Thyroid Health Thyroid problems appear to be on the increase; and to make matters worse, most basic thyroid pathology, will often not reveal the complete picture and have you thinking all with your thyroid is fine, when infact it is in need of assistance! What is the thyroid? The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that sits at front of your neck and sets your entire metabolic rate. Thus it controls your weight, whether you feel sluggish or energetic, mentally crisp or foggy, cheerful or blue, and is involved in the control of everything from your cholesterol to your female hormones. Hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism is the most common thyroid problem, and Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune form of hypothyroidism, is the most common form of all. Women are much more likely than men to have thyroid problems. Hypothyroidism can appear at anytime but is especially common after childbirth and is prevalent in woman in their 40s and 50s. It is also a highly un diagnosed condition, as so many doctors seem reluctant to do an adequate work-up of thyroid function. Some even refuse to give the tests that would help demystify whether you have hypothyroidism or another thyroid problem. But there’s much more complexity to thyroid testing than that! Sadly, so many women are left believing that their symptoms of depression, fatigue, joint aches, weakness, weight gain and more are all in their head! Perhaps this has even happened to you. In reality, your symptoms could be due to hypothyroidism. There are many major signs and symptoms associated with an under active thyroid. Here are just a few of the more common ones. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include: - •Fatigue
- •Increased sensitivity to cold
- •Constipation
- •Dry + thinning skin + hair
- •Unexplained weight gain
- •Cravings for sugar and carbohydrates
- •Puffy face, swollen eyelids, ankles and feet
- •Muscle weakness
- •Elevated blood cholesterol level
- •Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness
- •Pain, stiffness or swelling in your joints
- •Heavier than normal or irregular menstrual periods
- •Thinning hair
- •Slowed heart rate
- •Depression
- •Impaired memory (“Brain fog”)
Because these symptoms are so common to so many women, hypothyroidism is often dismissed as “just normal symptoms” or depression! Hyperthyroidism In some cases, your thyroid may be working in overdrive. Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland produces excessive amounts of thyroid hormone, resulting in acceleration of the body’s metabolic rate: hyperthyroidism causes the body's cells to burn fuel so rapidly that they waste much of it in the form of heat. The ailment varies in severity. Most cases can be treated effectively with medication. Surgery may be necessary if conservative treatment fails. Left untreated, hyperthyroidism is potentially fatal. The condition can take three different forms: - Graves ‘disease: appears as a goitre in the neck along with eye and skin changes. Graves' disease is an autoimmune condition. It stems from an antibody that stimulates the thyroid to produce excessive amounts of thyroid hormones. In the process, the antibody overwhelms the usual thyroid-stimulating hormone. The stimulation causes the thyroid to grow, creating a goitre.
- Toxic Nodular Goitre: one or more nodules (benign tumours) in the thyroid produce an excess of thyroid hormone.
- Secondary Hyperthyroidism: in this condition the pituitary gland stimulates the thyroid to overproduce thyroid hormones.
Major risk factors that can contribute to the incidence of hyperthyroidism include the following: • Age between 20 and 40 years • Stress • Pregnancy • In newborns, a mother with Graves' disease • Intestinal dysbiosis • Antibiotic over-usage • Family history of thyroid conditions Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include - • Tachycardia, arrhythmia and/or palpitations
- • Hypertension
- • Swelling at the base of the neck
- • Moist skin and increased perspiration
- • Shakiness and tremor
- • Nervousness
- • Confusion
- • Increased appetite accompanied by weight loss
- • Difficulty sleeping
- • Swollen, reddened, and bulging eyes (exophthalmos)
- • Constant stare (infrequent blinking, lid retraction and lid lag)
- • Sensitivity of eyes to light
- • Raised, thickened skin over shins, dorsum of feet, back, hands, or even face
- • Altered menses
Here’s the good news… - You can fix your Thyroid, without a prescription and without begging your doctor!
Make an appointment with now, to be able to discuss all of your concerns, arrange additional pathology, as well as be informed upon the true “healthy’ thyroid levels. Learn about all the relating information required to regain control over your Thyroid’s health and your body’s total wellbeing. You have nothing to lose and potentially your entire new life to gain! |
