent mental and physical inferiority. Such patients are undersized, with pale gray wrinkled facial skin ("monkey" face), sunken wide nose, low forehead, carious teeth, they are mentally handicapped, suffer from deafness, muscular lethargy, and constipation. Many of them are diagnosed with nodular goiter. In addition to the extreme degree of mental inferiority observed in cretins, there may be transient variants of intellectual decline that characterize cretinoids.

Causes of occurrence:

Hypothyroidism can be the result of both damage to the thyroid gland itself of a congenital or acquired nature, and disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary system, accompanied by a cessation of secretion of thyroid-stimulating thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).
Hypothyroidism caused by malformations and damage to the thyroid gland is called primary, and depending on the violation of the pituitary regulation of the thyroid gland - secondary. Both of these forms are manifested by a similar clinical picture.
Gland insufficiency caused by endemic goiter, thyroiditis, and surgery on the gland is often characterized by incomplete cessation of the production of thyroid hormones.

Symptoms:

Clinical picture hypothyroidism is determined by the degree of impairment secretory function gland, the age at which it occurs, the constitutional features of the patient, and therefore varies widely.
In severe hypothyroidism in adults, in addition to the symptoms mentioned above, characteristic of a mild degree of the disease, there is a sharp general weakness, motor and mental retardation, swelling and puffiness of the face, hoarseness of voice, slow and slurred speech, an increase in tongue, hair loss, and a decrease in temperature. body, slow heartbeat, constipation, decreased basal metabolism, a sharp decline absorption of radioactive iodine-131 by the thyroid gland, anemia, increased cholesterol levels in the blood, a decrease in the content of protein-bound iodine in the blood serum, etc.
The cessation of thyroid function leads to the development, which is one of the signs of thyroid insufficiency, usually complete. Therefore, severe hypothyroidism is often called myxedema.
Untreated hypothyroidism is accompanied by accelerated development and its complications - myocardial infarction, cerebral vessels and main vessels. That's why early diagnosis disease is essential for the life of the patient.

Treatment:

For treatment appoint:

Treatment of patients with primary hypothyroidism is carried out only with thyroidin or pure hormonal preparations - thyroxine, triiodothyronine, which "prosthetic" the function of the thyroid gland. This treatment is called replacement. It is highly effective in patients who developed hypothyroidism in adolescence and adulthood, less effective when the disease developed in childhood, and not at all effective in congenital hypothyroidism. In secondary - pituitary - hypothyroidism, in addition to substitution treatment, it is necessary to prescribe thyroid-stimulating hormone to patients.
Surgical intervention on the thyroid gland in patients with hypothyroidism is performed only if the gland is damaged.
In connection with the success in organ transplantation, operations were performed surgical treatment in hypothyroidism by transplanting a human thyroid gland on a vascular pedicle to patients.
However, like transplants of thyroid tissue previously performed in such patients, transplants of the latter on a vascular pedicle give only a short-term effect. Therefore, their implementation can be justified only if patients are intolerant to thyroid drugs or if they are ineffective.