Prevalence and Types of Hypothyroidism
Prevalence of Hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism is a fairly common endocrine disorder . Approximately 5% of US population is diagnosed with hypothyroidism. It is a condition that often goes undiagnosed, nearly 60% of patients with hypothyroidism don’t realize they have it . More common in women: 12-15% of women have hypothyroidism as opposed to men who have an incidence of 2-5% More common in older adults: Most patients are over 30 years old at the time of diagnosis. However, occurrence in youth has been recorded too Iodine deficiency: Several million people are diagnosed with low iodine hypothyroidism. This phenomenon is common in underdeveloped countries as opposed to developed nations Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine condition in which the thyroid gland is not functioning properly and produces a reduced amount of thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone is produced by the thyroid gland and plays a crucial role in maintaining proper body functions such as metabolism. When thyroid hormone is low, the whole body slows down. The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of the neck. Thyroid hormone impacts Metabolism Weight Mood Brain development and function Cardiac function Respiratory rate Temperature control Muscle skeletal system Reflexes and strength Menstrual cycle Types of Hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism is classified by type: