About 10% of the 12-15 million people in the United States suffering from hypothyroidism comply with the treatment standards recommended by the American Thyroid Association, but doctors regularly prescribe levothyroxine, a synthetic thyroid hormone, the dose of which is adjusted until the level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in the blood stabilizes. Despite routine TSH […]

Pregnancy causes many changes in a woman’s body. One of these changes is the levels of various hormones produced by the body. In the case of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), pregnant women produce lower than normal levels (0.4 to 4.0 milli international units per liter). Some international guidelines recommend that levels not exceed 2.5 to 3 […]

A study led by the University of Birmingham strongly supports current recommendations for the treatment of patients with hypothyroidism and validates the latest UK and US guidelines, researchers say. The retrospective cohort study, published in the BMJ, analyzed anonymous GP records of more than 162,000 patients diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a condition in which […]

According to a study conducted by researchers from Rush University Medical Center, African Americans with a common genetic mutation are at higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, while Europeans with the same mutation are not. The results were published in the online issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism dated 02/22/2018. A genetic […]

This week, we highlighted reader questions about generic drug prices, high-deductible health plans and health plans covered under the Health Care Act. Q: I take levothyroxine, a generic Synthroid, to treat a thyroid condition. For as long as I can remember, this generic has been on the list of drugs that cost $10 for a […]

Dear Mayo Clinic I am five months pregnant and have just been diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I have never had thyroid problems before. Is this diagnosis related to my pregnancy? Will my hypothyroidism go away after I give birth? A: Hypothyroidism is most likely triggered by pregnancy, but the underlying cause is probably not the pregnancy […]

Inactivated and mRNA COVID-19 vaccines appear to be safe for patients being treated for hypothyroidism, according to a new study presented at the Endocrine Society Annual Meeting ENDO2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. The study found that these vaccines do not cause significant changes in thyroid function and are not associated with an increased risk of emergency […]

January is Thyroid Awareness Month and a good time to learn how important it is for the thyroid gland to function properly. The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck. It produces hormones that regulate heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and weight. If the thyroid gland is not […]

After years of suffering from bouts of debilitating fatigue, Beth Van Orden thought she had finally found the answer to her problem when she was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s autoimmune disease in 2016. Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the butterfly-shaped thyroid gland located in the neck stops producing enough hormones needed to regulate the body’s […]

Treatment of hypothyroidism caused by underactive thyroid should be individualized, and alternatives to first-line therapy, such as dry thyroid extract or combination therapy to replace the two major thyroid hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), should be considered. Results of the new randomized clinical trial will be presented at ENDO 2021, the annual meeting of […]