can anyone please answer this [ idiot question ].....

[alangardner]

what is the ACTUAL difference between HYPERTHYROID [ISM] and HYPOTHYROIDISM....i believe both are linked but i do not know the real difference .....and i understand that both problems have vastly different sollutions to recieve the correct treatment......

[helvella Administrator]

Go to the main Thyroid UK site.

On the left menu, go to About the Thyroid and choose Hypothyroidism, then Hyperthyroidism.

Should help a lot.

Rod

[RedApple Administrator]

Very simple answer:

hypER is when a person's thyroid spews out way too much thyroid hormone

hypO is when a person's thyroid can't make enough, or can't make any thyroid hormone

hypO may also be the result of not having a thyroid at all. As in being born without one (congenital hypothyroidism), or removal for various reasons (partial / total thyroidectomy).

[RedApple Administrator in reply to RedApple]

Perhaps should also have added that commonly used terms are

Overactive = hypER

Underactive = hypO

[alangardner in reply to RedApple]

thank you so much for your answer to my idiot question ---- the wording was rather confusing