Dr. Vernon S. Redd
 Chiropractor - Neurologist - Clinical Nutritionist
Nutrition & Health Center
 10801 Lomas Blvd NE, Suite 100
Albuquerque, NM 87112
(505) 888-6138

 
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Education Center - Hypothyroid Quick Check

Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the body lacks sufficient thyroid hormone. Since the main purpose of thyroid hormone is to "run the body's metabolism," it is understandable that people with this condition will have symptoms associated with a slow metabolism.

There are two fairly common causes of hypothyroidism. The first is a result of previous (or currently ongoing) inflammation of the thyroid gland, which leaves a large percentage of the cells of the thyroid damaged (or dead) and incapable of producing sufficient hormone. The most common cause of thyroid gland failure is called autoimmune thyroiditis (also called Hashimoto's thyroiditis), a form of thyroid inflammation caused by the patient's own immune system.

The second major cause is the broad category of "medical treatments." The treatment of many thyroid conditions warrants surgical removal of a portion or all of the thyroid gland. If the total mass of thyroid producing cells left within the body are not enough to meet the needs of the body, the patient will develop hypothyroidism. Remember, this is often the goal of the surgery for thyroid cancer.

But at other times, the surgery will be to remove a worrisome nodule, leaving half of the thyroid in the neck undisturbed. Sometimes, this remaining thyroid lobe and isthmus will produce enough hormone to meet the demands of the body. For other patients, however, it may become apparent years later that the remaining thyroid just can't quite keep up with demand.

There are several other rare causes of hypothyroidism, one of them being a completely "normal" thyroid gland that is not making enough hormone because of a problem in the pituitary gland. If the pituitary does not produce enough thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) then the thyroid simply does not have the "signal" to make hormone. So it doesn't.

Left untreated, the symptoms of hypothyroidism will usually progress. Rarely, complications can result in severe life-threatening depression, heart failure, or coma.

Read more about Hypothyroid here!

The test below is designed to give you a general baseline for your current risk of hypothyroidism.  This test is not designed to diagnose or treat any condition.

Rate the following from 0 to 5, with 0 being "no problem", and 5 being a "severe problem".

 
1) Fatigue
0 1 2 3 4 5
2) Muscle aches and pains
0 1 2 3 4 5
3) Joint pains
0 1 2 3 4 5
4) Fibromyalgia
0 1 2 3 4 5
5) Feelings of weakness
0 1 2 3 4 5
6) Lethargy, or loss of interest in daily activities
0 1 2 3 4 5
7) Memory loss
0 1 2 3 4 5
8) Concentration difficulties
0 1 2 3 4 5
9) Mental sluggishness
0 1 2 3 4 5
10) Low moods
0 1 2 3 4 5
11) Depression
0 1 2 3 4 5
12) Cold hands and feet
0 1 2 3 4 5
13) Sensitivity to cold
0 1 2 3 4 5
14) Tendency towards constipation
0 1 2 3 4 5
15) Weight gain
0 1 2 3 4 5
16) Low blood sugar / hypoglycemia
0 1 2 3 4 5
17) Menstrual problems
0 1 2 3 4 5
18) Heavy bleeding during menses
0 1 2 3 4 5
19) Repeated colds and flu
0 1 2 3 4 5
20) Skin problems (itching, eczema, psoriasis, acne, or coarse, dry, scaly skin)
0 1 2 3 4 5
21) Do not perspire easily
0 1 2 3 4 5
22) Hoarse voice
0 1 2 3 4 5
23) Feeling of fullness in neck
0 1 2 3 4 5
24) Swelling of the eyelids
0 1 2 3 4 5
25) Hair loss
0 1 2 3 4 5
26) Dry, coarse hair
0 1 2 3 4 5
27) Loss of outer 1/3 of eyebrows
0 1 2 3 4 5
28) I have about as many mental and emotional symptoms as physical symptoms
0 1 2 3 4 5


Your total is: 

A score of 20-40 suggests mild hypothyroidism; 40-70 suggests moderate hypothyroidism; and over 70 suggests significant hypothyroid problems.
 

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10801 Lomas Blvd NE, Suite 100, Albuquerque, NM 87112 * Phone: 505-888-6138
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