Thyroid Health: 3 Things You Should Know

Changes in your weight even when your eating and exercise routine is consistent; feeling anxious or depressed even when there’s no seemingly reasonable cause; the ongoing feeling of exhaustion even after an entire night’s rest.

It’s that deep sense that something’s off, and it could be a sign that your thyroid is working under or overtime.

Nearly 20 million Americans are diagnosed with a thyroid disorder each year. And although it’s more common in women, it can happen to men as well.

 

Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that’s located just above our collarbone.

 

Up to 60% of the people living with a thyroid condition are completely unaware that their unbalanced hormones could be at the center of their health struggles. It may be small, but your thyroid is a powerful organ that plays a huge role in sending and receiving messages throughout your entire body. Most symptoms start slowly but gradually get worse so, here’s three thyroid essentials you should know.

 

1. Your Thyroid Regulates More Than You Realize

Think of your thyroid as a mini control center. It uses iodine in the food we eat to produce and release hormones that signal every cell in our body. Everything from our heart rate, blood pressure, fertility and body temperature to our weight, skin, hair, bones and mood can change if the small gland in our neck starts to go awry.

 

Your thyroid sends chemical messages that affect every cell and organ in our body. 

 

2. Hyperthyroidism vs. Hypothyroidism: Here’s What To Look For

Our thyroid produces two main hormones, T3 and T4. Together this duo controls every major action in our body you can think of. And depending on the message our thyroid receives from our brain, it makes adjustments: producing and releasing more or less thyroid hormones into our bloodstream.

 

When your thyroid starts over-producing thyroid hormones, everything speeds up.

 

Hyperthyroidism is your thyroid working like a race car in full throttle-mode and it means your thyroid is making more hormones than your body can deal with. An over-active thyroid can lead to symptoms that include:

 

• Unexplained weight-loss
• Sensitivity to hot temperatures
• Trembling hands, heart palpitations
• Double vision, bulging eyes
• A swollen thyroid

 

When our thyroid starts under-producing thyroid hormones, everything slows down.

 

Hypothyroidism is your thyroid working like a snail in fatigue-mode and it means your thyroid is struggling to produce enough hormones for your body to function properly. An under-active thyroid can lead to symptoms that include:

 

• Unexplained weight-gain
• Sensitivity to cold temperatures
• Hair loss
• Constant feeling of exhaustion
• Forgetfulness, depression

 

Even a slight shift in thyroid hormones can cause symptoms that are hard to ignore.

 

A subtle imbalance of these influential hormones can be managed well, if diagnosed and treated correctly. But those subtle signs could be masking bigger issues like thyroid cancer and even lead to heart failure or a stroke, all of which can be fatal.

 

A rapid heart rate, swollen or lumpy thyroid or extreme exhaustion means it’s time to get immediate help.

 

A simple blood test can determine how your current thyroid hormone levels line up with what’s considered to be normal, whether any imbalances have an autoimmune connection where your body is attacking your thyroid and what course of treatment, if any, is best for you.

 

3. Thyroid Disease Can Happen to Anyone

Age, gender, family history, fitness level – when it comes to thyroid conditions, there isn’t anything that automatically eliminates your risks. But there are simple ways you can boost your thyroid health (and happiness).

 

• Swapping refined carbohydrates for more lean protein and healthy fats like coconut oil, avocado and flaxseeds can help improve hormone balance.

 

• Avoiding common chemicals found in pesticides, nonstick cookware and antibacterial products that decrease thyroid function.

 

• Adding regular exercise that helps increase your metabolism and your body’s thyroid hormone production.

 

• Managing stress levels that can aggravate an existing thyroid condition and reduce the amount of thyroid hormones our body produces.

 

Our thyroid creates hormones that affect every process in our bodies. The sooner a thyroid condition is detected, the sooner you can begin to manage your overall health and avoid the physical and emotional havoc that can come with thyroid disorders.