Part of the endocrine system of the body, the thyroid regulates metabolism through the production of hormones. Many people have imbalances in this gland and these imbalances can cause many different symptoms, including but certainly not limited to weight gain or loss which is unable to be regulated by diet or exercise.
Thyroid dysfunction can be broadly divided into under activity, hypothyroidism, or over activity also known as hyperthyroidism. If it is under active, it is not producing enough hormones and if overactive, it is producing too much. Either condition will lead to a metabolic imbalance but the resulting symptoms will depend upon which of these is present.
In the case of hyperthyroidism, the metabolism works too quickly. This will result in weight loss and increased appetite with an inability to gain weight. To a person with weight problems, that might seem ideal. However, it also leads to a speeding up of the entire sympathetic nervous system which in turn can lead to anxiety, palpitations, respiratory problems and a host of other ills.
In the case of hypothyroidism, the person experiences the opposite problem. With the slowing down of the metabolism typically comes water retention and an excessive weight gain. Other symptoms can be increased cold sensitivity, feeling tired more easily than normal and possibly depression.
It is rare for these symptoms to come on suddenly. Usually, they develop over a period of time. This makes it tricky to know that medical help should be sought, as most of the symptoms can be indicative or other issues. Fatigue, in particular, can be a result of other illnesses or merely not getting enough sleep.
Once a person does seek the help of a medical professional, there are various tests that can be done to diagnose thyroid disease including, but not limited to, blood tests, as these alone do not always give an accurate assessment. There are many possible causes of either an under active or overactive thyroid and there are different ways to deal with the conditions as well.
If a person suffers from an overactive thyroid, they can take medications which help to lower the output of hormones. In this case, care must be taken with dosages so that the person does not become hypothyroid. In many instances, people taking these medications can even experience periods of remission of their disease. Treatment with iodine that is radioactive is another possible method, although some people prefer not to use this method because of that radioactivity. Surgery is generally not opted for unless absolutely necessary.
For an under active thyroid, the treatment is generally for the patient to take thyroid hormone replacements. The most common type of thyroid hormone replacement is synthetic, however, it is also possible to have a natural thyroid replacement that comes from pig thyroids.
Among the various alternative therapies which are now considered are yoga and other breathing exercises, acupressure, acupuncture, herbal supplements, and diet. Generally, these therapies are thought to be more effective if the condition is treated in the beginning before the imbalance becomes too severe. Even for people who need to be on medication of some type, these therapies may help to improve the thyroid imbalances as well.
Would you like to learn more about foods for thyroid? Read other articles at thyroid diet
