Primary hypothyroidism is the most common type of pathology such as hypothyroidism. It is determined in 95% of cases of manifestation of hypothyroidism. And the frequency of detection of primary subclinical (hidden, not having pronounced symptoms) reaches a ten percent prevalence among women. In men, this disease is three times less common. Identification of congenital primary hypothyroidism in newborns is one case per 4-5 thousand children.

What caused the disease

The word “primary” in the name of the pathology means that this disease arose independently, which was facilitated by some reasons. Subsequent disorders caused by insufficient production of thyroid hormones are called “secondary”. Secondary and tertiary hypothyroidism occurs due to pathological changes in the functioning of the pituitary and hypothalamus, respectively.

With any of these forms, the hormonal background is disturbed, discord is introduced into the consistency of the process of the endocrine system. According to the results of the tests, hypothyroidism is divided into:

1. Subclinical or latent. The symptoms are not obvious. According to the results of the analysis, TSH is elevated, while T4 is normal;
2. Manifest . There is hypersecretion of TSH, the level of T4 is reduced;
3. Complicated. Accompanied by a number of comorbidities. These include pathologies such as cretinism and heart failure. Complicated hypothyroidism significantly reduces the life of a sick patient.

In the absence of adequate treatment, the primary form contributes to the occurrence of disorders in the performance of other organs, for example, cardiac activity. Causes of primary hypothyroidism can be:

1. Chronic inflammation of the thyroid gland – thyroiditis. Such inflammation of a non-infectious nature, occurring in tissues, is often associated with an aggressive manifestation of one’s own immunity against thyroid cells. In this case, thyroiditis is called autoimmune. Pathology develops for a long time.
2. Endemic – characteristic of a particular area – goiter. An increase in the size of the thyroid gland (hyperplasia) is possible due to a severe deficiency in the body of iodine for a long time.
3. Hypothyroidism may be a consequence of surgical treatment of thyroid pathologies, as well as exposure to tissue of radioactive iodine or ionizing radiation.
4. birth defects. The absence of an organ, its small size or non-standard location. Such defects appear due to hereditary nature, exposure to harmful factors or medications on the mother’s body during the period of bearing a child.
5. Poisoning by chemicals or drugs.
6. Thermally or chemically induced burns.
7. Neoplasms that occur in the tissues of the thyroid gland.

There are people who need to be especially attentive to their own health due to the increased possibility of manifestation of pathology. The risk group includes:

• having a hereditary predisposition to malfunctioning of the thyroid gland;
• people living in areas with high radiation or in ecologically unfavorable areas;
• patients whose diet does not include seafood, food and drink contains little iodine;
• women over 65 and pregnant.

The primary form of hypothyroidism can occur due to a monotonous and not rich in vitamins nutrition. This manifestation is reversible. After the normalization of the diet, the activity of the thyroid gland is fully restored.

Subclinical hypothyroidism is a latent form of the disease. At the same time, the symptomatology is implicit and lubricated. In such cases, the examination indicates the presence of the disease, however, there are no clear signs of the presence of the disease. At the same time, the patient does not know about the pathology that has a destructive effect on the body.

Symptoms of the disease

Dependence of the symptoms of primary hypothyroidism on the cause of its occurrence does not exist. However, there is a dependence of the severity of manifestations on how much the functionality of the thyroid gland is lost. There are few complaints in subclinical hypothyroidism. In this case, the symptoms of pathology may be completely absent. At the same time, the manifest stage of the development of the disease is characterized by multiple patient complaints.

The symptoms of hypothyroidism are mostly non-specific. That is, the same complaints are possible with many other diseases – the rapid onset of fatigue, reduced performance, apathy, memory loss, forgetfulness, weakness throughout the body, and sexual desire decreases.

However, there are also symptoms that are characteristic of a decrease in the efficiency of the thyroid gland:

• constant sleepiness;
• decrease in mental abilities;
• frequent constipation;
• persistence of puffiness both on the face and on the body;
• increase in body weight with no change in the process of nutrition;
• constantly accompanying feeling of chills and surrounding coldness;
• hoarseness and low timbre of voice;
• decreased body temperature.

Usually, when examining a patient, some lethargy and lethargy are revealed, the skin is dry and thickened, and the facial expression is indifference. Often the pulse and body temperature are lowered. Patients look outwardly older than their actual age. Blood pressure in many older people is increased, at the same time, in young people it is lowered.

On palpation of the thyroid gland, nodes and goiter (increase in size) are often found. In the case of autoimmune thyroiditis, the tissues of the diseased organ become dense and lose their uniformity. In cases where the manifestation of primary hypothyroidism is associated with surgical intervention, a small scar is visible on the patient’s neck.

Diagnostics

If symptoms of primary hypothyroidism are detected, the patient will be shown to undergo an examination. The most representative for confirming the diagnosis is an analysis for the quantitative content of thyroid-stimulating hormone. Such a disease is always manifested by an increase in the level of TSH. The stronger the insufficiency of the thyroid gland, the higher the concentration of the hormone.

Then, in terms of representativeness, the content of thyroid hormones in the blood plasma – triiodothyronine and thyroxine – follows. Often the need to determine T3 is not urgent.

If there is a low level of hormones in the blood plasma (in accordance with the age norm) of the thyroid gland, it is possible to talk about the diagnosis of overt hypothyroidism. In the case of a change in only the level of TSH, the established stage of the disease is a subclinical form of pathology. To clarify the diagnosis, a lipid profile may also be required – a set of blood tests to objectify violations in the body’s fat metabolic processes.