Hypothyroidism is a common problem faced by millions of people around the world. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid glands are unable to produce normal quantities of the thyroid hormones, failing to stimulate the metabolism system of the body. The result is not only decreased metabolism, but also impaired growth, feeling of lack of energy and fatigue. Research indicates that Hypothyroidism is more common among people over fifty, but that does not mean that people who are younger are not susceptible. Hypothyroidism increases the cholesterol levels and makes a person more immune to heart disease and diabetes, so regardless of your age, it is very important to pay attention to your Thyroid function.
Symptoms:
Signs and symptoms and the level of severity of the disease may vary greatly and depend upon the extent of thyroid deficiency. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism may include fatigue and body weakness, unusual weight gain or difficulty in losing weight, depression, headache, stomach pain, feeling excessive cold, muscle pain, joint pain, constipation, hair loss, brittle nails, pale face and more. These are some of the normal symptoms that one can go through while facing Hypothyroidism.
Other symptoms of hypothyroidism are:
~ Muscle cramps
~ Poor appetite
~ Goiter (enlarged thyroid-gland)
~ Dry skin and hair loss
~ Irregular or even heavy menstruation
~ Memory loss
~ Sluggishness and slowed mental activity
~ Increased LDL cholesterol levels
Pregnant women will have regular spells of dizziness and children can suffer from various developmental problems like stagnant height, excessive weight gain and memory problems. As of 2011, an estimate of about 200 million people around the world have been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. 10% of this population are mostly likely female.
Causes of Hypothyroidism:
As already mentioned, Hypothyroidism is a common disease and may occur due to a variety of reasons. The most common cause is dietary insufficiency of iodine. Iodine is the most necessary component of thyroid hormones and the major source of iodine is your diet.
Hypothyroidism is often the end result of Hashimoto's disease, also called long-term Thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid-gland). In this disease, the body's defense mechanism doesn't recognize that the thyroid gland is a part of your body's own tissues and starts attacking the thyroid-gland as if it were a foreign body. The attack by the body's immune system affects thyroid functionality and also sometimes damages the gland. Other reasons for hypothyroidism include:
unhealthy and unhygienic eating habits; chronic stress; and radiation treatment, which tends to harm the thyroid glands.
Congenital Hypothyroidism, a term used when a child is born without a thyroid gland or has a dysfunctional one is also quite common among children. Viral or Autoimmune Thyroiditis leads to Hypothyroidism and so does any disease in the Pituitary gland. Certain medications like Lithium and interferon alpha have also been known to cause side-effects causing Hypothyroidism. Other causes may include consuming low or no iodine and infiltration by bacterial agents that harm the thyroid glands.
Hypothyroid Treatment
One of the most common treatments recommended by doctors is to replace the Thyroxine with another thyroid hormone called Levothyroxine. This option is very safe and relatively inexpensive. But, this treatment requires that the metabolism rate be constantly monitored to make it is functioning normally. There are various other treatments that are available too, but this particular treatment is considered much safer than the rest.
Depending on the severity of your condition, natural treatments may also be available. A well balanced and nutritious diet is very important to maintain a healthy body and mind including the thyroid gland. The functioning of the thyroid gland is disrupted if you do not take all the necessary nutrients required by your body in your diet. Apart from eating the necessary nutrients, dietary modifications also involve avoiding those foods which inhibit the functioning of thyroid gland, thereby leading to hypothyroidism. Stress plays an important role in inhibiting the functioning of thyroid gland. Hence, controlling stress through various lifestyle modifications can go a long way in healing your thyroid gland. Our body's hormonal system is very complex and intertwined. Hence, if the level of one hormone is off track as in hypothyroidism, it also affects the levels of several other hormones. Dietary and lifestyle modifications can work in maintaining this balance.
Taking adequate precautions in diet and lifestyle, reducing stress and eating healthy foods will go a long way toward controlling your thyroid hormones.
Hypothyroidism is not an incurable disease and with time, some precautions and medication, the treatments will be helpful in the long-term.
Symptoms:
Signs and symptoms and the level of severity of the disease may vary greatly and depend upon the extent of thyroid deficiency. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism may include fatigue and body weakness, unusual weight gain or difficulty in losing weight, depression, headache, stomach pain, feeling excessive cold, muscle pain, joint pain, constipation, hair loss, brittle nails, pale face and more. These are some of the normal symptoms that one can go through while facing Hypothyroidism.
Other symptoms of hypothyroidism are:
~ Muscle cramps
~ Poor appetite
~ Goiter (enlarged thyroid-gland)
~ Dry skin and hair loss
~ Irregular or even heavy menstruation
~ Memory loss
~ Sluggishness and slowed mental activity
~ Increased LDL cholesterol levels
Pregnant women will have regular spells of dizziness and children can suffer from various developmental problems like stagnant height, excessive weight gain and memory problems. As of 2011, an estimate of about 200 million people around the world have been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. 10% of this population are mostly likely female.
Causes of Hypothyroidism:
As already mentioned, Hypothyroidism is a common disease and may occur due to a variety of reasons. The most common cause is dietary insufficiency of iodine. Iodine is the most necessary component of thyroid hormones and the major source of iodine is your diet.
Hypothyroidism is often the end result of Hashimoto's disease, also called long-term Thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid-gland). In this disease, the body's defense mechanism doesn't recognize that the thyroid gland is a part of your body's own tissues and starts attacking the thyroid-gland as if it were a foreign body. The attack by the body's immune system affects thyroid functionality and also sometimes damages the gland. Other reasons for hypothyroidism include:
unhealthy and unhygienic eating habits; chronic stress; and radiation treatment, which tends to harm the thyroid glands.
Congenital Hypothyroidism, a term used when a child is born without a thyroid gland or has a dysfunctional one is also quite common among children. Viral or Autoimmune Thyroiditis leads to Hypothyroidism and so does any disease in the Pituitary gland. Certain medications like Lithium and interferon alpha have also been known to cause side-effects causing Hypothyroidism. Other causes may include consuming low or no iodine and infiltration by bacterial agents that harm the thyroid glands.
Hypothyroid Treatment
One of the most common treatments recommended by doctors is to replace the Thyroxine with another thyroid hormone called Levothyroxine. This option is very safe and relatively inexpensive. But, this treatment requires that the metabolism rate be constantly monitored to make it is functioning normally. There are various other treatments that are available too, but this particular treatment is considered much safer than the rest.
Depending on the severity of your condition, natural treatments may also be available. A well balanced and nutritious diet is very important to maintain a healthy body and mind including the thyroid gland. The functioning of the thyroid gland is disrupted if you do not take all the necessary nutrients required by your body in your diet. Apart from eating the necessary nutrients, dietary modifications also involve avoiding those foods which inhibit the functioning of thyroid gland, thereby leading to hypothyroidism. Stress plays an important role in inhibiting the functioning of thyroid gland. Hence, controlling stress through various lifestyle modifications can go a long way in healing your thyroid gland. Our body's hormonal system is very complex and intertwined. Hence, if the level of one hormone is off track as in hypothyroidism, it also affects the levels of several other hormones. Dietary and lifestyle modifications can work in maintaining this balance.
Taking adequate precautions in diet and lifestyle, reducing stress and eating healthy foods will go a long way toward controlling your thyroid hormones.
Hypothyroidism is not an incurable disease and with time, some precautions and medication, the treatments will be helpful in the long-term.
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