(HealthNewsDigest.com) – The thyroid is a hot topic in today’s health industry. This is the small, butterfly-shaped gland that sits right at the base of your neck. Every age group–from baby boomers to the Generation Zers (those born in mid 90s to early 2000s)–are being told that thyroids are the cause for many of the issues they’re experiencing. This ranges from weight gain to hair loss to insomnia and even depression. People are beginning to wonder, “How much of my life is being controlled by chronic thyroid issues?”
Perhaps you’re one of the many people who suffer from thyroid problems and are looking for the quickest cure. Or perhaps you’re in a coveted master of health science program and researching for a paper. Maybe you’re unsure of where you fall in between those and are trying to figure out if your thyroid is the source of all your problems, too. But the fact remains: more than half of all Americans have thyroid issues, and aren’t even aware of it.
The Thyroid Has Many Labels
There are many types of thyroid issues one can have. Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are among the more popular types. Hypothyroidism is when the gland cannot produce enough thyroid hormone, and when this happens, it can cause the body to slow down. Hypothyroidism affects men and women but is 7x more likely to happen to women. Hyperthyroidism is when there is an overproduction of hormones in the thyroid, which conversely causes the body to speed up. Additionally, thyroiditis is the inflammation of the thyroid, and goiter is the abnormal enlargement of the thyroid.
Signs Your Thyroid Is Failing You
There are some signs you can look out for to help you better understand when there’s a concern. Generally, signs for hyperthyroidism include an increased heart rate, insomnia, excessive sweating, irritable bowel syndrome, sudden weight loss, irregular menstruation, and shortness of breath. Signs for hypothyroidism include fatigue, constipation, weight gain, thinning hair, slowed heart rate, depression, and impaired memory. If you notice many of these symptoms, you should go to your doctor and explain that you’d like to have your thyroid checked to ensure your blood and hormone levels are normal.
Where Do Thyroid Issues Begin?
One of the most difficult questions people ask themselves after being diagnosed with one of the many thyroid problems is, “When did this begin? How did I get here?” Unfortunately, it can be very hard to diagnose the starting point, but it’s not impossible. Sort through the many thyroid triggers to put things into perspective. Understanding where it came from can not only help give you peace of mind but can help you prevent it from happening again. Author Anthony William, who wrote the New York Times-selling book “Medical Medium Thyroid,” note the following as thyroid triggers.
- Mercury (including in dental fillings)
- Zinc Deficiency
- B12 Deficiency
- Insecticides
- Emotional trauma
- Insomnia
- Insect Bites and stings
- Mold
Williams notes that, even when you can better understand the trigger, these triggers are not the exact cause of thyroid issues. He says, “A trigger is only a trigger… In order for it to give fuel to the thyroid virus, the virus has to be there in your system in the first place… A thyroid virus trigger is simply gasoline thrown on the flames that make them get hotter and spread faster.”
Dig Deeper Than The Thyroid
Although the thyroid has gotten widespread attention, trends and studies have shown that the thyroid should be looked at in a completely different light. With so many people diagnosed hypothyroidism and other thyroid issues, the reason a large percentage of those people aren’t healing is because there’s something bigger happening. If you have thyroid problems and have taken all the steps towards bettering your life and health, and still see little to no progress, it’s time to really take the time to understand the true source of the problem.
For instance, one of the main causes of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto’s disease, which is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation in the thyroid. On the other hand, one of the main causes of Hyperthyroidism is Graves’ disease, which is another autoimmune disorder that creates an excess amount of its own hormone.
Get A Blood Test
While an irregular thyroid is nothing easy to deal with, fortunately, it’s simple to identify. A simple blood test will reveal plenty about how effective your thyroid is, and what you can do to make the situation better. Hypothyroidism can be treated with daily medication. The dosages and variants of the medication will be adjusted based on your personal blood levels, and your doctor will have you return to check your blood levels again and fine-tune as necessary. The medication is slow acting and will typically take anywhere between 6 to 10 weeks to bring your levels back to normal. If it doesn’t prove to be effective, your doctor will likely increase the dosage.