Thyroid Problems

The thyroid is a small butterfly shaped gland in the base of your neck, it is responsible for manufacturing hormones that regulate your body’s metabolism.

There are many disorders that can arise when your thyroid produces too much or not enough hormone. Some common disorders of the thyroid are:

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is when the thyroid gland is overactive and produces too much of its hormone. Hyperthyroidism affects around 1% of women and is less common in men. Graves’ disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, it affects around 70% of people with an overactive thyroid. Nodules on the thyroid – a condition called toxic nodular goiter or multinodular goiter–can also cause the gland to overproduce its hormones. High thyroxine and low TSH levels indicate that your thyroid gland is overactive. Treatments for hyperthyroidism destroy the thyroid gland or block it from producing its hormones. Antithyroid drugs prevent the thyroid from producing hormones, a large dose of radioactive iodine damages the thyroid gland, and surgery can be performed to remove your thyroid gland. If you get your thyroid removed than you will need to take a thyroid hormone daily.

Excessive thyroid hormone production leads to symptoms such as:

• Weight loss
• Restlessness
• Increased sweating
• Shaking
• Anxiety
• Nervousness
• Racing Heart
• Irritability
• Trouble Sleeping
• Thin Skin
• Brittle hair and nails
• Muscle weakness

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland is underactive and does not produce enough of its hormone. It is often caused by Hashimoto’s disease, surgery to remove the thyroid gland, or damage from radiation treatment. Most cases of hypothyroidism are mild. The main treatment is to take thyroid hormone pills. It is important to get the dosing right when taking these pills because taking too much can cause hyperthyroidism.

Too little hormone production can lead to symptoms such as:

• Fatigue
• Constipation
• Weight Gain
• Depression
• Weakness
• Dry Skin
• Increased sensitivity to cold
• Memory Problems
• Slow heart rate
• Coma

How to Support Optimal Thyroid Function

Nutrition Iodine is necessary for the production of T4 and T3 hormones. Be sure to incorporate these foods, naturally high in iodine, into your diet, which are naturally high in iodine:

• Eggs
• Saltwater fish
• Shell fish
• Seaweed (dulse, kelp, nori)

Exercise For optimal thyroid function, exercising for at least 40 minutes a day, three days a week is a must. While all forms of exercise are valuable, when it comes to hormone production, moderate-intensity aerobic activity will produce the best benefit.