<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"  What&amp;#039;s the difference between hypo- and hyperthroidism?   Hypo- means that your thyroid is underactive and not producing enough of the hormones that regulate your metabolism. If you have it, you may feel cold and sluggish; have a slower heart rate, dry skin and coarse hair; and notice hair loss. You may also gain weight, but this usually only happens in severe cases. Hyper- is just the opposite: It means that your thyroid is overproducing hormones. As a result, you may feel hot, have a fist pulse and have trouble sleeping.   Is it true that thyroid disorders often go undetected?   Yes. More than half of the people with hypothyroidism (which is much more common than hyperthyroidism) don&amp;#039;t know it, according to the American Thyroid Association. The signs can be subtle and confused with those of other conditions, such as depression or dementia. Hyperthyroidism symptoms, including hot flashes and missed periods, can be mistaken for perimenopausal changes.   How are they diagnosed?   All women over 40 should ask their doctor for a blood test that measures TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) once a year; most younger women can get tested every few years. A normal TSH level is between 0.4 and 4.5. If yours is higher, you have hypothyroidism; if it&amp;#039;s lower, you have hyperthyroidism. Your doctor may also test your reflexes and heart rate, and check the thyroid gland in your neck to see if it&amp;#039;s larger or smaller than usual.   If you have hypothyroidism, you&amp;#039;ll need to take a pill that contains a synthetic version of the hormone your body would normally be producing (you&amp;#039;ll probably need blood tests every few months so your doctor can adjust the dose). Hyperthyroidism is most often treated with radioactive iodine, which kills some of the thyroid cells.   Is there a strong genetic connection?   I don&amp;#039;t know if there are exact statistics, but if you have a thyroid problem, there&amp;#039;s a very good chance that someone else in your family does, too (both of you may have the same issue\u2014or one family member may have hyperthyroidism and the other may have hypothyroidism). Both forms are autoimmune disorders, meaning that your immune system attacks healthy cells in your body (like those in your thyroid gland), and these disorders tend to run in families.   To ask our experts a question, go to womansday.com/drwd "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/health-fitness/womens-health/q-and-a/a3044/q-a-thyroid-health-21442/>