4 Types Of Thyroid Disorders
Thyroid, located right below the Adam's apple in the neck, is a butterfly-shaped gland that is a prestige part of the complex network of glands named as endocrine system. While the endocrine system is accountable for synchronizing multiple body's activities, the sole function of the thyroid gland is to release the thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormones regulate the complete metabolism process of the body, and hence a disturbance in it can give birth to numerous severe ailments.
If you intend to know the common disorders that are caused due to improper functioning of the thyroid gland then this article is definitely for you.
Hashimoto's disease
Commonly known as hypothyroidism, it is a chronic ailment that can occur at any age. The ailment onsets when the immune system of the body destroys the thyroid gland, and hence, its ability to release thyroid hormone is completely tampered. People with mild case of hypothyroidism may not show obvious symptoms, but those with severe temperament may end exhibiting symptoms such as:
- Constipation
- Dry skin, thin hair
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Puffy, pale face
- Weight gain
- Intolerance to cold
- Unbalanced mensuration cycle (in females)
- Enlarged thyroid (goiter)
- Grave's Disease
Named after the doctor, who first revealed it, it is a common form of overactive thyroid or hyperthyroidism. It is an autoimmune disorder that strikes when the immune system of the body attacks the thyroid gland, and hence, results in overproduction of thyroid hormone. With high level of thyroid within the blood stream, the body may show symptoms such as:
- Menstrual irregularities
- Muscle Weakness
- Intolerance to heat
- Excessive sweating
- Fatigue
- Bulging eyes and improper vision
- Frequent bowl movements or even diarrhea
- Hand tremors
- Irregular heartbeat
- Goiter
A noncancerous result of the thyroid gland, goiter is common worldwide and is considered mainly an outcome of iodine deficiency within the body. Goiter can affect at any age, but is common in people above 40. Medical history, pregnancy, radiation exposure, and usage of certain medication are the major risk factors of this illness. Mild goiter cases may not reveal any symptoms, while complex goiter cases may show up with following symptoms:
- Tightness/swelling in the neck
- Wheezing or coughing
- Hoarseness of voice
- Difficulty in breathing and/or swallowing food
- Thyroid Nodules
Thyroid disorder can also lead to another acute ailment known as Thyroid Nodules. The nodules are the growth form in or on in the thyroid gland. The primary cause for this illness is however not known, but it is witnessed that it can be cancerous in nature in small fraction of cases. The risks associated with thyroid nodules may increase with age. Thyroid nodules does not unveil any symptoms, but if they grow large enough then they can lead to symptoms such as:
- Tremors
- Clammy skin
- Increased appetite
- High pulse rate
- Nervousness
- Weight loss
- Swelling in neck
- Problem in swallowing and breathing
- High level of pain
Each thyroid disorder is different, and hence, the treatment options for each also differs. To make sure that you do not meet any major side effect, it is essential to visit a specialist, go for proper diagnosis and stick to the treatment.
The author is an expert on fitness and health who has helped people from all across the world to live a healthy life and stay informed about their prevailing illness. This article talks about diverse types of disorders that can hit an individual due to improper functioning of the thyroid gland.
Thyroid Health and Weight Gain
Many women have read or been told that their unexpected weight gain may have something to do with their thyroid health. It is not always the case, but it is certainly a possible factor.
Our thyroid gland is one of the major key players of how our body regulates our metabolism and how it uses the nutrients from the foods we eat. Studies also show that even the slightest changes that occur with our thyroid gland can have an impact on our weight.
Sudden weight gain and hypothyroidism
Although not everyone can blame their thyroid for unexpected weight gain there are others who have found their difficulty in losing weight can be attributed to hypothyroidism.
If a person has hypothyroidism, it means their thyroid gland is functioning in a sluggish manner. This sluggishness leads to an impaired ability of the gland to produce the right hormones. As a result, the ability to use the nutrients provided by food in a properly functioning manner will also slow down.
The reason more women are prone to having issues with their thyroid health and weight gain is because the thyroid glands are linked to other systems in their body. Some of the key systems which impact on thyroid function are the neurotransmitters, adrenal glands and reproductive hormones.
How can you avoid weight gain and thyroid problems?
One obvious answer to this question is to maintain a healthy and balanced diet. When it comes to nutrition, consistency is very important.
If you are diagnosed with hypothyroidism it is very important that you are consistently only eating healthy foods all the time, not just when the urge takes you.
It is an all-too-common scenario to embark on a healthy food program only to relapse, then repeat the cycle.
This yo-yo dieting can adversely affect metabolic rate, weight gain and overall health.
How to support thyroid health
Thyroid health or otherwise is not a random event and there are steps you can take to care for your thyroid. Here are some recommendations.
Eat whole foods to obtain essential vitamins and minerals. Selenium, iodine, zinc, copper and iron are some of the nutrients required for thyroid health.
Those people who follow a low-salt diet and those who live in northern climates will possibly suffer from iodine and vitamin D deficiencies. Please consult your doctor before taking any vitamin D and iodine supplements.
Always observe your eating time for regular meals and snacks. Avoid skipping meals and ensure that you eat breakfast to kick-start your metabolism.
Protein and fiber should always be present in every meal. Learn which foods are good sources of fiber and protein so you can plan your meals to include them.
Foods made from gluten, sugar, processed foods and alcoholic beverages should be strongly avoided because they contain substances that can negatively affect proper thyroid functioning.
Broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower are a few examples of goitrogens that should be eliminated from a sufferer's diet because they contain thyroid-suppressing compounds.
Exercise for at least thirty minutes every day to maintain healthy circulation and improve the ability of the thyroid to distribute the needed hormones.
If you find yourself experiencing some or any of the symptoms of hypothyroidism such as dry skin, low energy, insomnia, weight gain, depression, joint pain, heart disease and allergies, it may be time to consult with your doctor.
With ongoing awareness and application it is very possible to alleviate the effects of hyperthyroidism, which will make weight control easier and lead to better overall health.
Russell (Rusty) Hart is the founder of the Health, Fitness & Sport Club, a website devoted to the promotion of health, fitness and wellness. Should this subject matter be of interest you can visit the HF & S Club home site where you'll find over 1,300 quality posts with new posts being published daily. To quickly access those that are of interest you can select any of 20 Categories broken down by over 260 Sub-Categories for easy access.
Blood Sugar Levels and and Your Thyroid
Recent studies have revealed that there is an increase in the prevalence of thyroid disorders among people with diabetes. Coincidentally there is an increasing number of people with metabolic syndrome among those with a thyroid disorder. There appears to be a significant correlation between metabolic syndrome and thyroid dysfunction and scientific data continues to support that such a conclusion is true.
At the layman level this means that keeping your blood sugar levels within the normal range is one of the prerequisites of healthy thyroid glands and vice versa.
Understanding Metabolic Syndrome and Hyperglycemia
Metabolic Syndrome refers to a group of metabolic risk factors that often occur together such as abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides, insulin resistance, inflammation and tendency to form blood clots. Hyperglycemia or high blood sugar is one of the main causes of metabolic syndrome. High blood sugar is caused by having excessive carbohydrates in the body. Some observers claim that hyperglycemia can be simply called "excess carbohydrate disease".
That is a little simplistic, however, as not all carbohydrates have the same effect on body function. The differences between ingestion of simple sugars and more complex carbohydrates and their subsequent health effects are becoming more widely understood every day.
How Hyperglycemia Leads to Insulin Resistance
When a person consumes excess carbohydrates his pancreas will secrete insulin in order to move excess glucose from his blood into his cells where glucose will then be used or stored for energy production. Continuous consumption of excess simple carbohydrates will cause a person's cells to eventually become unable to respond to insulin. In other words, chronic consumption of too many carbs will only make the cells lose the ability to hear the insulin knocking. As a response the pancreas will then produce even more insulin as its way of knocking harder, with the hope that the cells will notice and finally respond to it and this is when insulin resistance starts to occur.
A further consequence is that repeated instances of insulin surges can lead to damage of the thyroid gland especially among people who have autoimmune thyroid disease. Once the thyroid gland is damaged thyroid hormone production will also diminish.
Hypoglycemia and Thyroid Damage
If high blood sugar levels can cause damage to the thyroid glands, chronic low blood sugar can also lead to the same problem. Prolonged or severe hypoglycemia can lead to coma, seizures and death. The human body is programmed to detect low blood sugar levels and see it as a threat to life.
If your blood sugar levels become very low, your body will respond by allowing your adrenal glands to secrete a hormone known as cortisol. Cortisol will then send signals to the liver to start producing more glucose so that an individual's blood sugar levels will return to normal.
Unfortunately, if the person has chronically low levels of blood sugar, cortisol production will also increase. This repetitive cortisol release can also lead to a suppressed pituitary function. This adverse effect on the pituitary gland will also have a negative impact on the thyroid gland.
It is becoming more and more apparent how crucial to health it is to maintain our blood glucose levels within a 'normal' range. This is supposed to be and is usually regulated by our dietary intake. If you are not able to maintain your blood sugar levels in an accepted range it will affect your health as outlined above. See your doctor for help and advice.
Russell (Rusty) Hart is the founder of the Health, Fitness & Sport Club, a website devoted to the promotion of health, fitness and wellness. Should this subject matter be of interest you can visit the HF & S Club home site where you'll find over 1,300 quality posts with new posts being published daily. To quickly access those that are of interest you can select any of 20 Categories broken down by over 260 Sub-Categories for easy access.
Thyroid and Weight Problems
It is an established and accepted fact that there is a complex relationship between our body's metabolism, body weight and thyroid. This is the reason why some people blame their weight gain or weight loss problem to their thyroid. Some people say they are fat because they have a thyroid problem. However, is your thyroid really to blame for your weight problems?
Anyone who suspects that their thyroid function is affecting their health or lifestyle should consult their doctor for diagnosis, advice and treatment if required.
Thyroid and Metabolism
The thyroid hormone plays a crucial role in the regulation of our metabolism. An individual's metabolism, or more specifically, metabolic rate, can be measured by the amount of oxygen used by their body over a specific period of time. If the measurement is being done while a person is at rest it is called the Basal Metabolic Rate or BMR.
Measuring a person's BMR was once one of the initial tests done in order to assess the status of the thyroid, as there is a strong correlation between BMR results and thyroid activity. Those whose thyroid glands were found to be not functioning actively were found to have low BMR readings.
Conversely, those individuals with overactive thyroid glands were also found to have high BMRs. Most doctors are no longer using these observations due to the fact that measuring an individual's BMR is a complex process.
'Hyperthyroidism' and Weight Loss
Since the BMR of people with hyperthyroidism is elevated, it is almost inevitable that they will lose weight and struggle to gain weight. The speed of weight loss over a period of time will also depend on the severity of the overactive thyroid. This means that if the thyroid is extremely overactive, the person's BMR will also increase resulting in increased caloric requirements for them to be able to maintain an optimal weight for their height and body type.
If the person does not increase their caloric intake to be able to counter the extra calories being burned by their body, they will very likely continue to lose more weight.
There are of course other factors responsible for regulating our appetite, activity and metabolism and they all work in a very complex manner. The thyroid hormone is just one part of this complex system.
'Hypothyroidism' and Weight Gain
Weight gain can be generally observed in individuals who have hypothyroidism and this can be substantiated by lower BMR readings.
The reduction in a person's metabolic rate caused by hypothyroidism is often less dramatic than the rapid increase in the metabolic rate of someone with hyperthyroidism. However, unless the problems of an underactive thyroid gland are addressed by diet, medication, surgery or a combination of all three, unwanted weight gain will usually continue to occur.
When an individual with hypothyroidism initially gains weight it is not always caused by excessive fat accumulation, but more usually by the accumulation of water and salt in the body. Unfortunately low metabolic rate in combination with the subsequent weight increase often leads to less physical activity. This then compounds the issue by leading to further weight gain and the negative weight gain cycle continues.
Russell (Rusty) Hart is the founder of the Health, Fitness & Sport Club, a website devoted to the promotion of health, fitness and wellness. Should this subject matter be of interest you can visit the HF & S Club home site where you'll find over 1,300 quality posts with new posts being published daily. To quickly access those that are of interest you can select any of 20 Categories broken down by over 260 Sub-Categories for easy access.
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