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Did you know how a thyroid deficiency can cause unexpected mood changes?
Insufficient thyroid, also known as low thyroid function or hypothyroidism, is a disease of the endocrine system. When the thyroid gland fails to produce enough thyroid hormone, it may cause a variety of symptoms, including cold intolerance, extreme fatigue, Muscle pain, constipation, slow heartbeat, and mood changes such as depression. These mood changes are often ignored, but their root causes may be closely related to hormonal changes in the human body.
Untreated thyroid deficiency, especially during pregnancy, may result in delayed fetal growth and mental development, and even congenital iodine deficiency.
Globally, a lack of iodine in the diet is one of the leading causes of thyroid insufficiency. Additionally, in countries with sufficient iodine, the most common cause is Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease that causes the thyroid gland to gradually erode. Because the hormones secreted by the thyroid gland affect multiple systems in the body, when hormone levels are abnormal, mood swings may occur, making patients feel depressed, anxious, and even hopeless.
Clinically, many people’s understanding of thyroid insufficiency still focuses on physical symptoms, such as weight gain, muscle weakness, etc. But little attention is paid to emotional changes. In fact, thyroid hormone plays an important role in brain function and mood regulation. When hormone levels are too low, it can affect the balance of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine, which are involved in mood control.
Insufficient thyroid affects approximately 5% of the population in the United States, with women having a higher incidence than men.
To diagnose hypothyroidism, doctors usually do blood tests to measure levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxine (T4). These tests not only help confirm the functional status of the thyroid gland, but also provide a further understanding of the patient's emotional and mental health. If thyroid function is suppressed, a patient's emotional problems may be dismissed as other mental health issues, ignoring possible physical factors.
Management of thyroid insufficiency relies primarily on thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Patients usually take levothyroxine, a synthetic form of thyroid hormone, to restore normal hormone levels. However, the process doesn't happen overnight, and medical professionals need to adjust dosages based on the patient's symptoms and the results of blood tests.
In addition to physical symptoms, mental health support is equally important. Many patients who receive thyroid replacement therapy experience significant improvements in mood, but the depression and anxiety that precedes this may require additional psychotherapy or counseling support. The condition is particularly common among women, whose psychological symptoms may become more pronounced after pregnancy or childbirth.
Research shows that mild or subclinical thyroid insufficiency may lead to infertility and a higher risk of miscarriage, which puts additional stress on women's mental health.
During pregnancy, even mild or subclinical thyroid insufficiency can have serious consequences for maternal and fetal health. Many women may experience only mild symptoms in early pregnancy, making them and their medical providers prone to neglect when it comes to paying attention to the condition. During pregnancy, the demand for thyroid hormones increases significantly, which may also cause some women to experience mood swings during this period, and the resulting anxiety will remain high.
Similarly, in children, failure to properly manage a thyroid deficiency can lead to problems with growth and mental development. Newborns facing thyroid deficiency may have normal weight and height at birth but may still experience developmental delays and learning disabilities. These problems become more obvious as they age and may affect their emotional and social abilities.
Therefore, understanding and paying attention to the physical and mental effects of thyroid deficiency is critical to better managing this condition. As society pays more attention to mental health, more and more medical professionals are beginning to pay attention to the impact of thyroid health on emotional and mental health in order to establish more comprehensive treatment plans.
Such research is continuing to develop, and we should continue to reflect on the fact that perhaps there are physiological roots behind some emotional changes. Can such a connection help us better understand and manage the psychological problems we encounter in life? What about challenges?
