The risk of developing hypothyroidism tends to increase with age. Older women present the greatest risk. In rare cases, hypothyroidism occurs in infants and young children. Infants will have a normal growth and development if hypothyroidism is treated during their first months of life. Teens with hypothyroidism typically look much younger.

If it’s not treated, hypothyroidism can lead to multiple complications, including pericarditis (accumulation of fluid around the heart) and increased cholesterol and triglycerides. Hypothyroidism caused by Hashimoto thyroiditis, a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the thyroid gland, will disappear spontaneously (by itself). Women may develop hypothyroidism during or after pregnancy.

Iodine deficiency is the main cause of hypothyroidism. Other factors that may trigger this condition include autoimmune disorders (Hashimoto thyroiditis), treatment of hyperthyroidism, radiation therapy, thyroid surgery, medications (lithium). Hypothyroidism can also result from congenital diseases, failure of the pituitary gland, pregnancy and external irradiation. Viral and bacterial infections can temporarily damage the thyroid gland, leading to a form of hypothyroidism.

People suffering from this condition present thinning hair, dry and cold skin, slowness in movements, intolerance to cold, feeling of tiredness, weakness and drowsiness, depression, constipation, irregular menstrual cycles, weight gain or increased difficulty losing weight and muscle cramps. Less common symptoms include dysphonia (hoarse voice) and muscle pain.

In general, the severity of symptoms depends on age and severity of the condition. Subclinical or mild hypothyroidism often has no symptoms, going unnoticed. Symptoms of hypothyroidism during and after pregnancy include fatigue, weight loss, dizziness, depression, concentration problems and memory disorders. Some women develop a goiter.

If untreated, hypothyroidism can lead to periorbital swelling, pericardial effusion, muscular hypertrophy, weight gain, alanine transaminase levels raised (plasma or serum), cardiac failure, hypothermia, obesity, hyperpigmentation, etc. In rare cases, this condition leads to coma, female infertility, galactorrhoea-hyperprolactinaemia, Carpal tunnel syndrome, facies abnormality and thyroid hormone binding globulin levels raised (serum).

It is recommended to consult a doctor immediately if you notice mental deterioration, apathy, confusion and psychosis, severe breathing difficulties or low body temperature (35C or less). Hypothyroidism can be diagnosed by the gastroenterologist, gynecologist or psychiatrist, depending on symptoms. More complicated or unusual cases require special examination performed by the endocrinologist.

Hypothyroidism can be easily treated using thyroid hormone replacement drugs. In most cases, the symptoms are alleviated in the first weeks after beginning treatment. All symptoms usually disappear within a few months. Along with the allopathic treatment prescribed by the doctor, natural remedies can be extremely helpful. Plants rich in iodine and vitamins are quite numerous, increasing the levels of thyroxine in the blood.

People with underactive thyroid should take multivitamin supplements such as iodine, selenium, Tyrosine, thyroid glandular, bladderwrack and coconut oil. Many herbs proved their efficiency in treating hypothyroidism; some of them are: bayberry, Siberian ginseng, saw palmetto berry, black cohosh, ashwagandha, maca, goldenseal and more.

The four iodine molecules that make up this hormone has to do with the referencing of T4. The hormone goes to all tissues and organs that are within the body and are important in order to maintain the working order of the tissue or organ. There are many important function of the thyroid hormone to areas such as the heart, brain, muscles, and other organs as well.

Some individuals develop the condition known as hypothyroidism. This is when the thyroid is not working at the level that it should be, therefore making it harder for the body to function. The body as a consequence does not get the hormones that are needed in order to stay within a normal maintenance. In many of the cases, it is found that the culprit to an under active thyroid has to do with autoimmune diseases.

Low levels of the thyroid hormones within the body cause the body to slow in the way it is functioning. Common symptoms that a person experiences as a result is loss of energy, fatigue, memory problems, and dry skin. A lot of times there is a decrease in the amount of bowel movements as well as the person feeling colder.

Some of the symptoms are the types that people are not aware of. Usually the reason for this has to do with things such as plague build up within the arteries, which is not something that is common for an individual to experience. On the other end of the scale, there are those who have previous symptoms, which may become exacerbated due to the underlying thyroid condition. The development of the condition varies with each person, some individuals can have it develop as quick as a few months, while there are others who do not have any kinds of symptoms that they are to experience until years later.

The longer period of time that a person develops hyperthyroidism and has the levels of hormones at a lot range for a long time, then they are more apt to have symptoms, which become more severe. Those with the mild form of hypothyroidism will usually have the kind of symptoms that are mild or that they are unable to notice. Essentially, there is no set standard as to the symptoms a person will develop.

Every individual varies with the kinds of symptoms that they experience. All people are different, yet those with the more severe kinds of hypothyroidism are sure to have more intense symptoms that they experience. With some, they have symptoms from the first time they are diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Basically, there is not clear cut definition or standard to which a person will follow in the way that they experience the symptoms or recover.

Commonly, most develop hyperthyroidism due to the thyroid gland alone. This is known as graves disease and is caused by the over stimulation of antibodies in the blood, therefore making the thyroid grow and secrete too much of the thyroid hormone. Usually this kind of disease is genetic and occurs most times in young women. There is little known, relative to research as to why people develop this kind of condition.

Many times the individual has more bowel movements than what is normal as well, but it does not consist of diarrhea. There is usually the loss of weight, although the person does not have difficulty eating. Women sometimes experience the lightening of their periods, as well as less menstrual periods. In many cases, most who develop this kind of condition have it come on slowly and often mistaken it for stress.

Another kind of hyperthyroidism is when a person starts developing nodules or lumps within their thyroid. This will usually consist of one or more, which have the potential to grow and increase in the amount of activity, therefore making it so that there is more of the hormone in the blood than should be. When this kind of condition develops, it is referred to either as multinodular goiter, or toxic nodular.

In some cases, some individuals have symptoms, which is called thyroiditis, which occurs on various occasions and has to do with a condition with the immune system, or something to do with a viral infection that causes the gland to leak the hormone. Either of the conditions may be identified through a blood test. As for treatment, that depends on many different factors. Usually it has to do with the individual and their age, as well as their current health and the type of thyroid condition they have.

Hyper thyroidism is the result of over activity in the thyroid. The thyroid over produces the hormones T3 and T4 which regulate body temperature, metabolism, and many other organs and functions within the body. When people are suffering from hyper thyroidism they may experience such symptoms as irregular heart rate, heat intolerance, and weight loss.

There are many other symptoms that result from a hyper thyroid condition but none of the symptoms specifically point to the thyroid gland as the cause of the symptoms. It is only after blood tests are conducted to ascertain the level of TSH in the blood that one can be properly diagnosed with a thyroid condition.

There are many measures that one can take to insure that they maintain a healthy thyroid gland and reduce the possibility of over or under production of the hormones produced by this gland. The easiest method to help the thyroid is through a change in diet.

The thyroid gland can be significantly affected by some of the foods that are in an individual’s daily diet. The use of polyunsaturated oils has gained in popularity over the past few years for many individuals watching their weight. However these oils block the production of thyroid hormones and can lead to hypo-thyroidism.

Most of the foods that people eat are treated with chemicals. Some vegetables are sprayed with chemicals when they are in the field. They are sprayed with chemicals after being picked to preserve them or ward off insects. Many of these chemicals produce negative effects for the thyroid when they are eaten.

An individual suffering from hypo thyroidism needs to include foods in their diet that will stimulate the production of the T3 and T4 hormones. These diets include foods that are rich in protein and fatty acids, iodine, selenium, fiber and vitamins. By avoiding fast food, sugar, and refined foods an individual is not only making their body healthier but also making their thyroid healthier as well.

The important of a healthy and well balanced diet has positive effects on the well being of an individual and addresses many issues. For a person with a thyroid condition eating six small meals per day instead of the standard three will assist in helping the nutrients and proteins to be absorbed into the body in a smooth and seamless manner. In addition eating several small meals instead of three helps many people to lose weight because they do not develop the hunger that comes between three small diet meals.

There are several books available that outline the types of diets that are available to help an individual lose or gain weight and address their thyroid at the same time. It is important that when one is considering a drastic change in diet that they speak to their physician prior to starting the plan. A physician can help by providing options that will help to increase the proper functioning of the thyroid and insure a safe treatment plan.

The thyroid gland sits on top of your esophagus just below the Adams apple in your neck. Of all the glands inside your body, the thyroid gland is the largest by far. You can actually feel it when you lightly prod your neck. Check its size regularly as you will quickly feel it increase in size when it may have problems.

Many people that are overweight blame the thyroid and in some cases they are one hundred percent correct. The thyroid determines how fast your body metabolizes energy that you take in in the form of food. In some cases the thyroid secretes too little hormones and the person’s metabolism slows down tremendously, causing sudden and unexplained weight gain.

The thyroid also controls how fast and efficient your body produces muscle from the proteins you eat. Muscle burns energy much faster than fat, so muscular people tend to have a much faster metabolism, but even these muscular individuals will gain a lot of weight quickly once their thyroids mal-function.

Some doctors call the thyroid the big brother of all the hormone excreting glands in your body; as the thyroid determines how and to what extend your body will react to other hormones. This explains the lack of libido, fatigue and restlessness associated with thyroid problems, as all of these symptoms may be hormone related.

So how can such a small gland have such a huge effect on the body? The thyroid secretes two hormones, namely thyroxin also referred to as T4, as well as a hormone called triiodothyronine (T3). Together these two hormones control the way your body grows, how it deals with energy resources and output. The thyroid also has a massive influence on other glands, stimulating them to work properly.

Thyroid problems are diagnosed as either an overactive thyroid – called hyper thyroidism or an under active thyroid – hypo thyroidism. Depending on what your thyroid condition may be, it can be treated by either taking chemicals that will stimulate an under active thyroid to produce more hormones or on the other hand, restrict the secretion of thyroid hormones.

You may wonder – does my thyroid have a mind of its own and the answer may be just like life, even the thyroid has a superior overlooking its functions. The thyroid is controlled by two parts of the brain; namely the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. Any medications aimed to influence the workings of these brain parts may thus directly have a side effect on the thyroid functions.

Never take any medication that states it will relive low metabolic rate by stimulating your thyroid, unless a doctor has prescribed it for you. Tampering with your thyroid functions when nothing is wrong may see you disrupt your whole bodily hormonal functions with horrible consequences.

A short visit to your doctor and a little blood sample taken will tell you exactly the state of your thyroid. This test should be done from the age of 27 onwards.

Learning about a part of the body after there is a problem is not always the best way to properly defend that part from illness. The thyroid is a gland that is involved with many other parts of the body. When it is not working correctly individuals suffer from any symptoms associated with those other organs.

There are two hormones produced by the thyroid gland. They are tri-iodothyronine and thyroxine. These are hard names to remember so they have nick names, T3 and T4. T3 and T4 are the hormones that regulate growth, development, metabolism, fertility, body temperature and organ function.

Iodine plays a key role in the production of the hormones in the thyroid gland. Before iodized salt was introduced many people suffered from the effects of iodine deficiency which include goiter. However, the daily requirement for iodine for most adults is about 1 teaspoon of table salt a day, or 120-150 micrograms. So for many years the issues associated with iodine deficiency have dropped in parts of the world using iodized salt.

In 2003 a study was conducted by the Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism. This study showed that iodine deficiency is growing in countries that have iodized salt. This study showed that there were iodine deficiencies found in vegans, vegetarians, and individuals eating low salt diets. The reason this figure continues to grow is that when individuals remove iodized sale from their diet they do not replace the iodine they need with other foods or supplements.

Vegetables grown in areas where the ground have high salt content usually have a higher content of iodine in the food. But there are many areas of the world where the soil does not contain enough iodine to affect the vegetables that are grown there.

Iodine is also reduced when certain vegetables are eaten. Broccoli is one of the vegetables that neutralizes iodine in the body. This is a vegetable that is very popular in many dishes made for vegans and vegetarians.

When there is not enough iodine in the body to help the thyroid hormones be produced successfully one of the main conditions that occurs is goiter. Goiter is a result of a thyroid gland swelling and becoming inflamed in an attempt to produce T3 and T4. In addition, when the hormones are not produced properly the other organs of the body are affected and there can be many symptoms resulting from the lack of iodine in the body.

It is important therefore that when an individual makes the conscious decision to remove salt from their diet that they also make plans on how they are going to get the iodine that they need. Iodine intake can be increased through supplements, adding certain foods to the diet, or in some other way making sure that the daily required intake of iodine is maintained.

Symptoms of Sudden Hyperactivity

Hyperactivity involves the need to always be on the move and fidget with objects. It may lead to impulsivity and interfere with the ability to concentrate and become overly talkative.

Medical Conditions that Cause Hyperactivity

Medical conditions, like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, often produce hyperactive symptoms. This disorder commonly affects children and can continue into adulthood.

Thyroid imbalance is also responsible for increasing hyperactive behavior. The thyroid regulates the pace at which the body operates. If the thyroid levels are unbalanced, the body’s metabolism can speed up.

How Drugs Can Increase Hyperactivity

Prescription drugs also increase hyperactive behavior. If a prescription drug is likely to cause hyperactivity as a side effect it will be listed as: “may cause excitability, nervousness or anxiety.” Drugs.com, an online medication guide, explains the side effects for various drugs and notes that medications may interact with other medications, or herbs, to produce side effects like hyperactivity.

Recreational drugs can also increase hyperactivity experiences. They are not legal to possess or use, but if someone is taking a recreational drug, their sudden hyperactivity may be related to illegal drug use.

Dietary Factors that Cause Hyperactivity

The Lancet British medical journal published a research study linking food additives and hyperactivity. Preservatives and artificial colors were discovered to bring on sudden hyperactivity in children. Food sensitivities, or allergies to foods, can also bring on sudden changes in behavior.

The following food additives may likely cause increase of hyperactive behavior, according to the Mayo Clinic: sodium benzoate; FD&C Yellow No. 6; D&C Yellow No.10; FD&C Yellow No. 5 and FD&C No.40. These colors are often added to soft drinks, candies, ice cream, custards and other foods.

Treating Sudden Hyperactivity

Treating sudden hyperactivity depends on the cause. Medical treatment may be necessary if the hyperactivity is a result of underlying medical conditions, such as ADHD or hyperthyroidism.

If the hyperactivity is a result of food allergies or sensitivities, then avoiding those foods may reduce the hyperactive behavior.

If it is found that prescription drugs are causing the sudden hyperactivity, the dose may be reduced or a doctor may recommend switching to another drug.

Understanding the reason for sudden hyperactive behavior will assist in treatment options. A medical professional will most likely need to be consulted in order to get a proper diagnosis. Sudden hyperactivity may also be caused by more than one factor and may be difficult in pinpointing and treating.

There are two basic groups that thyroid disease symptoms may be placed in when deciding on the correct diagnosis. One is for hyperthyroidism, an overactive thyroid and the other one is hypothyroidism, an underactive one. The thyroid disease treatments that will be necessary will be determined after the two types have been narrowed down to the correct one.

The thyroid disease symptoms do not differ greatly between the two but will assist in narrowing down the one a person is likely to have without actual testing being involved. The list for both is extensive and many of the items appear on both but there are a few key ones that separate the two. While the two groups of thyroid disease symptoms may be similar, they affect the body in some very different fashions.

Hyperthyroidism will tend increase the speed in which the body functions as it reacts to the disease. Nervousness and irritability become very prevalent when afflicted with this and the disease thyroid heart rate will increase. The body will perspire much more than normal along with a shaking of the hands and possible panic attacks.

Hypothyroidism, on the other hand, leads towards depression, feeling run down and the bodies need to rest more often than normal. The muscular weakness that accompanies this will affect the upper arms and the thighs the most, making it difficult to lift things and to walk comfortably for long distances. The symptoms of thyroid disease are by no means easy to detect but a compilation of all of them will help to make a proper diagnosis.

Thyroid disease symptoms require the close examination of a trained professional in order to narrow down which one the patient is inflicted with. If these and other symptoms arise and the thyroid is the suspected culprit, consult a physician immediately. There is no replacement for a professional diagnosis but by understanding a possible condition, it will allow for a greater understanding of how the diagnosis was reached.

The thyroid gland lies just below the Adam’s apple (and yes, women DO have an Adam’s apple) and is shaped somewhat like a butterfly.  It regulates your metabolism which means that all organs in the body depend on its ability to work correctly.

There are two major types of thyroid distress:  Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism.  In the first, the thyroid is not producing enough hormones to keep the metabolism up to speed.  In the second case, there is too much thyroid being produced and the body reacts by increasing the metabolism which creates a whole different set of problems.  It is the first scenario, hypothyroidism, which will be discussed here.

Weight gain is a major problem as the metabolism is so slow that it does not burn calories at a normal rate.  It also causes one to feel sluggish and fatigued. Often, hypothyroidism will cause the skin to become dry and cracked and the hair to be coarse and dull.  Occasionally, hair loss is noted.  Muscle aches and pains, swelling from water retention and an aversion to cold temperatures are also possible.

The first thing one must do when suspecting a thyroid problem is to visit a physician who will perform a head to toe physical to rule out any other medical causes for the weight gain or other problems.  Then a blood test will be ordered to check the TSH levels and other thyroid levels in your body. TSH, or Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, is a key factor when determining how the gland is working in your body.  A high TSH level indicates that the thyroid is not working properly and the body is trying to compensate for lack of the proper hormones. Specialists in thyroid and other gland disorders are endocrinologists.

Often a physician will prescribe a synthetic thyroid hormone to regulate the TSH levels in the blood.  If this does not seem to be working, an additional thyroid medication may be required.  As the physician watches your condition on a regular basis, he or she might require that you have an ultrasound, with or without a biopsy.  If a nodule or a goiter is found, the biopsy will be absolutely necessary to rule out cancer or other diseases. The biopsy usually consists of a pathologist inserting three very fine needles into the thyroid to extract cells for review.  This is often done in conjunction with an ultrasound.

One disease that is actually quite common for people with a low functioning thyroid is Hashimotos Thyroiditis.  The symptoms are much the same as those for a low functioning thyroid, but may show signs of spreading cells which could lead to cancer if not monitored regularly.  Hashimoto’s disease comes on gradually and symptoms may be scarce at first.  But some of the more prevalent symptoms are: dry skin, depression,

Sensitivity to cold, muscle aches and pains, fatigue, high cholesterol counts and weight gain.  The weight gain could be as much as twenty pounds and is hard to lose even with the most rigid of dieting plans.

The only way a person can be sure that weight gain is associated with a malfunctioning thyroid gland is to see a physician who specializes in diseases of the glands or an endocrinologist.  He or she can tell you for sure if your thyroid is out of whack and help you to understand what choices you have for treatment.  Treatments range from medication to surgery and should be considered very carefully.

• Sudden weight gain
• Muscle and joint pains
• Abnormal hair loss
• Loss of libido
• Fatigue and exhaustion
• Mood swings

These common symptoms are often over looked at and missed. Many excuse these symptoms as becoming older, sitting at a job desk or other common normal life events. The truth of the matter is many people suffer from hypothyroidism and don’t even know it. If you experience many of the symptoms above chances are you might have an under active thyroid gland.

Out of these 6 symptoms Sudden Weight Gain or being overweight could be one of the most embarrassing symptoms at times. Nobody likes looking in the mirror and seeing themselves puffing up or looking tired and over weight. You want to look vibrant and healthy, and having an under active thyroid could be stopping you from obtaining the image you want to see yourself as.

But all is not doom and gloom if you have this condition. There is good news to be heard and one of the best things you can do for your thyroid is eating healthy foods. Certain types of foods actually stimulate your thyroid and if your never eating these types of foods you could be holding yourself back on achieving your weight goals.

Here are some powerful thyroid foods

* Raw Foods

* Juices like carrot and celery

* Prunes and nuts

* Watercress

* Poultry

* Sources of vitamin E

* Seaweed (iodine content)

* Herbal teas such as green tea

Adding these types of foods to your everyday eating habits can greatly raise your thyroid function. Sound to simple? Most diseases and conditions today are direct results of our eating habits and hypothyroidism is no different. It is easy to add these foods to your diet and you would be doing your body a great deal of benefits. After all you want to look at yourself in the mirror and start to see your vibrant healthy self once again don’t you? If you don’t know if you have an under active thyroid there are ways at home you can test to see if you have this condition.

There are many causes for weight gain so maybe it isn’t your thyroid gland, but then again maybe it is. The reason it may still be your thyroid gland that is making you overweight is because even though the standard THS tests may show you are in a normal range, you need further testing.

Any time there is a decrease in thyroid function there will be a corresponding decrease in the consumption of energy. Weight gain can be the result of an under-active thyroid. Many women are overweight because of this under-active condition and do not even know that the reason for their weight gain is their THS imbalance. You can be eating significantly less than those who are lean and yet still gain weight because your thyroid imbalance is not allowing you to use energy, instead it is storing it in the form of fat.

If your TSH test results have come back in the normal range, ask your doctor to check your T4 and free T3 levels. Seeing an endocrinologist may be better person to go to for testing your thyroid gland problem than a regular MD.

However, once you have been diagnosed as having this and have been prescribed the proper medication for your condition, you may still gain weight. The problem may be because after having gone for years with an under-active thyroid, your metabolism set point has lowered. A lower metabolism set point means it will be hard to lose weight. It is a good idea to have your blood sugar levels tested to see if you are insulin resistant now which may be the cause of your weight gain also.

The good news is that there are natural cures for hypothyroidism that you can learn about. These cures make use of natural herbs and foods that feed the thyroid gland and can nourish your body back to good health.