Symptoms of Thyroid Problems & Remedies That Help
October 10, 2022
Original article and page source found here.
Because the thyroid gland serves as the body’s thermostat — continuously regulating things like temperature, hunger levels and energy expenditure — symptoms of thyroid problems can affect nearly the whole body.
Experts estimate there are roughly 20 million Americans suffering from some type of thyroid disorder (mostly hypothyroidism/under-active thyroid and, to a lesser extend, hyperthyroidism). Surprisingly, it’s thought that more than half of those (60 percent) with thyroid symptoms, such as weight gain or fatigue, are completely unaware of the root cause of their problems.
Are you currently one of them, and if so, what can you do to protect your condition from worsening? Below you’ll learn about natural remedies for thyroid disease or other thyroid problems, including the types of foods that keep symptoms under control, ways to manage stress and supplements that might help reverse the condition.
What Is Your Thyroid?
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in your throat, just behind your Adam’s apple.
The thyroid gland controls many aspects of metabolism, including regulating the production of various hormones that enable the body to carry out vital functions — such as digestion and reproduction, for example.
Thyroid stimulating hormone is produced by the pituitary gland in order to regulate the production of hormones released by the thyroid. Sometimes the thyroid winds up pumping out either too much or too little of certain hormones. Either scenario is problematic for things like body weight regulation and mood stabilization.
Two of the most important thyroid hormones are T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine). These two hormones, once released, travel through the body via the bloodstream, converting oxygen and calories into energy. This energy is crucial for cognitive functions, mood regulation, digestive processes, a healthy sex drive and much more.
Most Common Thyroid Problems
Thyroid disorders and thyroid disease can have a negative impact on just about every area of your life. From weight issues to depression and/or anxiety, the thyroid gland is vital to keeping your physical, mental and emotional life in balance.
What are the types of thyroid problems a person can experience?
There are two main categories of thyroid problems: hypothyroidism (an under-active thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid).
While there are other thyroid issues as well, the majority of cases fall into one of these two categories.
Hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid):
Hypothyroidism is by far the more common type of thyroid problem. Most people with hypothyroidism are women, especially those who are of reproductive age or middle-aged. Most women are diagnosed between the ages of 30 to 50 years.
In the case of hypothyroidism, your body literally slows down. This is why symptoms like weight gain, brain fog and sluggishness are common.
These occur due to the thyroid not producing enough of the thyroid hormones T3 or T4 (or both). It can also cause elevated thyroid stimulating hormone levels.
Hyperthyroidism (over-active thyroid):
Hyperthyroidism causes the opposite effect of hypothyroidism. It almost speeds up one’s metabolism, to the point that the heart may beat faster and the person may have a hard time eating properly or keeping enough weight on.
Hyperthyroidism occurs when the body has too much of the needed thyroid hormones.
Enlarged thyroid/goiter:
Another condition is an enlarged thyroid, also called a goiter, that develops in the neck, which is usually caused by a lack of iodine in someone’s diet. (Iodine is needed to support thyroid function.) In countries where iodized salt is common, goiters are rare, however they can develop when someone doesn’t eat a balanced diet for an extended period of time.
There are different types of goiters that can develop, including lithium-induced goiter, nontoxic goiter and toxic nodular goiter.
Symptoms of Thyroid Problems
The most common symptoms of hypothyroidism are:
Persistent fatigue (aka adrenal fatigue), lethargy, and sometimes depression or low motivation to exercise
Moodiness and sometimes anxiety
Intolerance to cold and frequently feeling chilly
Dry skin and hair — skin might feel cool to the touch and the toes/fingers might look a blue/purple color in some cases
Brain fog, trouble concentrating and forgetfulness
A hoarse voice
Unexplainable weight gain
Constipation, bloating and other digestive issues
Muscle weakness, sometimes aches or pains, and other discomforts
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism commonly include:
Nervousness or symptoms of anxiety
Insomnia and sleep troubles
Racing heart rate
Eyes that appear large and sometimes bulge
Unexplained weight loss
High amounts of perspiration
Muscle weakness
Multiple bowel movements
Thin, brittle hair
What are early warning signs of thyroid problems?
When the gland first becomes dysfunctional, symptoms might include:
Dry skin
Fatigue and lack of focus
Feeling cold
Constipation
Weight gain
Puffy, swollen-looking face
Muscle weakness and trouble exercising
What are the symptoms of thyroid problems in females?
As many as one in eight women in the United States may be impacted by a thyroid disorder at some point during her lifetime. Symptoms can include:
Thinning hair
Loss of breast tenderness
Fatigue
Weight gain
Low libido
Cold body temperature
Irregular menstrual cycles
Infertility
What symptoms does thyroid cancer cause?
Some signs of cancer potentially developing in the gland can include:
A lump (nodule) that can be felt on the neck
Hoarseness
Difficulty swallowing and breathing normally
Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
Pain in the neck and throat
Persistent cough
Causes
What causes thyroid problems? It depends on the specific problem.
There are many factors that can contribute to thyroid problems, ranging from genetics to poor lifestyle habits — like skipping sleep, exercising too much or too little, and eating too many inflammatory foods.
Causes of Hypothyroidism:
In the U.S., by far the most common reason for hypothyroidism is a condition called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, where the body mistakenly attacks the thyroid and destroys cells, thus compromising its functioning. It’s also sometimes called chronic autoimmune thyroiditis and chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis.
Hashimoto’s is a type of autoimmune disorder. It takes place due to an autoimmune response (the body attacking its own tissue with T and B cells), interfering with normal production of hormones. It affects women seven to 10 times more often than men due to chromosomal susceptibilities.
Causes of Hashimoto’s disease can include high amounts of stress, nutrient deficiencies (such as low iodine), low immune function (immunosuppression) and toxicity. However, on a worldwide level, an iodine deficiency in the diet is the No. 1 cause of hypothyroidism.
Causes of Hyperthyroidism:
The prevalence of hyperthyroidism in the U.S. is approximately 1.2% of adults. The