Improve Thyroid Function

Easy to Diagnose and Correct, Hypothyroidism Often Gets Overlooked

© Elizabeth Richards

Tired? Sluggish? Fuzzy-brained? Trouble sleeping? Gaining weight? Symptoms some women attribute to stress or exhaustion could actually be a slow adrenal system.

Hypothyroid affects women more than men and it’s estimated that one in 10 people have a thyroid disorder.

Is my thyroid slow?

In addition to fatigue, insomnia, weight gain or the inability to lose weight, other signs of hypothyroidism can include constipation, coldness, dry, flaky skin, slow heartbeat, heavy periods, concentration problems, hair loss, even loss of eyebrows. Some fertility problems have been linked to hypothyroid. The most common symptoms tend to be fatigue and intolerance to cold.

What does my thyroid do?

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck. It is responsible for regulating metabolism and body temperature by secreting hormones that control the body’s use of calories and energy. If the thyroid secretes too little hormone, hypothyroidism results; too much hormone will result in hyperthyroidism.

How to test for hypothyroidism

Getting a correct diagnosis of a sluggish thyroid can be tricky. Some doctors overlook the common symptoms, attributing them to stress or worse, they might consider the signs to be “typical female complaints” or aging and do nothing.

Specific blood tests for TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone), T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine) levels should be done to determine if the thyroid gland is working properly. The results of these tests and other measures of thyroid function are complicated and should be interpreted by a doctor familiar with the complex issues of thyroid hormone levels. Many times what may appear as “normal” really isn’t.

A preliminary self-test can be done my taking your temperature before you get out of bed in the morning. Known as Basal Body Temperature, if yours is at 97.6 or lower for 5 days, the BBT may be an indication of low thyroid.

Medication will help

If you do have a slow thyroid, medication will vastly improve your energy and concentration issues. In addition to several prescriptions for hypothyroid that are on the market today, there are natural options. Doctors who practice combination or alternative medication will sometimes prescribe natural thyroid instead of synthetic. Discuss your options with your physician and determine what is best for you.

Other ways to jumpstart your thyroid

Diet and exercise are extremely important. In fact, moderate exercise is one of the most important things a person can do to jumpstart their metabolism and endocrine system. Simply walking, 20-30 minutes a day several times a week (or even three, 10 minute daily walks) can stimulate thyroid function, increase energy and stamina, reduce stress and help fight depression.

Important dietary considerations

Supplements to try

Herbs that can be used

Homeopathy

Accupressure and Yoga can be added to treatment to help stimulate the endocrine system

If you have symptoms that suggest a slow thyroid, schedule an appointment with your doctor to be evaluated. If you do have hypothyroidism, treatment is usually easy and the results are fairly quick and remarkable. It’s important to consider that some symptoms of hypothyroidism can be symptoms of other health problems. Determining and treating the cause is most important.


The copyright of the article Improve Thyroid Function in Women’s Health is owned by Elizabeth Richards. Permission to republish Improve Thyroid Function must be granted by the author in writing.




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