January is Thyroid Awareness Month so we present our articles discussing the thyroid and related conditions, including thyroid eye disease, hypothyroidism risk, cognitive impairment, dementia, and type 2 diabetes.
The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland located in the throat area. Its role is to produce hormones important for bodily functions. Common thyroid diseases are hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, and hyperthyroidism, which is overactive thyroid. When the thyroid doesn’t work properly, it can have serious implications for your overall health. Unfortunately, thyroid disease symptoms are similar to other ailments. As a result, the thyroid is often overlooked as a cause of symptoms. It’s always important to look at the thyroid as a possible cause for illness as there are treatments for thyroid conditions.
Thyroid eye disease: Causes, symptoms, and treatment
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Thyroid eye disease or Grave’s disease is a complication of thyroid disorders. They are autoimmune diseases where the immune system attacks the thyroid which affects the amount of hormones which are released. This can lead to symptoms including causing the tissue around the eyes to become enlarged. Continue reading…
Migraine sufferers at a higher risk for thyroid disease
A new study has found that migraine sufferers are more likely to suffer from thyroid problems, in particular hypothyroidism – or underactive thyroid. Other symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, mood swings, constipation, and irregular menstrual cycles.
The study included over 8,400 individuals who were followed for 20 years. Those participants with pre-existing headache disorders had a 21 percent higher risk of hypothyroidism, and people with possible migraine disorders had a 41 percent higher risk of underactive thyroid. Continue reading…
Hypothyroidism risk in women may increase with exposure to flame retardant chemicals: Study
Hypothyroidism risk in women may increase with exposure to flame retardant chemicals. The study has found that younger women exposed to the chemical known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) may be more likely to develop an underactive thyroid.
PBDEs are flame retardants found in textiles, furniture, and electronics. Lead researcher Youssef Oulhote said, “What we found is, there is a link between exposure to these flame retardants, especially some of them, and the risk of hypothyroidism [abnormally low thyroid function].” Continue reading…
Does hypothyroidism increase the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in elderly?
Does hypothyroidism increase the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in the elderly? If you’ve ever asked yourself that question you are among the many others who ponder it as well.
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Roughly, four to 15 percent of Americans have subclinical hypothyroidism – underactive thyroid. Along with the usual symptoms of fatigue and weight gain, a study has found that a subclinical hypothyroidism diagnosis in those younger than the age of 75 puts them at risk for cognitive impairment and dementia. Continue reading…
Type 2 diabetes risk linked to low thyroid function: New study
A low thyroid function has been found to be a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Researcher Dr. Layal Chaker said, “Low thyroid function is associated with a higher risk of developing diabetes and also of progression from prediabetes to diabetes. Of course, we’ve always screened for thyroid disorders in patients with type 1 diabetes, because of the autoimmune association…But there’s overlap between the symptoms of hypothyroidism and type 2 diabetes.”
The study included 8,452 individuals over the age of 45 without diabetes, but with low thyroid hormone levels. After an average 7.9-year follow-up, 1,100 developed prediabetes and 798 developed type 2 diabetes. Low hormone levels were found to be a risk factor for diabetes and higher T4 hormone levels were associated with a lower risk of diabetes. Continue reading…
