Many of the body's dysfunctions remain unexplained. Persistent fatigue, chronic constipation, muscle cramps without physical effort, morale down ...
When conventional medical examinations remain silent, this procession of diffuse symptoms is easily attributed to stress, menopause or a recent difficult event. It's true sometimes ... but not always. A plethora of doctors overlook another possible track: thyroid failure . But this is often the cause.
Hypothyroidism, an underestimated condition
"Many doctors underestimate the high frequency of hypothyroidism, which is so easy to treat," says Dr. Thierry Hertoghe, president of the International Hormone Society.
According to the World Federation of Thyroid, half of the hypothyroidism would go unnoticed, with the key to a useless malaise for thousands of patients , a large majority of women because their thyroid is very vulnerable .
We treat their symptoms (chronic fatigue, depression , chain infections ...) without identifying the root of the evil, so without ever solving the problem of substance.
Diagnosis: blood tests not always reliable
To evaluate thyroid activity, the majority of physicians rely on biological tests. The most used dosage is that of TSH, the hormone that allows the brain to control the thyroid at a distance. In fact, when the thyroid hormones are sufficient, the brain slows down its production of TSH to avoid overdose.
Conversely, when the thyroid hormones are reduced, it theoretically releases more TSH to boost the thyroid. A high TSH level therefore signifies hypothyroidism . But there is a catch: a normal TSH can also hide a lazy thyroid, which many GPs forget or ignore.
"The reference values indicated by the laboratories, which indicate limits not to be exceeded, do not define a state of good health, but statistical values," says Dr. Hertoghe. They reflect the results obtained on thousands of patients subjected to the same dosage.
By definition, 95% of people who do this test are suspected of having a thyroid disorder. The bias is obvious. "It is therefore wrong to believe that everything is fine if your TSH rate is within the range indicated," says Thierry Hertoghe.
Many hypothyroidians untreated as undiagnosed
To avoid this pitfall, the dosage of thyroid hormones T4 is often requested. Clever, except that the T4 is ... inactive! It is not she who regulates the metabolism, but one of its derivatives: the T3. Usually, T4 and T3 levels are correlated. But if the enzyme that transforms T4 into T3 is inoperative, the balance is still skewed.
As endocrinologist Benoît Claeys points out, "normal TSH and T4 levels can hide a common problem: poor conversion of T4 to T3". Hence, a plethora of hypothyroids untreated because they are not diagnosed as such. Blood tests are instructive but they are not enough. Take the time to carefully examine and interact with the patient to identify the symptoms of shortness of thyroid.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism
Several signs clearly suggest hypothyroidism, starting with extreme fatigue in the morning , because the blood of a hypothyroid circulates more slowly. At rest, tissue oxygenation is therefore insufficient, resulting in a feeling of fatigue that dissipates throughout the day.
Body stiffness and a low morning temperature are also revealing. "Below 36.1 ° C on waking, before getting up, there is a good chance that the person is in hypothyroidism," notes Benoît Claeys.
Another characteristic is a low blood pressure and a weak immunity, which favors ENT and urinary infections . Because of the congestion of the mucous membranes, the voice is also raucous and migraines frequent . In addition, the skin is dry and rough, sometimes a little yellowish. If you recognize yourself, go to a real specialist.
