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Thyroid Disorders | The “Female Epidemic” | Your Thyroid Might Need a Reboot!
Approximately 30 million people have a thyroid disorder. Half of them are silently suffering. That is, they don’t know that something is wrong with their thyroid, according to The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Surprisingly, women are up to 10 times more likely to have a thyroid problem than men, which makes the disorder something akin to a female epidemic.
Located near the Adam’s apple, your thyroid produces thyroid hormone. This epicenter of activity regulates your metabolism, heartbeat, and temperature, among other things. It’s also a finicky thing. If it produces too much thyroid hormone, you wind up with hyperthyroid disorder. If it produces too little, you have hypothyroid disorder. Neither is a good thing.
Diagnosing an out-of-whack thyroid can be tricky. Here are some clues that your thyroid may need attention:
1- You’re More Down Than Normal
When your body doesn’t produce enough of the thyroid hormone, levels of serotonin are impacted. This chemical is responsible for helping you feel good. Without it, your bodily systems tend to go into under drive, which also puts your mood in a funk.
2- You’re Frequently Tired
Although fatigue is a common sign of many disorders, it plays a key role in hypothyroidism. When your body doesn’t have enough thyroid hormone flowing through it, the get-up-and-go message isn’t received. If you’re still wiped out after a full night’s sleep, it may be worth checking out your thyroid levels.
3- Your Sense of Taste or Hunger Has Changed
Either having too much or too little thyroid hormone can impact your taste buds and appetite. People with hyperthyroidism tend to be hungry all the time. This rarely results in weight gain, however, because people with this condition tend to be overly active. On the other hand, an under-active thyroid can change your sense of taste and smell.
4- You Have a Constant Nervous Energy
When your body releases too much of the get-up-and-go hormone, you’re apt to feel anxious and jittery. It’s as though you can’t relax and your body spirals into overdrive. This gives the term hyperthyroidism the “hyper” of its name.
5- You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling
Whether it be due to a decrease of the thyroid hormone directly or a side effect of all the other symptoms, hypothyroidism often leads to a loss of libido.
6- Your Skin is Dry or Nails are Brittle
Too little production of thyroid hormone can spin into slowed metabolism. When this happens, you’re less likely to sweat, thereby more likely to develop dry, flaky skin. Hypothyroidism can also lead to cracking nails that develop ridges.
7- Your Bowel Movements Are Unpredictable
An overactive thyroid can lead to diarrhea or frequent bowel movements. On the other hand, interference in hormone production can result in a stalling of the digestive process. This slowdown can lead to constipation for people with hypothyroidism.
8- You Have High Blood Pressure
Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can lead to an elevated blood pressure reading. It’s unclear why this is, although some research points to less thyroid hormone causing a slowed heart beat. This can impact the flexibility of blood vessels and the heart’s strength, both leading to higher blood pressure.
Other symptoms of a thyroid disorder include hair loss, frequently feeling too hot or too cold, difficulty getting pregnant, and weight gain. If you experience any of these symptoms and you are concerned it may be due to your thyroid, ask your care provider for Free T3, Free T4, and thyroid stimulating hormone tests. As of 2003, the acceptable range for thyroid function is between 0.3 and 3.04.
The Orlando Women’s Center provides timely, safe, and professional Women’s Care Services in Florida. Contact us to set an appointment.
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