Are You Suffering With Thyroid Problems?
Do you feel like you just cannot get up enough energy to do anything these days? Maybe you have been feeling weak or depressed more than normal. There are many symptoms of having an underactive thyroid that can explain how you may be feeling. Hypothyroidism is the result of having a thyroid that is not producing enough thyroid hormones to keep your body running at a normal speed.
Hypothyroidism can be caused by many different things. One cause of hypothyroidism is referred to as Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. This autoimmune disorder involves the body attacking the thyroid tissue which causes it to stop producing thyroid hormones. This is one cause the does typically run in the family.
If you have had problems with hyperthyroidism (an over acting thyroid) in the past and have undergone treatments for it, the thyroid gland may have been damaged or destroyed by the chemicals. You might have had to have your thyroid gland removed as part of the treatment which can lead to hypothyroidism.
If you have had an overexposure to iodine, this may have caused damage to your thyroid gland as well. Some heart medicines contain a large amount of iodine so if you suspect that you have hypothyroidism, check with your physician to review the medication that you are currently taking. Lithium has also been linked to the hypothyroidism so your physician may want to make some changes in your medication.
There are some pretty specific signs of hypothyroidism that may help you and your physician diagnose a thyroid problem. If you feel weak and tired and slightly depressed most of the time you should definitely follow up with the doctor. You may notice that your skin is consistently dry and that your fingernails are brittle and break very easily.
Many patients that have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism report being extremely sensitive to cold weather or temperatures. They tend to deal with constipation on a regular basis as well. Having hypothyroidism can lead to problems remembering things or staying focused and thinking clearly. This can cause problems in day to day life for some patients.
Some women that have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism report that their menstrual cycles are not on schedule or are irregular. They sometimes have very heavy cycles which can lead to great discomfort. Women tend to notice the effects of hypothyroidism and get diagnosed sooner than men.
You should be aware that a thyroid problem can go many years without being diagnosed because the symptoms seem to creep up on people. They come on slowly and over a number of years or months. If you have had some or all of the symptoms listed above but have been chalking them up to getting older, it is time to get them checked out.
Hypothyroidism can be treated with medication and you will be amazed that taking one medicine can reverse some of the symptoms that you have come to accept as part of daily life. There are simple blood tests that your doctor can do to determine the thyroid levels in your body. If they are high or low, they can provide a treatment path for you and get you back into life again. It is time to feel life again. You can do it if you take the time to let your physician diagnose the problem.
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