Thyroid

Thyroid problems are often described as mystery diseases and can be a surprising diagnosis for some people. The symptoms of thyroid disorders are often associated with other problems and sometimes difficult to connect to the thyroid. Knowing and understanding what the thyroid gland does for the body will explain the symptoms of typical thyroid disorders.

So you may have been feeling restless, unable to sleep, or noticed changes in diet and unexplained weight loss and perhaps heart palpitations. But due to the fact that we live in a busy society with often even busier lives, some people might self diagnosis these symptoms as pure side effects of stress and the day-to-day hustle and bustle. You might tell yourself that all you need is rest and it will return to normal. However, you find that you are going from one extreme to the other, restless one week and depressed and down the next with fluctuations in your weight and energy levels. If these problems persist, it might not the effects of a stressful, busy life but actually an imbalance of hormone levels in your thyroid.

A properly functioning thyroid is essential to overall health. You may not know this, but the thyroid affects your metabolism, how you burn calories and how energy is maintained in the body. An imbalance in your thyroid levels can throw your body into a tailspin, affecting your weight, energy levels and overall health.

When the thyroid is overactive, this is called hyperthyroidism which is a disorder that results in the overproduction of hormones in the thyroid. The symptoms described earlier about restlessness, weight loss and anxiety are associated with hyperthyroidism.

Perhaps you are feeling opposite symptoms, where you have no energy, weight gain and depression. This may also be an indicator of a thyroid disorder called hypothyroidism, the opposite of an overactive thyroid. In this case, the thyroid is not producing enough hormones to stimulate your metabolism and give you the energy to go about your everyday routine.

Women, in particular, are more likely to struggle with thyroid disorders, especially after having a baby and in older adult women. After having a baby, some women are unable to naturally gain a re-balance of the hormones in the thyroid. Some symptoms that may be associated with post partum depression, but it may be a sign of a thyroid problem. Some of the typical symptoms are depression, tiredness and even losing hair. Undiagnosed thyroid problems can have severe health effects on women over time including infertility, heart disease or high cholesterol levels. Some doctors have even linked trouble losing “baby fat” to thyroid problems due to the slow down of the metabolism caused by hormone imbalances.

Hypo- and hyperthyroidism are usually treated effectively by hormone therapy and/or supplements. In more severe cases, thyroid surgery may be recommended. Thyroid disorders are to be taken very seriously. However, because of the somewhat typical symptoms experienced by everyone at one time or another, they can be a quiet culprit. For women in particular, it is important to recognize if you are fluctuating from one extreme to the other or experiencing the symptoms of a thyroid disorder over time. Luckily, the tests for thyroid problems are painless and quick, and the presence of a thyroid disorder can be ruled out rather quickly by your doctor. Like any disorder or health issue, the key to ensuring prevention or seeing the signs of a problem is to be in tune with your own body and see patterns over time that may be harmful. Thyroid disorders symptoms will affect your day-to-day life and it’s beneficial to understand the possible symptoms of a problem and see a doctor for advice and testing.