I. What is hypothyroidism? What are its causes? A: The full name of hypothyroidism is hypothyroidism, which refers to the inability of the thyroid gland to produce enough thyroid hormone to meet the normal needs of the body for various reasons. The prevalence of clinical hypothyroidism is about 1%, and is more common in women than men, with the prevalence increasing with age. Hypothyroidism is caused by surgical removal of part of the thyroid gland; 2. Hypothyroidism is caused by isotope therapy, which damages part of the thyroid tissue; 3. 5. Pituitary hypothyroidism caused by factors such as pituitary tumor surgery, which destroys the center (command) of the pituitary gland that controls the thyroid gland; 6. Other causes, such as thyroid hormone resistance, etc. Second, what is the danger of hypothyroidism and its symptoms? A: Hypothyroidism starts in the embryonic or neonatal period is called cretinism, also known as “cretinism”, it will significantly hinder the growth and development process of infants and children, especially the skeletal system and the nervous system; childhood onset is called juvenile hypothyroidism, early childhood hypothyroidism patients show growth retardation, mental retardation, after the age of 2 years onset of IQ impact The most serious cases will affect the respiratory center, causing sleep apnea and even respiratory failure, and even death. If you have 5 or more of the following symptoms, it is recommended to go to the hospital and have your nail function checked: easy to get sleepy, low physical strength and energy; slow thinking, hard to concentrate, memory loss; weight gain; dry skin, nails become brittle, gray, easy to break; often feel cold; easily depressed and depressed; easy to urinate; feel stiff and painful muscles and bones, numbness in hands, increased blood pressure or slow heartbeat; increased cholesterol level; C. How is hypothyroidism diagnosed? A: Diagnosis of disease requires a combination of clinical symptoms, signs and laboratory tests, and hypothyroidism is no exception. When patients experience weakness, drowsiness, memory loss, coldness, swelling and other discomforts, they need to seek medical attention and undergo laboratory tests to diagnose hypothyroidism. The indicators that need to be tested include thyroid function, thyroid autoantibodies and other specific indicators. 4. What is the treatment for hypothyroidism? A: In general, hypothyroidism is treated with replacement therapy. The amount of substitution needs to be individualized according to the degree of hypothyroidism and the patient’s own situation. For mild hypothyroidism, no special treatment is generally needed. Diet therapy can be used to supplement iodine, the raw material for thyroid hormone production, by eating appropriate seafood, so as to achieve the purpose of treatment; while for moderate and severe hypothyroidism, thyroid hormone replacement therapy must be used. Of course, the specific dosage needs to vary from person to person. Young patients should have regular review of thyroid function and adjust the medication according to the index, and it is generally recommended to control sTSH below 2.5 IU/ml, with an optimal range of 1-2. Elderly patients do not require too much supplementation, as long as sTSH is controlled within the normal level again. Hypothyroidism is generally irreversible and requires lifelong replacement therapy. V. Can I eat seafood when I have hypothyroidism? A: Iodine is an important raw material necessary for thyroid hormone synthesis, and seafood is rich in iodine. However, the intake of seafood in hypothyroidism still requires evidence-based treatment. For hypothyroidism caused by surgery such as thyroid nodules, you can eat more seafood to supplement the raw materials necessary for thyroid hormone synthesis; for hypothyroidism caused by Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, in principle, seafood is not contraindicated and can be consumed, but excessive intake is not recommended because excessive iodine intake will increase thyroid autoantibodies (TPOAb, TGAb) and thus aggravate thyroiditis; for hypothyroidism caused by hyperthyroidism treated with isotopes, as long as the iodine is used to promote the development of thyroid hormone synthesis, the intake of seafood is not recommended. For hypothyroidism caused by isotope treatment, as long as the thyroid hormone receptor antibody (TRAb) is still positive, it is still recommended to strictly avoid iodine. Even if the overproduction of thyroid hormone does not reach the normal level, it will affect the amount of thyroid hormone replacement, resulting in constant changes in the amount of replacement, which is not conducive to stable drug replacement for hypothyroid patients. VI. Can I get pregnant with hypothyroidism? Do I need to take medication when I am pregnant? Can I stop taking the medication? A: Hypothyroidism can lead to pregnancy, but only if the thyroid gland function is normal. When a woman of childbearing age with hypothyroidism is pregnant, she cannot stop the treatment of thyroid hormone, and there is no difference between exogenous thyroid hormone and natural thyroid hormone in the body. Therefore, it is important to supplement thyroid hormones during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester, because in early pregnancy, the fetal thyroid gland is not yet developed, and the fetus needs thyroid hormones for the development of the nervous system and other important organs, and the thyroid hormones needed come from the mother’s body. Therefore, pregnant women should not stop using thyroid hormone before and during pregnancy (especially in the first three months of pregnancy), and at the same time, sTSH must be controlled below 2.5 IU/ml. pregnant mothers need to monitor thyroid function monthly and adjust the medication dose in time to ensure the safety of the fetus and mother. Does hypothyroidism require lifelong medication? What are the side effects of the medication? What should I pay attention to when taking medication? A: Hypothyroidism is generally irreversible and requires lifelong medication for replacement therapy. However, the dosage varies from person to person, and the best dosage should be given according to the different needs of patients. The most important drug is levothyroxine tablets (Eugenol), which is a synthetic thyroid hormone, the same as the natural thyroid hormone, so it has no side effects on the human body. However, it should be noted that if the replacement dose is too high, it may lead to drug-induced hyperthyroidism, so the dose needs to be adjusted and individualized from person to person, and the patient needs to promptly visit or consult a professional endocrinologist to determine if the drug dose needs to be adjusted. If you take Eugenol on an empty stomach, it is well absorbed, but if you take a larger dose, you can take it in divided doses, but it is not recommended to take it at night because it is an excitatory hormone and taking it at night may lead to insomnia and other conditions.