Word parts
What it means
An underactive thyroid. Thyroid hormone sets the speed of the body's chemical work (metabolism), so when there is too little, the body slows down: tiredness, weight gain, feeling cold, dry skin, constipation, a slow pulse and slow thinking. A common cause is Hashimoto thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease; it is also caused by surgery or radiation to the thyroid. It is treated with daily thyroid hormone, levothyroxine.
For the nurse
Teach the client to take levothyroxine at the same time every day on an empty stomach, usually 30 to 60 minutes before breakfast, and that it is usually lifelong. Report signs of too much hormone (fast heart rate, chest pain, nervousness). Severe, untreated hypothyroidism can lead to myxedema coma, with very low temperature, slow breathing and low blood pressure.
Remember it
Hypo is low: everything slows down.
At a glance
| Everyday words | underactive thyroid |
|---|---|
| Spanish | hipotiroidismo |
| Also written | hypothyroid, underactive thyroid |
Easy to confuse with
hyperthyroidism
A condition in which the thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone.
Related terms
hypo-
A word beginning that means under, below or less than normal.
hyperthyroidism
A condition in which the thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone.
thyr/o
A word part that means the thyroid gland.