It's usually picked up during routine screening soon after birth. This is called congenital hypothyroidism and is uncommon. However, iodine deficiency is uncommon in the UK.īabies are sometimes born with an underactive thyroid because the thyroid gland does not develop properly in the womb. Worldwide, a lack of dietary iodine is a common cause of an underactive thyroid, because the body needs iodine to make thyroxine. These treatments are sometimes used for an overactive thyroid (where the thyroid gland produces too much hormone) or thyroid cancer.
Previous thyroid treatmentĪn underactive thyroid can also occur as a side effect or complication of previous treatment to the thyroid gland, such as surgery or a treatment called radioactive iodine therapy.
It's also common in people with another immune system disorder, such as type 1 diabetes and vitiligo. It's not clear what causes Hashimoto's disease, but it runs in families. This damages the thyroid, which means it's not able to make enough of the hormone thyroxine, leading to the symptoms of an underactive thyroid.Ī condition called Hashimoto's disease is the most common type of autoimmune reaction that causes an underactive thyroid. Immune systemĪn underactive thyroid often occurs when the immune system, which usually fights infection, attacks the thyroid gland. Most cases of an underactive thyroid are caused by the immune system attacking the thyroid gland and damaging it, or by damage that occurs as a result of treatments for thyroid cancer or an overactive thyroid. An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) is when your thyroid gland does not produce enough of the hormone thyroxine (also called T4).
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