Thyroid Disease Symptoms - Understanding Hypothyroidism Symptoms
Thyroid disease symptoms and hypothyroidism symptoms afflict millions of adults in the USA alone. Thyroid disease symptoms are frequently misdiagnosed or undiagnosed. Approximately 10-20% of women and 1-2% of men have symptoms of thyroid problems. The most common type of thyroid dysfunction is the condition hypothyroidism, also called low thyroid or underactive thyroid.
When thyroid function slows too much, one of the consequences is that metabolism in the body slows down more than it should. When the body’s metabolism slows down due to underactive thyroid function, the result can be hypothyroidism symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain and depression. And other thyroid symptoms may be experienced as well, and these other symptoms may appear to be unrelated.
The most common thyroid disease symptoms and hypothyroidism symptoms include:
Cold intolerance, cold hands and feet
Constipation
Depression
Dry and coarse skin
Fatigue and weakness
Forgetfulness, dementia
Hair loss
Heavy menstrual periods
High cholesterol
Immune system problems
Nervousness, tremors
Sleep difficulties
Weight gain
Having hypothyroidism symptoms is related to hormone imbalance. For a woman, three of the critical hormones are estrogen, thyroid hormone and progesterone. Understanding how these hormones work together helps one better understand how to approach treating thyroid disease symptoms.
Harvard-trained Dr. John R. Lee, women’s physician Dr. Jesse Hanley and Virginia Hopkins are co-authors of the best-seller What Your Doctor May NOT Tell You About Premenopause. Dr. Lee explains his observations over a twenty-year period when treating women having thyroid disease symptoms. Dr. Lee believed that elevated levels of estrogen interfere with normal thyroid function, while progesterone facilitates healthy thyroid function. As excess estrogen interferes with normal thyroid hormone function, progesterone helps the thyroid gland function more as it is supposed to.
He noticed that women who tested normal for thyroid function were often progesterone deficient. Dr. Lee found a clear pattern in his patients with a progesterone deficiency which was this — their thyroid disease symptoms lessened when natural progesterone supplementation was done and hormone balance was achieved.
Read more about hormone imbalance, how progesterone deficiency happens and how to have balanced hormones for better health. There is a free online womens hormone health test you can take to find out more about your health and symptoms you may be experiencing. After the test, you will receive physician-based recommendations based on your answers. If you feel you may have thyroid disease symptoms, learn more about the natural approaches recommended by naturopathic physicians for treating hypothyroidism symptoms.
Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing
Read more on thyroid disease symptoms and treatment, and take the online womens hormone health test. Olinda Rola is President of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com - visit the website to learn more about hormone balance, estrogen dominance symptoms, natural progesterone and related women’s health issues.
Tags: hypothyroid, hypothyroidism, hypothyroidism symptoms, Thyroid, thyroid disease symptomsThyroid Disease
Swelling in the neck is the most visible form of thyroid disease. Lack of iodine in the diet affects the thyroid gland and leads to swollen necks known as goiter. Located in the neck, thyroid is an endocrine gland that produces essential hormones. Thyroxine is the main hormone produced and iodine plays a chief role in its production. It regulates the rate of metabolism and influences the growth and rate of function of other systems. Children with thyroid hormone deficiency often have stunt growth and impaired brain.
Under activity of the thyroid called hypothyroidism and over activity called hyperthyroidism are the main thyroid diseases. Tumor is another major disease affecting the thyroid.
Iodine deficiency is the main cause of goiter. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is another major thyroid disease. In this disease, the antibodies in the body fight the cells of the thyroid. It is hereditary and is found more common in women. Deficiency of thyroxine at the time of birth also leads to goiter. If not detected in the initial stage, it can lead to permanent mental retardation. Inflammation of thyroid gland is another common thyroid disease. It often develops into several other complications.
Inadequate production of thyroid hormone is the chief cause of hypothyroidism. Symptoms associated with hypothyroidism are sometimes misleading and are mistaken for other diseases. If not diagnosed early the effect of hypothyroidism can be quite serious. Stunt physical and mental growth called cretinism is a major disease caused due to hypothyroidism.
Excess production of thyroid hormone leads to hyperthyroidism. Grave’s disease, a form of thyroiditis, is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. Also referred as Graves-Basedow disease, it is found mainly in middle-aged women. Hurthle cell adenoma, or thyroid adenoma, is another thyroid disease. The Hurthle cell is a large cell and it stains pink. Plummer’s disease, a form of goiter, is another commonly occurring thyroid disease.
Thyroid provides detailed information on Thyroid, Thyroid Cancer, Thyroid Disease, Thyroid Problems and more. Thyroid is affiliated with Cause Of Hypothyroidism.
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