All You Need To Know About Spotting, Diagnosing, And Treating Thyroid Disorders

Apr 23, 2018

Although we like to blame our bad behaviors on hormones, we need them to survive. Our thyroids are the hub of releasing hormones into our bodies that will help us thrive, but sometimes things can get out of whack.

The most common disorder, hypothyroidism, affects 4.6% of the American population, while hyperthyroidism affects 1.2%. Treating these disorders is crucial because hormone irregularities can cause heavy wear and tear damages on the body long term.

Here's everything you need to know about hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
 

Having this disorder means that your thyroid is inactive and not producing enough hormones to regulate your body's functions. There are many indicators of hypothyroidism, but one of the biggest symptoms is the inability to lose weight.

When your thyroid slows down, the rest of your body slows down, too. Hypothyroidism can also trigger tiredness, feeling cold all the time, and constipation.

Hyperthyroidism is the opposite of hypo: your thyroid is producing too many hormones. It also has the opposite effect of speeding up your metabolism.

Since your body is sped up, you will feel anxious and jittery. You'll also find it difficult to fall asleep. Another common complaint of those suffering from hyperthyroidism is muscle weakness or even restless legs.
 

Sometimes thyroid disease can be an autoimmune issue. One branch of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto's thyroiditis, which is caused by the immune system mistaking the thyroid cells and enzymes as an enemy intruder. Hyperthyroidism occurs because the thyroid nodules grow too large and produce too many hormones.

If you think you're developing symptoms of a thyroid disorder, the most common approach is for a doctor to take a blood test to analyze your body's levels of thyroid hormones. If your hormones aren't within the normal range, they will often prescribe levothyroxine, which is a synthetic thyroid hormone, or they will give you an anti-thyroid medication to slow down an overactive thyroid.

Doctors will also ask you about other stressors that can trigger thyroid disorders such as stress, digestive issues, toxins, and infections. If your doctor suspects that the cause of your thyroid problem is an autoimmune issue, then they will look into dietary triggers such as gluten allergies. The thyroid needs many nutrients to function properly, so a rich diet can improve your condition.
 

If you discover that you are lacking in essential vitamins or minerals such as zinc or selenium, you may have to eat more or supplement in order to treat the disorder. Your doctor should also look at your sex hormones and cortisol, since those can create problems for your endocrine system.

Although the symptoms may feel scary, take peace in knowing that these conditions are often very manageable. The sooner you get to a doctor, the sooner you can get back to feeling like your normal self!

If you learned something valuable you should spread the knowledge so you can help others recognize if they have issues with their thyroids, too.