The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland that secretes hormones and is located over the trachea, or windpipe. The thyroid gland is responsible for controlling how quickly the body uses energy and how sensitive the body should be to other hormones primarily through the production of T3 and T4 hormones. There are several different types of thyroid problems that stem from either too much or too little hormone secretion.
Autoimmune Problems
According to the Mayo Clinic, autoimmune conditions are the most common cause of hypothyroidism. An autoimmune response happens when the body attacks its own tissues. There is no conclusive evidence proving why the body produces antibodies against itself or why it sometimes attacks the thyroid gland. The end result is that these antibodies affect the ability of the thyroid to produce hormones and thus affects your overall health.
After the Birth of Your Baby
Thyroiditis after the birth of a child is another autoimmune condition that is triggered in approximately 10 percent of women. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), the condition will develop between four and 12 months after delivery. Usually if you develop a thyroid condition after pregnancy it will not require treatment and the condition will resolve spontaneously. But you will also have a higher probability of developing the same disorder permanently within seven years.
Non-Functioning Gland
According to the Cleveland Clinic, approximately 1 in 4,000 infants are born with a thyroid gland that doesn't function normally. This means that the thyroid gland doesn't secrete hormones and can't correct energy expenditure and other hormonally controlled bodily functions. If it is left untreated the child will be both physically and mentally retarded.
Medications
According to the UMMC, some medications have an effect on the thyroid gland that can induce either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. The most common medications that have this effect are lithium, amiodarone, medications that treat epilepsy, antidepressants and radiation therapy.
Iodine Deficiency
According to the Cleveland Clinic, iodine deficiency used to be the primary cause of hypothyroidism before the 1950s. However, today iodine deficiency has been almost completely wiped out in the United States with the introduction of iodized salt, but it continues to be a problem in countries where iodized salt is not available to the general public. Too much iodine can also signal the gland to stop the production of T3 hormone, which also results in hypothyroidism.
Post Treatment for Hyperthyroidism or Cancer
If you have had radioactive iodine treatment for an overactive thyroid there is a 50 percent chance that you will develop hypothyroidism within one year of treatment. According to the UMMC, radioactive iodine is the treatment of choice for Graves' disease, which is the most common form of hyperthyroidism. High doses of radiation in the head and neck for cancer can also trigger hypothyroidism up to 10 years after treatment.
