Hypothyroidism, What Actually is It, And Could You Have It
by Steve Simpson on 2007-09-24It seems s strange question to ask yourself if you know anyone that suffers from hypothyroidism because the usual response would be now. It may surprise you to learn that thyroid disease symptoms actually affect millions of adults in the USA alone. the chances are then that you do know someone affected by them. This article will not only look at what hypothyroidism is, but also some of the causes, the symptoms, the diagnosis and the treatment.
Hypothyroidism is the medical name for when your thyroid gland, which is about the size of a golf ball, fails to produce enough or the right amounts of different hormones. It can also be knows as an under-active thyroid. Hypothyroidism refers to any state in which thyroid hormone production is below normal. The thyroid gland is situated under the pituitary gland and can become quite inflamed if not treated. The thyroid gland's main purpose is to produce hormones like thyroxine (T4 or thyroid hormone). Thyroid hormones are extremely important in controlling the body's energy, but also it' use of other hormones and vitamins, and the normal growth of body tissues. One of the problems lies in the fact that the symptoms of hypothyroidism are very diverse and can be linked to other illnesses, so doctors often have a lot of trouble properly diagnosing hypothyroidism as the cause.
One of the more common reasons for your thyroid to be weakened is actually stress on the body which can be in the form of mental, physical and emotional. It can generally become weakened also by your environment, your heating habits, pollution and possibly your lifestyle. Changing lifestyle is not an easy feat however. The number of people affected by an under-active thyroid does seem to be on the rise with more people gaining treatment. Other things that can attribute are a high intake of saturated fat, and exposure to some chemicals, drugs, radiation and pesticides. You really need to know what to actually look out for if you may be affected.
Misdiagnoses of hypothyroidism symptoms is all too regular because they can be linked closely to other diseases. It seems to be much more common in women 10-20% as opposed to men 1-2%. Some symptoms are felt during normal pregnancy such as fatigue, unexplained weight gain and numbness. Many things can also be the cause of cramps but an under active thyroid is quite commonly linked to this as well. It is also common to experience depression and sadness, or even to have a feeling of being distant from others. All of these symptoms however can be the cause of hypothyroidism. There are some more sever things to look out for which can include an ongoing rapid heart beat, unusual weight loss, increase blood pressure and vomiting, if you do experience any of this I urge you to consult a health professional to be tested.
We know now that it can be difficult for a doctor to pinpoint hypothyroidism because of the varying symptoms. The diagnosis is done by blood tests and these too can be interpreted differently. If you are experiencing multiple symptoms please let your doctor know to enable them to make a much more informed decision about diagnosis. If you do turn out to be suffering it is time you found a reliable treatment.
With a healthy diet and exercise, most men and women can improve distressing symptoms such as weight gain and mood swings. Sometimes though this is just not enough. While short-term hormone replacement therapy helps many women, most symptoms of hypothyroidism and even menopause can be relieved with the use of an herbal thyroid medicine known Thyromine. Thyroid treatment pills work by stimulating the body to produce normal levels of thyroxine, because the supplements are all natural this may be done without side effects. Thyroid treatment supplements may also help to restore deficient iodine levels, as adequate amounts are vital to a healthy thyroid gland. The reason that Thyromine is such a great discovery is that it works from the bottom up to eliminate the basic cause of your suffering.
About The Author: Steve Simpson is a small time website creator that focuses on helping people, his latest website about the product thyromine offers an independent review and points to detailed information. Go there now for a thyromine review Click here for other unique hypothyroidism articles.