Have you ever felt short of breath? Maybe you are losing hair, or gaining weight? Or perhaps you are fighting anxiety or depression? A small butterfly-shaped gland in your neck might seem an unlikely culprit behind these ailments, however, this gland – the thyroid – could be responsible!
It is estimated that up to 60 percent of those with a thyroid disease are unaware of their condition. Also, one in 8 women will develop a thyroid condition during her lifetime.
This makes awareness of thyroid disorders imperative.
When the thyroid gland is either overactive, or underactive, it can cause a range of symptoms and conditions. Many times, the connection between the thyroid and the ailments is not immediately recognised.
Here are 7 common conditions which might be linked to the thyroid gland. Your doctor would be able to do the tests to tell you if this is the case:
1 Depression
Depression is an extremely difficult condition to live with. The feeling of swimming upstream everyday is definitely not for the faint-hearted!
With emotions and moods going awry, it is hard to imagine that these very real feelings and the heaviness in your body might be linked to the thyroid gland. While this isn’t always the case, it could be. Inadequate levels of thyroid hormones might be the reason behind you feeling out of sorts.
2 Obesity
Some people only realise their thyroid isn’t working well, when they start putting on weight without an explanation. A condition known as hypothyroidism is when your thyroid is underactive. When this happens, metabolism slows down and the weight packs on.
If you are exercising and eating healthily, but gaining weight and experiencing other symptoms, such as hair loss, or sensitivity to cold, perhaps it is worth checking in with your doctor.
3 Heart Disease
The butterfly-shaped thyroid gland might be small, but it is a powerhouse in terms of the control it exerts over the body’s functions. Thyroid hormone levels can be the reason behind high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and if hypothyroidism goes unchecked, this could eventually lead to heart disease. Heart disease symptoms and thyroid hormone imbalance can in fact go hand in hand!
4 ADD and ADHD
Everyone knows someone who battles to get their ducks in a row or maybe that’s you. While conditions like ADD and ADHD have other root causes, symptoms of brain fog, short- and long-term memory issues, and the inability to concentrate or plan might be linked to the thyroid.
Hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid, causes a symptom called ‘brain fog’ or ‘zoning out’ which can be debilitating, depending on the severity of the thyroid condition.
Hyperthyroidism, which is an overactive thyroid gland, can cause a person to be restless and have difficulty sitting still.
5 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
This is a condition with symptoms that include tingling, weakness or numbness in your hands and fingers, wrist and forearm. When these symptoms are experienced, you might not realise a possible connection with the thyroid gland. An underactive thyroid might be the cause behind the condition. Thyroid malfunctioning can also cause tingling and numbness in the hands and feet.
6 Insomnia
So you can’t sleep. You have tried everything. You have done your relaxation exercises. You have rubbed essential oils, like lavender into your pillow, and even listened to soothing classical music before bed-time. Still, the insomnia persists. While not always the case, a hyperactive thyroid might be the problem!
7 Migraines & Headaches
One of the most debilitating conditions to have is a persistent headache or migraine. Life’s daily responsibilities become difficult to do, as concentration becomes hard. Even relationships can be strained! Patients with hypothyroidism have reported migraines as one of the symptoms. In fact, headaches are one of the most common symptoms of an underactive thyroid.
Again, there could be many reasons for having a headache, but the thyroid is always worth considering as a possible cause, if a pattern of migraines or headaches occurs.
They say ‘knowledge is power’. In this instance, knowing about how the thyroid can impact health and the body’s systems can help you identify the root cause of a thyroid-related condition much quicker, so that you can begin treatment.
Remember, an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) typically causes weight loss, diarrhea, restlessness, hot flashes, shaking hands, inability to tolerate heat, insomnia and muscle weakness, among other symptoms.
An underactive thyroid (hyopthyroidism) is characterised by symptoms like hair loss, weight gain, fatigue, sensitivity to cold, constipation, brain fog, joint and muscle pain, and dry skin.
Dynamite definitely does come in small packages in the case of the thyroid. This small gland has a mighty impact on all of the body’s systems. Knowing this and practicing thyroid health and awareness can give you back control, so that you become the master controller of your health!