most common age of diagnosis hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a problem in which the thyroid is underactive and is very common, especially among women. At least 10% of women in the United States have signs of hypothyroidism by the age of 50. The risk of hypothyroidism increases with age and at age 60, 17% of women and 8% of men have signs of hypothyroidism. The most common cause of hypothyroidism is an autoimmune problem (i.e. the body attacks specific parts of itself) called Hashimoto's thyroiditis or lymphocytic thyroiditis. In this disease, the body makes antithyroid antibodies that attack and destroy the thyroid.