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?

10 symptoms that signal hypothyroidism

When your thyroid malfunctions, you may face difficult health issues. Hypothyroidism leads to excessive weight gain and a lot of other medical ailments. It can be identified by a bunch of symptoms which if present, should not be taken lightly.

1) weight gain - if there is sudden and unexpected weight gain, this is the earliest and definite sign of an underactive thyroid gland. This means that there are strong chances of lowered levels of t3 and t4 hormones in the body, leading to slow metabolism in the body. People suffering from hypothyroidism face increased body weight which becomes difficult to lose despite maintaining healthy diet and exercising rigorously.

2) constant fatigue - if you have slept well the night before, yet you are tired and if this is a regular feature, then chances are that your thyroid gland is underactive. Being low in energy, it gets difficult to complete daily chores or exercise.

3) swelling in the neck - another telltale sign would be goiter - an abnormal swelling in the neck. The thyroid gland mainly concentrates iodine from the blood to create both the thyroid hormones. If there is iodine deficiency in the body, this process gets disrupted resulting in hypothyroidism.

4) hair loss - hypothyroidism causes hormonal imbalance which in turn causes hair loss. If there is sudden, unexplainable hair loss, chances of hypothyroidism are high.

5) imbalance in body temperature - if you are suddenly feeling too cold, it is advised to get your thyroid tests done.

6) brittle nails - if your nails have become brittle, get chipped very easily and look weak, this could be an indication of hypothyroidism.

7) mood changes - the weight gained and the excessive fatigue, both trigger massive mood swings which at times, the person has no control over.

8) constipation - the contractions of the digestive tract get weakened due to low levels of thyroid hormones resulting in constipation. Chronic constipation without any apparent reason could be an indicator of hypothyroidism.

9) irregular menses - if your periods are irregular, do not take it lightly. This could be most likely because of hormonal imbalances which are caused by hypothyroidism.

10) slower heart rate - if your heart beats at less than 60 times per minute, it could be because of the interference by thyroid hormones.

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10 Symptoms That Signal Hypothyroidism. Do You Have Any Of These?

Cow urine therapy has been in practice for many health problems in india for centuries. In india, cow is a symbol of spirituality and cow urine is not only used in devotional practices, but also comes packed with a bunch of health benefits.

'kamadhenu' is worshipped for thousands of years as the goddess who fulfils desire. In ayurveda, cow is considered as the mother of all entities as the products obtained from cow are beneficial to all mankind in many ways. The milk, urine, curd, ghee and dung obtained from cow are beneficial in different ways as food supplement and medicine. Cow urine or gomutra destroys the poisonous effects of residues and makes body disease free. The medicinal usage of panchgavya, especially cow urine is practiced in ayurveda which is classified as complementary and alternative medicine.

The two indian epics, shushruta samhita and charaka samhita, have described that the consumption of cow urine produces body warmth. In modern medical science, it has been well established that the thyroid hormones are responsible for producing body warmth. The oral administration of cow urine has thyroid stimulating effect and therapeutic value of urinary iodine present in the cow urine is immense. Cow urine or gomutra contains iodine, which is easily absorbable from the gastrointestinal tract. The mean urinary iodine levels in dairy cows may vary from 79.2 to 94.8 micrograms of iodine per litre of urine depending upon their physiological conditions. Iodine is an essential element to produce thyroid hormones such as triiodothyronine and thyroxine. These are catabolic hormones that generate heat and cause body warmth. It has been proven that the cow urine contains iodine in required level for normal functioning of thyroid gland.

Urinary iodine concentration in cow urine varies depending upon its biological status and it could stimulate the patient's thyroid gland activity on oral administration of iodine. Thyroxine stimulates more oxygen utilization and heat production by many different cells of the body.

During iodine deficiency, the pituitary gland secretes enhanced amounts of thyroid stimulating hormone (tsh), which causes compensatory adjustment. This leads in the production of more extensive secretory epithelium which in turn will result in enlargement of the thyroid gland and loss of colloid material in the thyroid follicles. In this scenario, exogenous supplementation of iodine brings back the normal thyroid status.

The administration of cow urine, which contain good levels of iodine, can keep the thyroid gland activity on a better footing. We now have the support of scientific validation for the experience of warming up of the human body after consumption of cow urine or gomutra.

Cow Urine Therapy for Thyroid

If you are suffering from hypothyroidism, it is important for you to deal with the condition so that your daily life and activities do not get affected. Hypothyroidism occurs when your thyroid gland becomes under active and does not produces sufficient amount of hormones. This affects the metabolism rate of your body. Hypothyroidism has several symptoms which include fatigue, constipation, dry skin, muscle cramping, hoarse voice, depression, sudden gain of weight and brittle hair and fingernails.

Here are some important tips which you should follow in order to deal with hypothyroidism and for its treatment:

Go Gluten and A1 Casein free: Common allergies and food intolerance, which occur today are because of wheat and dairy products because of the hybridized proteins of A1 casein and gluten. These may lead to a leaky gut, as a result of which inflammation of the thyroid gland takes place. This affects the thyroid s functioning. You should avoid grain and gluten in your diet. Try to consume dairy products coming from A2 cow s milk.
Avoid BPA: Bisphenol A or BPA is present in plastic bottles. These are capable of disrupting the endocrine system and also affect the thyroid gland. You should avoid drinking from plastic bottles and drink water from glass, stainless steel and plastic bottles which are BPA free.
Check your iodine levels: In case your iodine levels are low, you should use an organic liquid supplement. Kelp is ideal for this purpose.
Heavy metal detox: You need to detoxify your body and eliminate traces of harmful metals from your organs and cells. For this, you may use a combination of milk, turmeric, chlorella, cilantro and thistle, which are ideal for a metal detox.
Increase your selenium intake: It is important for you to consume sufficient amounts of selenium in your everyday diet, but you should not consume them in excess. You should eat food items containing selenium in good amount such as salmon, sunflower seeds, Brazil nuts, mushrooms, onions and beef.
Take adaptogen supplements: You should lower your cortisol levels and improve thyroid functioning by taking supplements such as tulsi and ashwaganda.
Remove silver fillings: If you have amalgam fillings, you should consult a dentist and get the fillings removed.
Lower your carbohydrate intake: You also need to reduce the amount of sugar and grains in your regular diet. Instead, take healthy fats. Consuming too much carbohydrates leads to increased estrogen, which affects thyroid negatively. Choose healthy fats like coconut oils, avocado, wild salmon, hemp seeds and flax seeds. These will help in balancing your hormone levels.
Hypothyroidism usually occurs from common causes such as toxicity due to radiation and metal exposure, deficiency of iodine and selenium, food intolerance and hormonal imbalance due to stress and excess carbohydrates.

Hypothyroidism - 8 Tips To Help You Deal With It!

Thyroid is one among the many glands in the endocrine system, whose secreted hormones regulate and maintain various metabolic activities. Thyroid problem, in generic terms, refers to a situation where there is an abnormal secretion of the thyroid hormone. The secretion can either be abundant, causing what is known as hyperthyroidism, or insufficient which, in turn is known as hypothyroidism. Both of these conditions are detrimental to health affecting not only your body weight but also the growth of bones and hair. Though different branches of medicines are constantly dabbling with this problem, homeopathy is the most preferred choice.

Some of the reasons for it are:
1. Treats severe sweating, problems in menstruation and constipation
One of the most important advantages of homeopathy medicines is that each one of them is equipped to treat a host of ailments. The condition, hypothyroidism is symptomatic of excessive sweating on the head, constipation and problems in menstruating in women. All of these can be cured by the intake of calcarea carbonica.

2. Cures paleness of skin, tendencies of fainting and hair fall
This is another characteristic of hypothyroidism, wherein you suffer from pale, yellow skin and are unable to bear extreme cold temperatures due to the lack of vitality and body heat. &nbsp; at the same time, women in their menopause tend to suffer from excessive hair fall. In all of these situations, a homeopathic medicine called sepia officinalis is extremely beneficial in curbing these.

3. Does not create overt reliance on medicines
Hyperthyroidism is a condition that is marked by nervousness and anxiety. Though allopathic medicines have always been preferred to others, it must also been considered that in their attempt to cure, they end up creating an overt reliance of medicines in the patients.

4. Suits everybody
The primary reason for preferring homeopathy to others is their complete lack of any side-effect. Both allopathy and ayurveda may or may not work on certain individuals. However, that is not the case for homeopathy as it does not adopt any artificial means to cure thyroid problems, rather uses natural means to regulate the secretion of the thyroid gland.

Best ways to balance hormones naturally-

1. Eat healthy fats (including coconut oil and avocados)
2. Supplement with adaptogen herbs
3. Balance your intake of omega-3 to omega-6 fats
4. Improve gut health &amp; heal leaky gut syndrome
5. Eliminate toxic kitchen, beauty and body care products
6. Exercise (especially interval training)
7. Reduce stress &amp; get more sleep
8. Watch your caffeine &amp; alcohol intake
9. Back off birth control pills
10. Supplement with vitamin d3


Homeopathy in Thyroid: A Wise Choice

When the thyroid gland is affected, leading to the thyroid disorder of an underactive nature, it is termed as hypothyroidism. The thyroid gland which is found in the lower portion of the neck is critical to the proper functioning of the human body s metabolism. In simple words, the thyroid hormone being released by this gland has to travel throughout the body to help in the use of energy gained from the food consumed and to keep the vital parameters such as the heartbeat in the right condition. When some antibodies attack the thyroid gland, and don t permit it to release adequate amounts of hormones into the system, the hypothyroid condition results.

The Causes for Hypothyroidism
An inflammation caused to the thyroid gland can result in this condition. This is an auto-immune disorder, in the sense that some internal factors can trigger this inflammation. Medically, the inflammation is termed  thyroiditis . There are also other factors that can cause hypothyroidism. These include radiation therapy. If the therapy has been administered near the neck area and the rays have penetrated to the thyroid gland, the inflammation can occur. Even those suffering from hyperthyroidism, the overactive form of thyroid and given radioactive iodine treatment can suffer from this condition due to the damage caused to the gland. Lastly, certain specific medications, if consumed regularly, can cause the condition.

Particular Sections of the Community at Risk
While there is no strict division among the population on vulnerability to be affected by hypothyroidism, research has indicated that women, and that too older women, may be more at risk. Men may be at a lower risk. Besides this, there are other profiles such as race and age which can also have a bearing on the level of risk. Of particular significance is that people who already suffer from autoimmune disorders are more likely to suffer from hypothyroidism than others.

Symptoms and Diagnosis
Many symptoms might not be unique to the hypothyroidism condition and can be misleading. Constipation, depression, hair loss and fatigue are some of them and an experienced medical practitioner will weigh the other factors, including the profiles explained above to reach the proper conclusion. The conventional TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) and T-4 (thyroxine) blood tests will be advised by the physician and the results should provide a reasonable confirmation of the condition. If doubts still persist an ultrasound or scan can also be ordered.

Hypothyroidism Treatment
As mentioned, for the body s metabolism to function normally, it is essential that the thyroid gland releases the thyroid hormone in sufficient quantities. Treatment of hypothyroidism is therefore very essential. The most frequently followed treatment is to prescribe regular intake of the synthetic thyroid hormone called T4. It is usually available in the form of a pill and has to be taken daily. The physician will know the concentration and dosage to be advised. Periodically testing your blood is necessary to monitor the levels.

Inflammation Of The Thyroid Gland - Can It Be Safely Controlled & Treated?

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