It is time to bring attention to the importance of awareness of symptoms and solutions of thyroid disorders.
Without realising, the symptoms you are experiencing could be a result of an underlying thyroid disorder. Shockingly, 1 in 7 Australians will suffer with some form of thyroid disorder, with 5 in every 7 sufferers being women.
So what do you need to know about your thyroid so you can enjoy life and not be weighed down by the worry?
Essentially, your thyroid gland is the thermostat that regulates the energy for your entire body. It controls everything from your mood to your metabolism.
The thyroid takes iodine and adapts it for use throughout your body.
The most common forms of thyroid problems are:
Hypothyroidism is the most prevalently diagnosed thyroid disease.
If you haven’t seen your doctor or you aren’t taking your medication, you could experience fatigue, constipation, dry skin, brain fog or trouble concentrating, depression, anxiety, hair loss, depression, joint and muscle aches.
If you’ve been having trouble getting your cholesterol down, it might be worth asking your doctor to be tested for a thyroid condition. Hypothyroidism can lead to high cholesterol because slower metabolism isn’t burning up fat.
We know the drill: you go to your doctor with a concern and they try to reassure you it isn’t anything serious. But if you have an inkling you have a thyroid problem, it is recommended you have the following ‘labs’ tested:
If you cannot lose weight, you might have a thyroid problem. With the right medication, you can increase your metabolism. On top of that, make sure you take iodine, selenium, zinc to help your thyroid gland along with the tablets you’re taking.
Believe it or not, you can fix a thyroid problem with persistence and trial and error. A naturopathic doctor will be able to test you for everything you need to achieve a healthy thyroid holistically. According to Aviva Romm from The UltraWellness Center, “thyroid function can be recovered and restored with natural methods using stress reduction, diet, herbs, and supplements. Sometimes medications are needed long-term. But either way, it is important to identify whether you have a thyroid problem so you can get the help you need to feel like yourself again”.
If you have or you suspect you have hypothyroidism, try to avoid eating soy products because soy hinders absorption of hormones taken by those with thyroid conditions. Cabbage is also not great for hypothyroidism as the vegetable has an ion that conflicts with iodine – a supplement crucial for balancing thyroid levels.
According to Dr Broda Barnes, there is a simple at-home test you can take. He told Harper’s Bazaar, that someone who suspects they may have a thyroid problem to buy a digital thermometer, and keep it on their bedside table. Take your oral temperature before getting out of bed in the morning. Take your temperature 20-30 minutes after lunch. Record the temps for several weeks. Your temperature should be around 36.7 upon waking and should rise to 37 by mid day. If your temperatures are routinely below there is a good chance your thyroid is not functioning properly. If you don’t feel like taking your temperature, ask yourself: are your hands and feet often cold? Are you often cold when everyone else is fine? If the answer to either of these questions is yes, you should see your doctor.
Tell us, do you have issues with your thyroid? How do you manage it?