The thyroid gland is prone to two main disorders: hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). In hypothyroidism, the thyroid does not produce enough hormones causing many bodily functions to perform slower. In hyperthyroidism, too many hormones are being produced causing bodily systems to overwork.
To better understand the detrimental effects of either condition, it’s important to understand the importance of the thyroid and what it is really.
What is thyroid?
Let’s start with the basics. The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck. For such a small gland, weighing about 20 grams, it is a major player in the body, essential to all growth and development and a regulator of all body functions. Thyroid problems worldwide are found in 0.8 to 5 percent of the population, and they’re about four to seven times more likely in women, according to the Thyroid Foundation of Canada.
Thyroid nodules are also common in the thyroid gland, but they don’t cause serious health problems. These benign nodules happen when cell growth is somehow abnormal, and sometimes put pressure on the neck causing difficulty swallowing, breathing, or speaking, if they get too large. Generally, though, the thyroid functions normally when these nodules are present.
Thyroid cancer
When we start talking about thyroid nodules, we need to mention thyroid cancer. If you feel a nodule in your neck, you want to get it checked immediately. Thyroid cancer is much less common than benign nodules, and the cure rate for thyroid cancer is 90 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Thyroid disorders
Functional disorders of the thyroid are related to the gland activity and fall into these two main categories:
- Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, is a condition in which your thyroid isn’t producing enough of the thyroid hormone. - Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid, is just the opposite. Your thyroid is producing too much of the thyroid hormone.
Thyroid disorder hypothyroidism: causes and symptoms
Hypothyroidism can result from a number of causes, including the following:
- Treatment for hyperthyroidism
- Thyroid surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Medications
- Pregnancy
- Pituitary disorder
- Iodine deficiency
Hypothyroidism symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Increased sensitivity to cold
- ConstipationDry skin
- Thinning hair
- Unexplained weight gain
- Puffy face
- Hoarseness
- Elevated blood cholesterol
- Muscle aches, stiffness, swelling
- Depression
- Impaired memory
Thyroid disorder hyperthyroidism: causes and symptoms
Hyperthyroidism can be caused by the following:
- Hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules
- Thyroiditis (inflamed thyroid)
- Graves’ disease (autoimmune disorder)
Hyperthyroidism symptoms include:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Sudden weight loss
- Increased appetite
- Nervousness, anxiety, irritability
- Increased sensitivity to heat
- Changes in bowel patterns, especially more frequent bowel movements
- Fatigue, muscle weakness
- Enlarged thyroid gland, which may appear as a swelling at the base of the neck
Home remedies to cure thyroid disorders naturally
If you’d like to try a natural approach, there are steps you can take. For hypothyroid natural remedies, there are natural extracts containing thyroid hormone from the thyroid glands of pigs. These are available by prescription from your doctor, one alternative to synthetic hormone medication.
There are also good lifestyle interventions to try, including:
- Get more iodine in your diet from foods like kelp, shellfish, and lima beans. Iodine is mainly used to make thyroid hormones.
- Up your selenium intake from Brazil nuts, salmon, sunflower seeds, and mushrooms, for example.
- Lower your carbohydrate intake, replacing some of those sugars and grains with healthy fats that will balance hormones, such as coconut oil, coconut milk, avocado, grass-fed beef, salmon, chia and hemp seeds.
Treat hyperthyroidism naturally
For hyperthyroidism, which can contribute to thinning bones, the following natural approaches can help:
- Get enough calcium and vitamin D through calcium-rich foods such as broccoli and yogurt, and sunlight for vitamin D, along with fresh, whole foods and plenty of fruits and vegetables.
- If you’ve lost a lot of weight or muscle mass, you may benefit by adding extra calories and protein to your diet. Try healthy-fat foods like nuts and avocados on a regular basis, along with beans and pastured beef and poultry.
- Diet can play a key supporting role in curing thyroid naturally. Thyroid patients require life-long monitoring to keep their thyroid hormone levels in balance.
Even if you no longer experience the symptoms and have pursued hypothyroid natural remedies with much success, discuss follow-up visits with your doctor on a regular basis.
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