A study conducted by the Thyroid Service of Harvard Medical School and the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center found that by the age of 50 one out of 10-12 women have some degree hypothyroidism. The study also showed that by the age of 60 one out of 5-6 women are suffering from some form of hypothyroidism.
For women who have unsuccessfully been on estrogen replacement therapy and other hormone treatments that have not affected their symptoms there is a likelihood that they may have undiagnosed hypothyroidism. As mentioned, most of the symptoms are the same and few physicians test for thyroid disorders when women are in any stage of menopause.
The thyroid gland produces T3 and T4 hormones which play a part in how almost every part of a person’s body works. These hormones regulate body temperature, fertility, and much more. When a person is suffering from hypothyroidism they may suffer all of the symptoms that are involved or only a few depending the the severity of their condition.
When an individual is taking estrogen replacement treatments or have taken other medications related to menopause and still suffer from fragile nails, weight gain, lethargy, and any of the other 16 symptoms of hypothyroidism there is a possibility that menopause may not be the only issue that is causing the problem.
The study mentioned above also discussed how hard it is to diagnose thyroid conditions. The most common test conducted is a blood test called the T3 and T4. The study found that this test is not a reliable testing method and that many false negatives result in the testing.
When a person is suffering from the symptoms of hypothyroidism the test that will give accurate results is a Thyroid Antibodies Test. This test is not given automatically and must be requested. But it is important to find out if hypothyroidism is an issue. Left unattended a thyroid condition can create serious health issues.
There are many alternative medical therapies for thyroid conditions. These include several herbal remedies, acupuncture is a suggested treatment, and other. But, taking any medication whether it is a natural remedy or over the counter can be very dangerous if a person doesn’t know what is wrong with them.
After finding out that a thyroid condition exists there are other ways to help alleviate the condition that do not include medication. The easiest of these is to change one’s diet. By eating a diet that includes more fresh fruits and vegetables, eliminating refined foods and polyunsaturate oils one will feel better and their thyroid will function much better.
There are several herbs that help the thyroid to function properly. One of these is bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus). This herb contains iodine, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc. It decreases levels of TSH, and acts as an antioxidant and helps with blood circulation.
The first step if an individual believes they may be one of the ten to twelve women who have undiagnosed hypothyroidism is to make a doctor’s appoint and be tested to confirm the diagnosis. After the diagnosis is made a knowledgeable decision can be made about the type of treatment alternative that will be best.
Would you like to learn more about hypothyroidism and weight gain? Read other articles at hypothyroidism diet
