Hypothyroidism - a set of symptoms that develop when sustained reduction in thyroid function The thyroid gland - is responsible for your hormones . If hypothyroidism is caused by disease of the thyroid gland, it is called primary if the cause is lack of thyroid-stimulating hormone pituitary - secondary. Symptoms of hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland can increase gradually and imperceptibly for the patient. It is important to identify them in time and prescribe adequate treatment.

The main symptoms of hypothyroidism

A feature of hypothyroidism is that its symptoms develop slowly and gradually. Therefore, patients in most cases they do not notice, addressed to the doctor with an already advanced stage of the disease.

Hypothyroidism begins with the appearance of lethargy, apathy, sleepiness, decreased performance, reluctance to move, dryness of skin and mucous membranes. And as hypothyroidism often develops in older people, many associate it with displays of old age.

Then, in the skin and subcutaneous tissue appear dense swelling, skin becomes tense, shiny, flaky. Swelling often develop on the face, shoulders and legs. If on such swelling pressure finger remains dents and skin is not going to fold (mucous edema, myxedema). Edema can spread to the mucosa of the upper airway, which could result in nasal congestion and hoarseness. On elbows and knees skin becomes more coarse than on other sites.

Characterized by the appearance of such patients: a rounded, puffy, sedentary, lacking facial face mask with an expression of complete indifference to everything. The facial skin is pale, with bluish-pink or yellowish tinge expressed puffiness under the eyes. Movement slow, reduced emotional background (appears indifferent even to loved ones). Patients are constantly freezing, and wrap up in warm clothes, even in summer.

Hair become thin, brittle, falling out, baldness begins. Sometimes hair falls outside in the eyebrows, eyelashes are thinning. The nails also become brittle, covered with numerous grooves.

Symptoms of dysfunction of the internal organs in hypothyroidism

Very often, when hypothyroidism is suffering cardio-vascular system. The patient appears slow heart rate (bradycardia), systolic (top) blood pressure may be normal, and the diastolic (lower) almost always consistently high. Reduced blood volume and cardiac contractility, but heart failure and cardiac arrhythmia is rare. Disorders of lipid metabolism contribute to the rapid development of atherosclerosis and related diseases (coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis and endarteritis, etc.).

Reduced motor activity of the stomach and intestines, impaired degradation and absorption of food, locks appear. He suffers from kidney filtration capacity.

Symptoms of metabolic and endocrine disorders in hypothyroidism

By reducing the blood levels of thyroid hormones Thyroid hormones: mechanism of action and physiological effects   in the cells of organs and tissues violated all kinds of metabolism. Primarily reduced carbohydrate metabolism and the formation of the energy from glucose Glucose: The energy source . Lack of energy forces used as "fuel" fats and proteins, which leads to a large amount of blood to toxic substances that suppress the activity of the whole organism causing the patient and headaches and amplification of all disease symptoms. Also decreases protein synthesis, fat, certain enzymes and hormones. This leads to a further disturbance of the function of various organs and tissues.

Disturbed activity of other endocrine glands, especially sex (develop menstrual irregularities in women), and adrenal glands.

The symptoms of neuropsychiatric disorders in hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is often accompanied by a variety of motor and sensory disorders of the peripheral nervous system. There are muscle weakness, impaired coordination of movements in some parts of the body may experience sensory disturbances.

Quite often develop mental disorders and a reduction of memory and intelligence. At the same time the most affected children, who develop pronounced signs of dementia. In adult patients with hypothyroidism can cause minor mental disorders in the form of a reduction of intellectual abilities, memory, slow process of thinking and speech.

Sometimes develops emotional lability, tearfulness, irritability Irritability - you try to control my temper   and even aggressiveness. Against the background of these disorders in some patients develop psychosis.

Hypothyroidism should be identified as early as possible, until it is irreversible changes in the body.

Galina Romanenko

Galactorrhea - a pathological expiry of milk in lactating women, which lasts for five months after being stopped breast-feeding. In non-breastfeeding women are not allocated milk, milky discharge. The reason for this status lies in the increased secretion of pituitary hormone prolactin. Galactorrhea and amenorrhea tend to accompany each other.

Galactorrhea and amenorrhea - how are they related?

Galactorrhea occurs under the influence of a large number of secretion of pituitary hormone prolactin. At the same time inhibits the secretion of prolactin, gonadotropin-Riesling-releasing hormone (GnRH) of the hypothalamus, whose main task is to stimulate the secretion of pituitary gonadotropins (TG) and luteinizing follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH and LH).

Lack TG affects ovarian function. Lack of FSH does not allow the egg to ripen, does not produce enough estrogen, so the mucous membrane of the uterus (the endometrium) is not growing (proliferation phase missing). Lack of LH suppresses ovulation Ovulation - How to determine as accurately as possible?   - Out egg from the ovary, although it is not possible because of the fact that the egg does not mature.

Due to the lack of ovulation is not followed by a second phase of the menstrual cycle as the corpus luteum is formed which normally secretes progesterone Progesterone - norm and pathology . Always the same low (monotonous) secretion of female sex hormones leads to the fact that it is impossible to process monthly rejection of the endometrium, coupled with the normal hormonal support cliff. So, it does not begin and menstruation, that is, at high levels of prolactin in the blood comes persistent amenorrhea.

Why can increase the secretion of prolactin by the pituitary gland

In the majority of cases the cause of elevated prolactin is a benign tumor of the pituitary gland prolactinoma. Therefore, an increase in the blood levels of prolactin in the first place eliminate the presence of prolactinoma.

In addition, the reason for the increase in the blood levels of prolactin can be a benign tumor of the pituitary gland somatotropinoma which produces growth hormone in many respects similar to prolactin - it can inhibit the secretion of TG. Different tumors and diseases of the hypothalamus, as well as stress can suppress the secretion of GnRH and adversely affect the function of the entire neurohormonal system.

Hypersecretion of prolactin can cause a variety of diseases and tumors of the thyroid and adrenal glands. Sometimes this function is performed by stimulating drugs with psychotropic effects (chlorpromazine, haloperidol), combined oral contraceptives (COCs), antiemetic drugs (such as Reglan).

During feeding baby Breastfeeding - a personal choice   breast occurs reflex stimulation of prolactin secretion. The syndrome galactorrhea - amenorrhea in this case is a physiological nature. It is often used for natural protection against unwanted pregnancy. But this protection is reliable only if the regular breastfeeding. After the introduction of the first foods Introduce solid foods - how not to be mistaken with a choice of products?   (5-6 months).

Sometimes, the same reflex stimulation of prolactin secretion occurs in inflammatory diseases of the breast (mastitis), burns, breast surgery, shingles, and so on.

Some other diseases may also contribute to increased secretion of prolactin.

Symptoms of the syndrome galactorrhea - amenorrhea

The main features of the syndrome galactorrhea - amenorrhea are lactescent expiry of milk or fluid from the breast, and the absence of menstruation. Discharge from the nipple may be as abundant and drip. Mammary glands are also subject to change under the influence of prolactin: they often show signs of fibrocystic breast.

Reduced secretion of sex hormones leads to the suppression of sexual function: decreased libido, there are atrophic changes (decrease in volume) in the uterus, ovaries and vulva. Genital mucosa become dry, which may interfere with sex and promote urinary disorders.

Sometimes it appears as obesity, male pattern body hair, acne - all signs of elevated blood level of the male sex hormone.

Diagnosis and treatment

When amenorrhea any origin must be conducted blood tests on hormones. High levels of prolactin in the blood at low levels of TG and pituitary of female sex hormones is always a suspicion of a prolactinoma. To identify this tumor are conducted radiographic study of the brain, computer and magnetic resonance tomography. At the same time the area is surveyed and the hypothalamus.

Treatment of amenorrhea-galactorrhea syndrome is usually conservative. Prescribe drugs that suppress the secretion of prolactin, such as parlodel. The operation is performed only when the prolactinoma shows no sensitivity to Parlodel, as well as large prolactinoma, compressing the surrounding tissue.

Galina Romanenko