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Just What Is Hypothyroidism And Could You Be Affected
You wouldn't normally ask yourself if you know anyone that suffers from hypothyroidism if you were not affected yourself, but the chances are actually quite good that you do. Millions of adults just in the United States are affected by thyroid disease related symptoms and many do not even know it. The idea behind this article is to highlight exactly what hypothyroidism is, and illustrate some of the causes, the symptoms, diagnosis and look at a treatment.
You wouldn’t normally ask yourself if you know anyone that suffers from hypothyroidism if you were not affected yourself, but the chances are actually quite good that you do. Millions of adults just in the United States are affected by thyroid disease related symptoms and many do not even know it. The idea behind this article is to highlight exactly what hypothyroidism is, and illustrate some of the causes, the symptoms, diagnosis and look at a treatment.
Hypothyroidism is the medical name for when your thyroid gland, which is about the size of a golf ball, fails to produce enough or the right amounts of different hormones. It can also be knows as an under-active thyroid. Hypothyroidism refers to any state in which thyroid hormone production is below normal. The thyroid gland is situated under the pituitary gland and can become quite inflamed if not treated. The thyroid gland’s main purpose is to produce hormones like thyroxine (T4 or thyroid hormone). Thyroid hormones are extremely important in controlling the body’s energy, but also it’ use of other hormones and vitamins, and the normal growth of body tissues. One of the problems lies in the fact that the symptoms of hypothyroidism are very diverse and can be linked to other illnesses, so doctors often have a lot of trouble properly diagnosing hypothyroidism as the cause.
Stress on the body is quite a common reason that thyroid function is weakened, this can be physical,, emotional or mental stress. It can also be affected by the environment in which you live, unhealthy eating habits, even pollution, as well as quite a few other lifestyle issues. A lifestyle change is much easier said than done however. Thyroid problems seem to be becoming much more common now days, with increase numbers of people being treated for it. Other culprits include exposure to some toxins, which can include chemicals, pesticides, radiation, and drugs. High consumption of saturated fats can be linked as well just like they are to high cholesterol and obesity. It becomes quite important then to know what the symptoms are to look for.
Misdiagnoses of hypothyroidism symptoms is all too regular because they can be linked closely to other diseases. It seems to be much more common in women 10-20% as opposed to men 1-2%. Some symptoms are felt during normal pregnancy such as fatigue, unexplained weight gain and numbness. Many things can also be the cause of cramps but an under active thyroid is quite commonly linked to this as well. It is also common to experience depression and sadness, or even to have a feeling of being distant from others. All of these symptoms however can be the cause of hypothyroidism. There are some more sever things to look out for which can include an ongoing rapid heart beat, unusual weight loss, increase blood pressure and vomiting, if you do experience any of this I urge you to consult a health professional to be tested.
While we know it can be hard to diagnose due to other disease, if you are feeling more than one of the symptoms it is especially important to tell your doctor which will allow him to make an informed decision. Blood tests are used to diagnose hypothyroidism and these can also be interpreted different depending on the doctor. If you do happen to have it you really need to seek out a treatment.
Most people can actually improve their symptoms by adopting a healthy diet, coupled with exercise. Unfortunately sometimes even this is not enough. Short term hormone replacement has been known to help women, but most symptoms of hypothyroidism and in fact menopause have been successfully treated with an herbal supplement called Thyromine. A thyroid treatment pills job is to force the body to produce the right levels of thyroxine and because Thyromine is actually all natural this can be done without experiencing side effects. It works from the inside out, getting to the cause of the problem and can help alleviate some of those nagging symptoms.