The blood test checks to see if the thyroid hormone levels are high enough in your body. If they are too low, you have hypothyroidism. Treatment envolves taking a pill to replace the hormone that is missing. The medication is started at a low dose and slowly increased until the hormone levels in the body are normal. This means periodic blood testing every few months will be done to measure the thyroid hormone levels.
Any medication has the potential for side effects.
Thyroid replacement medication is generally well tolerated, but should only be taken as directed by your doctor. People with heart disease may need to be monitored more closely. There are no magic tips for the prevention of hypothyroidism. Eating a well balanced diet will help ensure that your body has everything it needs to make thyroid hormone. The good news is we have effective and low risk treatment of hypothyroidism available.