Thyroid Disorders

Levothyroxine must be taken early in the morning on an empty stomach with plain water, at least 45 to 60 minutes before breakfast, tea, or coffee. Avoid taking calcium, iron supplements, or antacids within 4 hours, as they block absorption.

In early pregnancy, the growing baby depends entirely on maternal thyroid hormone for brain and spinal cord development. Uncontrolled hypothyroidism increases miscarriage risks and impairs fetal neurocognitive development, requiring strict trimester-specific TSH targets.

Most thyroid nodules are completely benign. An ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is recommended only if the nodule is larger than 1 cm or displays suspicious features on ultrasound (such as microcalcifications or irregular margins under TI-RADS criteria).

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system creates antibodies (anti-TPO) that gradually inflame and reduce thyroid gland function. It is the most common cause of permanent hypothyroidism and is easily managed with oral replacement therapy.