Hypothyroidism, also called under-active thyroid, is when the thyroid gland doesn’t make enough thyroid hormones to meet your body’s needs. In regions where there is sufficient iodine, the most common cause of hypothyroidism is Autoimmune Thyroid Disease (AITD) - caused by antibodies that attack the thyroid gland and impairs thyroid hormone production. Thyroid hormones control the way the body uses energy, so they affect nearly every organ in your body, even the way your heart beats. Without enough thyroid hormones, many of your body’s functions slow down.
