Do you feel extremely tired many times in a day? Are you experiencing sudden weight gain, chills at night and hair loss? Is your neck a bit bloated up? If you are experiencing any of the mentioned symptoms, it might be that your body regulator- Thyroid- is unbalanced. Quick 3 tests can help you detect any abnormality - TSH, T3 and T4. Women were three times more likely to be affected by thyroid dysfunction than men. 1 in 10 adults in India suffers from hypothyroidism, with 50 per cent being women.

What is the thyroid gland?
The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland in the front of the neck. It produces hormones that control the speed of your metabolism - the system that helps the body use energy. Thyroid disorders can slow down or rev up your metabolism by disrupting the production of thyroid hormones. When hormone levels become too low or too high, you may experience a wide range of symptoms.

What are the Symptoms?
Thyroid can be of 2 types - Hyper (Overactive) and Hypo (Underactive) Thyroid.
Low and Underactive Thyroid High and Overactive Thyroid
Fatigue Nervousness
Dry Skin & Hair Tremors - Hand Shaking
Brittle Hair Hair loss or thinning hair
Constipation Diarrhea
Low Pulse High Pulse
Weight Gain Weight loss without trying
Intolerance to cold temperature Intolerance to hot temperature
Depression Sweatiness
Swelling in lower part of neck Swelling in lower part of neck

The swelling in the neck is a major and most significant feature. Hence one should always do the Self Neck Test.

Who should be tested?
Women aged 35 and above or those with symptoms/risk factors/family history are the right candidates for screening. It has been estimated that 75% of the people suffering from thyroid are undiagnosed.

Diagnosing thyroid disorders - A simple blood test can provide an answer. TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) levels determine thyroid hypo and hyper function as it regulates the work of thyroid gland. Rarely an imaging study or biopsy is needed. Two additional tests may be required - T3 and T4.

What happens if Thyroid remains undetected?
As Thyroid disorders are hormonal imbalances, undetection can lead to a number of secondary complications:
Obesity
High Cholesterol and Hypertension
Hair Fall
Heart Disease
Complications in pregnancy

Understanding Thyroid Problems in Women: Did You Get the Test Done?

Thyroid disorders are conditions that affect the thyroid gland, which is a butterfly-shaped gland in front of the neck. There are specific kinds of thyroid disorders that include:

Hypothyroidism
Hyperthyroidism
Goiter
Thyroid Nodules
Thyroid Cancer
Epidemiology, Incidence, and Prevalence
It has been estimated that about 42 million people in India suffer from thyroid diseases.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland produces an insufficient amount of thyroid hormone. It can develop from problems within the thyroid gland, pituitary gland, or hypothalamus. 

Symptoms of hypothyroidism can include:

Fatigue
Poor concentration or feeling mentally "foggy"
Dry skin
Constipation
Feeling cold
Fluid retention
Muscle and joint aches
Depression
Prolonged or excessive menstrual bleeding in women
Common Causes of Hypothyroidism

Hashimoto's thyroiditis (an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation of the thyroid gland)
Thyroid hormone resistance
Other types involving inflammation of the thyroid, such as acute thyroiditis and postpartum thyroiditis
Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism refers to the excessive production of thyroid hormone, a less common condition than hypothyroidism. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism are usually related to increased metabolism. In mild cases, there may not be apparent symptoms.

Signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism can include:

Tremors
Nervousness
Fast heart rate
Fatigue
Intolerance for heat
Increase in bowel movements
Increased sweating 
Concentration problems
Unintentional weight loss
Common causes of hyperthyroidism

Graves' disease
Toxic multinodular goiter
Thyroid nodules that overexpress thyroid hormone (known as "hot" nodules) 
Abnormal secretion of TSH
Thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland)
Excessive iodine intake
Goiter: A goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid gland, regardless of cause. A goiter may be associated with hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, or a normal thyroid function. 

Thyroid Nodules: Nodules are lumps or abnormal masses in the thyroid. Nodules can be caused by benign cysts, benign tumors, or less commonly, by cancers of the thyroid. If nodules are excessively large, they may cause symptoms related to compression of nearby structures. 

Thyroid Cancer: Thyroid cancer is more common among adult women than men or youth. About 2/3rd of cases occur in people under age 55. There are different kinds of thyroid cancers depending upon the specific cell type within the thyroid that has become cancerous. Most cases of thyroid cancer have a good prognosis and high survival rates, especially when diagnosed in its early stages.

Investigations

Blood tests are done to measure levels of thyroid hormones. Blood tests are also done to identify antibodies against thyroid tissue, such as titers of antithyroglobulin, antithyroperoxidase, or TSH receptor-stimulating antibodies.

Treatment

Thyroid disorders can be treated with medications or, in some cases, surgery. The treatment will depend on the particular disease of the thyroid.Medications can be given to replace the missing thyroid hormone in hypothyroidism. Synthetic thyroid hormone is given in pill form by mouth. When hyperthyroidism is present, medications can be used to decrease the production of thyroid hormone or prevent its release from the gland. 

Thyroid Disorder - What All Should You Know 

3 Foods to Avoid If You Have Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism causes the thyroid gland to produce excess hormones, which accelerates the metabolism, in turn affecting the heart, bone health, and mood. The symptoms of hyperthyroidism include increased heartbeat, insomnia, anxiety, heightened hunger, and weight loss, all of which can be controlled via medicines and a healthy diet plan.

However, there are certain foods that can worsen the condition and lead to the severity of the symptoms. These should be avoided at all costs by anyone suffering from hyperthyroidism.

- Caffeinated drinks

Caffeinated drinks can worsen hyperthyroidism symptoms by aggravating palpitations, anxiety and insomnia. These include energy drinks, coffee, black tea, alcohol, soda. It is advisable to replace these drinks with healthy herbal tea or lemon water, which are apt refreshments with multiple health benefits.

- Foods with high glycemic content

Processed refined grains lose their nutrients like vitamin B and become not only useless but harmful to the body. The high glycemic content in refined grains can cause fluctuations in your blood sugar level, which can trigger terrible mood swings. It is advised to swap these with whole grains, quinoa, oatmeal and wild rice.

- Trans fat and hydrogenated oil

Trans- fat and partially hydrogenated oil are the culprits of heart diseases. To ensure the health of your heart and reduce the chances of hyperthyroidism, it is important to minimize the consumption of all the foods that list hydrogenated oil in their ingredient list. These are cookies, margarine, cakes, donuts, French fries, crackers and many others.



3 Foods to Avoid If You Have Hyperthyroidism

 Thyroid is a small gland situated in front of the neck and secretes hormones like thyroxine (T4) and tri-iodothyronine (T3). These hormones control various functions of our body like heart, blood pressure, digestion, metabolism, growth, blood formation, brain function etc. Any fluctuation in the functioning of the thyroid gland can have a great impact on health. The thyroid gland is primarily responsible for energy and metabolism. This gland triggers the genes that make all the cells in the body conduct their specific jobs. But over a period of time, the optimum functioning of the thyroid may reduce because of specific reasons. The gland may start to under-produce or overproduce the thyroid hormone, which may lead to conditions known as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, respectively. 

Patients with hypothyroidism may feel extreme tiredness and fatigue even though they may be sleeping more than before. An unexplained gain in weight, constipation, inability to stand cold temperatures, and constant pain in muscles and joints are some of the other symptoms of hypothyroidism. 
Hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid, is an endocrine disorder. Patients with this disorder may experience excessive sweating, fatigue, and intolerance to heat. They may even experience restlessness, puffy or protruded eyes, hair loss, and muscle weakness. Such patients may lose weight and are unable to sleep properly at night. In some cases, palpitations or abnormal heart rhythm may also be experienced. 
Complications of Thyroid Disorder 

Hypothyroid and hyperthyroid can cause a number of complications if patients don t take medications. It is important for you to not to ignore any of the aforementioned symptoms and speak to your doctor as soon as possible. 

Hypothyroid complications

Myxedema: This condition is characterized by slowed thinking, swelling of tissues, and accumulation of fluid around major organs like brain, lungs and/or heart. This condition may prove life-threatening if not treated on time. 
Enlarged goiter: This is characterized by enlargement of the thyroid gland because of a constant increase in the TSH levels. High cholesterol and triglycerides: This may eventually pave way for heart disease and stroke. 
Sleep apnea: Sleep apnea is a disorder that affects nighttime breathing where the brain that temporarily stops sending signals to the muscles that control breathing, or by an obstruction in the airway. This may prove fatal if left untreated. 
Low blood pressure: This means not enough blood is getting to capillaries and tissues, particularly in your hands, feet, and brain. You may have chronic nail fungal infections and cold hands and feet if so. 
Hyperthyroid complications 

Heart disorders (cardiac arrest): If left untreated, excess thyroid hormones can lead to congestive heart failure and heart rhythm disorders. 
Osteoporosis: Too much thyroid hormones interfere with the body s ability to use calcium to build bone. This may lead to brittle bones and osteoporosis. 
Thyrotoxic crisis: This is a rare yet life-threatening complication characterized by high fever, vomiting, irregular heartbeat, and agitation. 
Hypertension or high blood pressure: It is a condition in which a patient has high blood force striking the walls of the artery An early diagnosis can help make the treatment of this disorder easier. 
Depending on the condition of the thyroid condition, it requires different ways to manage it. The conventional TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) and T-4 (thyroxine) blood tests will be advised and the results should provide a reasonable confirmation of the condition. If doubts still persist an ultrasound or scan can also be ordered. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Is Your Thyroid Gland Working Against Your Body? 

The thyroid hormones, namely T3, T4 and TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) play a pivotal role in various metabolic processes in the body. Any imbalance in the level of these hormones can interfere with the normal body functions. While an elevated level of the thyroid hormones gives rise to Hyperthyroidism, a reduced level of the same thyroid hormones can lead to a condition medically termed as Hypothyroidism. A proper diagnosis and treatment can bring about a significant improvement. However, there are some common mistakes that many people with thyroid problems often make.

Choose your diet with care: The health benefits of a balanced and nutritious diet are known to all. However, a food considered healthy may not be an ideal choice for a thyroid patient. Time and again, broccoli and kale have been recommended for its nutritive value. However, these vegetables may not be a good choice for thyroid health. Known to contain goitrogens, they may interfere with the production of the thyroid hormones. Gluten, a protein present in wheat, rye, and barley, though healthy should be avoided, especially in the case of Hypothyroidism.
Obesity may not be the trigger: While it is a healthy practice to maintain a healthy body weight, it is unfair to blame the extra kilos for every single disease that you suffer from. Many people believe that losing weight is the best way to deal with thyroid problems. However, the fact is quite different from what you believe. Thyroid problems can be an outcome of various triggers where losing weight may provide negligible or no assistance to reverse or improve the condition. In fact, rapid weight loss may give rise to some complications which may aggravate the condition further.
Thyroid glands are not always at fault: Many people associate thyroid problems with some abnormalities or improper functioning of the thyroid glands. There is no denying the fact that problems in the thyroid glands often trigger thyroid disorders. However, this is not the only cause. A host of other factors such as stress, medical conditions, certain medications and unhealthy lifestyle habits may be equally responsible for the thyroid problems. In some cases, the body may fail to utilize the thyroid hormones produced by the thyroid glands. In another condition, the thyroid hormone produced is unable to enter the cell (triggered by a problem in the cell receptor). It is important to identify the root cause of the problem rather than generalizing.
People with hypothyroidism do not need to gulp down tons of iodine. Always use the amount recommended by the doctor. Increased intake of iodine supplements (way above the recommended quantity) may result in unnecessary health complications such as Wolff-Chaikoff effect.
Many health organizations or individuals may promise instant relief and cure. They may lure you with some irresistible offers. However, it will be foolish on your part to fall for such claims. Always seek the help of experienced and genuine health professionals.

Thyroid - 5 Common Mistakes That Most People Do!

Thyroid disorders are associated with the thyroid gland. A thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland situated right at the base of one s neck. The role of the thyroid gland is to carry out numerous metabolic processes within the body. The brain regulates the functioning of the thyroid gland through a feedback mechanism. There are a number of disorders, both severe and trivial, which could affect the thyroid gland.

Main symptoms of thyroid disorders:

Weight loss and weight gain

Changes in heart rate (arrhythmia)

Hair loss

Frequent mood swings

Swollen neck

Sudden bouts of moderate to high fever

Other symptoms include:

Numbness or a tingling sensation in the hands

Constipation

Abnormalities or irregularities in menstruation

Brittle nails and dry skin

Blurred vision

Weakened muscle tone and frequent tremors in the body

Treatment Options:

Intake of thyroid hormone pills may prove beneficial. Once you start with the treatment, you may notice significant improvement within the first two or three weeks. Generally, once affected by thyroid disorders, one might have to be on these medications his/her entire life. Over time, this treatment procedure should result in lowering of the cholesterol levels, increased energy; but in certain cases, might throw up side effects in the form of sudden and unexplained weight loss.

Anti-thyroid medications help reduce and regulate the secretion of the thyroid hormone, thus treating certain thyroid disorders (such as hyperthyroidism).

Beta blockers are drugs help in reducing high blood pressure, heart palpitations and controlling heart rate.

In severe cases, such as enlargement of the thyroid gland, surgery is advised by the doctor, in which the thyroid gland is removed. Tumors or thyroid nodules are also treated by this surgical process.

In cases of thyroid cancer, besides the surgical procedure, radioactive iodine therapy (radioiodine) is recommended. This therapy helps destroy the thyroid gland and other thyroid (malignant) cells which may be taking up iodine. However, the side effects of this technique are minimal. This procedure helps to destroy those tissues which may not have been removed by the surgery. If the thyroid cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or to other parts within the body, this particular mode of treatment can be very effective.

Types of Thyroid Disorders:

Hypothyroidism: This is a condition characterized by an underactive thyroid gland. In this case, sufficient thyroid hormone is not secreted in the body.

Hyperthyroidism: This is characterized by an overactive thyroid gland, that results in overproduction of the thyroid hormone.

Thyroid cancer: It is a type of cancer of the thyroid gland.

Goiter: This is a disorder wherein the thyroid gland gets abnormally enlarged.

Thyroid nodules: This is marked by swelling of the thyroid gland.

Thyroid Disorders - Signs & Symptoms To Watch Out For!

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