Mesothelioma and General Health

About three percent of the general population is hypothyroid. Factors such as iodine deficiency or exposure to Iodine-131 can increase that risk. The pharmaceutical “Lithium” contains Iodine-131 and can cause Hypothyroidism. There are a number of causes for hypothyroidism. Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of hypothyroidism worldwide.[citation needed] In iodine-replete individuals hypothyroidism is generally caused by Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, or otherwise as a result of either an absent thyroid gland or a deficiency in stimulating hormones from the hypothalamus or pituitary.

Hypothyroidism can result from postpartum thyroiditis, a condition that affects about 5% of all women within a year of giving birth.[citation needed] The first phase is typically hyperthyroidism; the thyroid then either returns to normal, or a woman develops hypothyroidism. Of those women who experience hypothyroidism associated with postpartum thyroiditis, one in five will develop permanent hypothyroidism requiring life-long treatment. Hypothyroidism can also result from sporadic inheritance, sometimes autosomal recessive.[citation needed]

Hypothyroidism is also a relatively common disease in domestic dogs, with some specific breeds having a definite predisposition. Temporary hypothyroidism can be due to the Wolff-Chaikoff effect. A very high intake of iodine can be used to temporarily treat hyperthyroidism, especially in an emergency situation. Although iodine is substrate for thyroid hormones, high levels prompt the thyroid gland to take in less of the iodine that is eaten, reducing hormone production. Hypothyroidism is often classified by association with the indicated organ dysfunction