Signs of Thyroid Problems

How will I know if I have a possible thyroid problem?

For as long as I can remember, my mother has been struggling with her thyroid health. She suffered from all of the normal symptoms - weight gain, hair loss, dry skin, fatigue, etc. These frustrating traits were starting to impact both her physical and mental health the longer they continued and the worse they got but were always attributed to other health concerns. A few years ago, however, my mother was fed up with these symptoms, so she decided to do her own research. Knowing our family history of thyroid problems, my mother looked online and found that almost all of her symptoms sounded like something called hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid gland. Armed with new info to bring to her doctor, they ran some tests and determined that she was in fact, suffering from hypothyroidism. Nowadays, my mom is taking thyroid medications to help alleviate some of her symptoms, but I always wondered what her life would be like if she had never done the research into her thyroid health. 

The first step she took, should be the first step everyone takes - start with recognizing the signs and symptoms of thyroid conditions. 

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism occurs when your body produces too much thyroxine. According to the Mayo Clinic, common symptoms of hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid include:

There could be several reasons that your body could produce too much T4, including: 

• Graves' disease - Graves' disease is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system produces antibodies that stimulate the thyroid into producing too much thyroxine or T4. 
• Overactive thyroid nodules - Sometimes, our thyroid glands can have lumps on them called adenomas that can also produce thyroid hormones. In some cases of hyperthyroidism, adenomas are the cause of the overproduction of T4. 
• Thyroiditis - Thyroiditis is the inflammation of the thyroid gland, which can occur after pregnancy or due to autoimmune disorders. When the thyroid gland is inflamed, excess thyroxine could be released into the bloodstream. 

Hypothyroidism 

Hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, is the opposite of hyperthyroidism, wherein the thyroid gland doesn't produce enough thyroid hormones. The Mayo Clinic says that those with hypothyroidism may experience unexplainable weight gain and some of the following symptoms: 

These symptoms usually develop over a number of years and maybe attributed to other health concerns or age, making hypothyroidism slightly more difficult to catch and treat. One may develop hypothyroidism for a number of reasons including: 

• Hashimoto's thyroiditis - Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease where the immune system produces antibodies that attack the thyroid gland and cause swelling and inflammation. The thyroid gland then produces less T3 and T4, leading to hypothyroidism. 

• Thyroid surgery- Some individuals need to have part of or all of the thyroid gland removed, thus preventing the gland from producing the necessary thyroid hormones. These individuals often have to take supplemental hormones for the rest of their life. 
• Radiation treatments - According to the Mayo Clinic, "radiation used to treat cancers of the head and neck can affect your thyroid gland and may lead to hypothyroidism." 

• Certain medications - Certain medications such as lithium have been linked to low levels of hormones being produced by the thyroid gland. 
• Over-response to hyperthyroidism treatment - Sometimes those with hyperthyroidism are given radioactive iodine or anti-thyroid medications to slow the overproduction of thyroid hormones. After the thyroid returns to normal, however, treatment can go too far and permanently cause hypothyroidism.

If you believe that you are experiencing signs or symptoms of a thyroid problem, talk to your doctor about getting tested and possible treatment options. They will likely order a blood test to test for thyroid hormones levels in the blood. This test is referred to as a thyroid function test, and tests for both thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxine in the blood. According to the National Health Service, "A high level of TSH and a low level of T4 in the blood could mean you have an underactive thyroid. If your test results show raised TSH but normal T4, you may be at risk of developing an underactive thyroid in the future."

How to Support a Healthy Thyroid

If you're at risk of developing a thyroid disease or have already been diagnosed with one, there are changes you can make to your routine and treatment options available that can help support healthy thyroid function and a healthy lifestyle. Talk to your healthcare provider before adding any dietary supplement or medication to your routine to prevent unwanted interactions with preexisting conditions or medications.  

You should AVOID foods high in iodine, gluten, soy, and caffeineif you have an overactive thyroid, according to Healthline. 

If your thyroid is underactive (hypothyroidism) it is just as important to add foods high in zinc and selenium to your diet as those with an overactive thyroid. The main difference is

iodine intake. Those with an underactive thyroid may also have low iodine levels, so adding these foods may benefit thyroid health and function:

• seaweed
• eggs and egg yolks
• fish
• sushi
• iodized salt
• cheese

Those with hypothyroidism should AVOID: 

• highly processed foods (hot dogs, snack cakes, etc.)
• all varieties of millet
• soy and soy-based foods
• Goitrogens (compounds that interfere with thyroid function) like cabbage, broccoli, peaches, and strawberries 

You can also check out the Top 10 Super Foods for a Healthy Thyroid that plays an essential role in your thyroid health.

•  Zinc - Zinc is involved in thyroid health in a couple of ways. First, it is required to make TSH or thyroid-stimulating hormone, which is required to create the thyroid hormones triiodothyronine and thyroxine. Additionally, zinc is used in the deiodination process that converts thyroxine into triiodothyronine that our body uses for energy. 
• Iron - Iron, like zinc, is another mineral required by the body to convert T4 into T3. Iron deficiency has been linked to hypothyroidism and thyroid disease. 
• B vitamins - More specifically, vitamin B12, can be important for thyroid health as it "plays an important role in red cell metabolism".  Plus, low levels of vitamin B12 have been linked to thyroid disorders, with one study showing that out of 116 participants with hypothyroidism, about 40% were deficient in vitamin B12 as well. 
• Bladderwrack - Bladderwrack is a type of brown seaweed that contains high levels of iodine, which is required to produce thyroid hormones. 

• Anti-thyroid medications - Medications like methimazole and propylthiouracil work by preventing the thyroid gland from producing excessive amounts of thyroid hormones. 

• Surgery (thyroidectomy)- Certain individuals that cannot handle anti-thyroid medications or radioactive iodine ingestion may be candidates to have part of their thyroid gland surgically removed. There are normal surgical risks involved with this procedure, but also the fact that after the removal, medication needs to be taken every day in order to maintain normal hormone levels. 

Or, you can always resort to some lifestyle changes that can help you maintain thyroid health.