Hypothyroidism

Preview

Treatment of hypothyroidism is easy and cheap and it often promptly provides real or imagined relief from fatigue or other symptoms, so patients are sometimes relieved to learn that they “only” have hypothyroidism. However, as the authors explain, the physician needs to keep in mind that an underlying disorder causes hypothyroidism, and its discovery is an important objective during evaluation. The presence of hypothyroidism must be established through specific laboratory tests because some forms are transient, and the physician can then begin ruling out commonly seen causes. This article describes the approach to use to avoid treating patients who don't need it.