Many women “of a certain age” are well aware of their thyroid – unfortunately, because it has begun to malfunction and is wreaking havoc on their health. There are two main medical conditions associated with the thyroid – hypothyroidism, and hyperthyroidism. This article will discuss the thyroid, the bodily functions it controls, and the symptoms you may experience.
The thyroid gland is primarily responsible for controlling your metabolism, which is the chemical process that breaks down what you eat to produce energy. The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located just below your voice box near the base of the neck. It is part of the endocrine system and makes two crucial hormones your body needs to function properly. These hormones influence the speed of your heartbeat and the depth of your breathing. They even regulate the gaining or losing of weight. These hormones also control body temperature, cholesterol level, and women’s menstrual cycles.
These hormones, known as T-3 and T-4, are released into the bloodstream and travel throughout the body. Your thyroid knows how much hormone your body requires because of the information it receives from the pituitary gland. Sometimes, however, the thyroid begins to malfunction, producing too much or too little of these hormones. When too many hormones are produced, hyperthyroidism is the result. When too few hormones are present, hypothyroidism can occur.
Fast Facts: 12% of the population develop thyroid issues. Women are far more likely to develop thyroid disease than men.
Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism
The first signs of hypothyroidism are typically fatigue and weight gain, usually resulting from low energy levels. Because these symptoms can point to many conditions, the condition may go undiagnosed for a time. As time goes on, however, hypothyroidism signs and symptoms may increase and affect many other systems of the body, including:
- Fatigue
- Increased sensitivity to cold
- Constipation
- Dry skin
- Weight gain
- Puffy face
- Hoarseness
- Muscle weakness
- Elevated blood cholesterol level
- Muscle aches, tenderness, and stiffness
- Pain, stiffness, or swelling of the joints
- Heavy or irregular menstrual periods
- Thinning hair
- Slowed heart rate
- Depression
- Impaired memory
- Enlarged thyroid gland (goiter)
Hypothyroidism may result from an autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. It can also stem from removing the thyroid gland or exposing the body to excessive amounts of iodide or lithium. Severe cases of hypothyroidism may result in a potentially fatal condition known as a myxedema coma if the condition is not treated.
Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism can be challenging to diagnose, as it can look a lot like many other health conditions. It is also more difficult to determine the presence of hyperthyroidism in senior citizens, as they typically have very few mild symptoms. The diverse spectrum of symptoms of hyperthyroidism may include:
- Increased sensitivity to heat
- Unintended weight loss, even though an increased appetite is common
- Tachycardia – rapid heartbeat, typically more than 100 beats a minute
- Arrhythmia – irregular heartbeat
- Palpitations – pounding of the heart
- Anxiety and irritability
- Tremors of the hands and fingers
- Sweating
- Changes in menstrual cycles
- Changes in bowel movements
- An enlarged thyroid gland which appears as a swelling at the base of your neck
- Fatigue
- Muscle weakness
- Difficulty sleeping
- Skin thinning
- Fine, brittle hair
Thyroid dysfunction is typically addressed with hormone treatments. Thyroid hormone is used to either replace the function of an underactive (or surgically removed) gland or to prevent further growth of thyroid tissue (more prevalent in cancer patients.)
The Role of Functional Medicinal Practices
Functional medicine is a systems biology-based approach that identifies and addresses the root cause of disease – rather than the traditional medicinal practice of only treating the symptoms. Functional medicine delves deeper into a woman’s comprehensive health history and considers various impactful events throughout her life that may have led her to this point. Understanding the root causes, triggers, and events that led to the current disease – not just looking at the symptoms – is essential to achieving optimum health.
The team at Longevity Wellness Clinic believes in treating each individual holistically.
Call today for more information about how our methods can help you to identify and naturally treat your thyroid dysfunction.