Thyroid cause, symptoms, prevention

Overview

It's estimated that as many as 25 million Americans have a thyroid problem, and half of them have no idea that they do. Hypothyroidism, or an under-active thyroid, accounts for 90% of all thyroid imbalances.

The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland in the center of your neck, is the master gland of metabolism. How well your thyroid is functioning is inter-related with every system in your body. If your thyroid is not running optimally, then neither are you.

Symptoms

Weight gain or Loss :

An unexplained change in weight is one of the most common signs of a thyroid disorder. Weight gain may signal low levels of thyroid hormones, a condition called hypothyroidism. In contrast, if the thyroid produces more hormones than the body needs, you may lose weight unexpectedly. This is known as hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism is far more common.

Swelling in the Neck:

A swelling or enlargement in the neck is a visible clue that something may be wrong with the thyroid. A goiter may occur with either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Sometimes swelling in the neck can result from thyroid cancer or nodules, lumps that grow inside the thyroid. It can also be due to a cause unrelated to the thyroid.

Changes in heart Rate :

Thyroid hormones affect nearly every organ in the body and can influence how quickly the heart beats. People with hypothyroidism may notice their heart rate is slower than usual. Hyperthyroidism may cause the heart to speed up. It can also trigger increased blood pressure and the sensation of a pounding heart, or other types of heart palpitations.

Changes in Energy or Mood :

Thyroid disorders can have a noticeable impact on your energy level and mood. Hypothyroidism tends to make people feel tired, sluggish, and depressed. Hyperthyroidism can cause anxiety, problems sleeping, restlessness, and irritability.

Hair Loss: 

Hair loss is another sign that thyroid hormones may be out of balance. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause hair to fall out. In most cases, the hair will grow back once the thyroid disorder is treated.

Feeling Too Cold or Hot: 

Thyroid disorders can disrupt the ability to regulate body temperature. People with hypothyroidism may feel cold more often than usual. Hyperthyroidism tends to have the opposite effect, causing excessive sweating and an aversion to heat.

Other Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism can cause many other symptoms, including:

• Dry skin and brittle nails
• Numbness or tingling in the hands
• Constipation
• Abnormal menstrual periods

• What are things you can do to improve your thyroid function?

  .Take a high-quality multivitamin with iodine, zinc, selenium, iron, vitamin D, and B vitamins.

. Ensure your multivitamin contains sufficient levels of iodine to help with the FT4 to FT3 conversion. I custom-formulated The Myers Way Multivitamin to include all of the essential nutrients for thyroid function.

. Give up gluten. If you have Hashimoto’s, try going completely gluten-, grain-, and legume-free. Additionally, it’s best to eliminate foods that cross- react with gluten, such as dairy, corn, and oats among other foods. Once your body identifies gluten as an invader in your bloodstream, as long as a molecule’s structure is similar enough, your immune system registers it as an invader and attacks.

. Deal with your stress and support your adrenal glands. The adrenal glands and thyroid work hand in hand. I recommend restorative yoga and adaptogenic herbs such as those in my Adrenal Support so your adrenal glands can cope with stress.

. Get 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night. Many of your hormone receptors are geared to your circadian rhythms, which may be governed by clock genes that evolved to keep your body adjusted to the daily, seasonal, and annual rhythms of the planet.

. Have a biological dentist safely remove any amalgam fillings you may have.

. Watch your intake of cruciferous vegetables. There is a bit of a debate surrounding this. These veggies contain goitrogens. A goitrogen is a compound that suppresses the thyroid gland by inhibiting the uptake of iodine.

. Banish fluoride, bromide, and chlorine from your diet and environment.

. Heal your gut. A properly functioning digestive system (gut) is critical to good health.

. Find a functional medicine doctor in your area and have that person run the above laboratory tests. She or he can work with you to find the root cause of your thyroid imbalance.

Compiled by all Medical science Research 

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