Having a low level of thyroid hormone can affect the whole body - you might be tired, cholesterol levels can increase, heart attack or stroke are possible and low thyroid hormones can even harm an unborn baby. But millions of people do not know that they may have hypothyroidism. What is a hypo-thyroid? And what types of hypothyroidism are currently diagnosed?

What is hypothyroidism?
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck. The thyroid gland creates hormones that control the way your body uses energy. A well-functioning thyroid makes a balanced amount of hormones that manage metabolism and influence body temperature, body weight and the number of calories we burn.

Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland fails to produce enough of the thyroid hormone. On the other hand, if your thyroid produces too much of these hormones, the cells in the body increase the rate at which they function, resulting in thyroid problems called "hyperthyroidism".

Hypothyroidism causes significant problems in the body. But what causes this condition? And who is at risk of developing Hashimoto's or congenital hypothyroidism? Continue reading as we cover the causes and risk factors of hypothyroid in the section that follows.