Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that is responsible for producing your thyroid hormones. These control how your body uses and stores energy. If you have thyroid issues, they can impact your entire body, from your weight to your blood pressure to your body temperature and more. Whether your thyroid is underactive (hypothyroidism) or overactive (hyperthyroidism), thyroid issues can have long-lasting impacts on your health.
It’s important to treat thyroid issues and to manage them properly in order to help yourself live a normal life. Here is what you need to know about the potential causes of thyroid issues, whether you can reverse them, and what your treatment and management options are for living with thyroid issues.
What Causes Thyroid Issus?
Thyroid issues occur when your thyroid either produces too much or not enough of the thyroid hormone. Since your thyroid plays such an important role in many different parts of your body, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can both be serious conditions that you need to have monitored and treated.
There are several different conditions and risk factors that can lead to thyroid problems.
Hypothyroidism can be caused by:
- Autoimmune disease
- Thyroiditis
- Removal of part or all of the thyroid gland
- Iodine deficiency
- Non-functioning thyroid gland
- Medications, such as lithium
- Radiation treatment
- Damage to the pituitary gland
- And more
Hyperthyroidism can be caused by:
- Grave’s disease
- Thyroiditis
- Too much iodine
- Thyroid nodules
- Noncancerous tumor of the pituitary gland
- Thyroid cancer
- And more
Can You Reverse Thyroid Issues?
Naturally, if you’re diagnosed with hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism and it is impacting your life, you’ll want to know if your condition can be cured. There are many different treatment options for thyroid issues and things that you can do to manage your condition, but unfortunately, science has yet to find a cure for them.
Hyperthyroidism can be corrected with surgical removal of the thyroid gland, however, this can often result in the development of hypothyroidism.
Fortunately, with proper treatment and management, many people with thyroid problems can live a full, healthy, normal life.
What Treatment Options Are Available For Thyroid Issues?
Whether you have hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, there are many different treatment options available to you. It is important to stay on top of your thyroid condition, as they can turn quite serious if you do not.
The main treatment option for hypothyroidism involves thyroid replacement medication, which adds the thyroid hormones back into your body. You typically need to take your medication for the rest of your life, but it controls your thyroid problems and allows you to find relief from the symptoms of hypothyroidism.
There are several treatment options for hyperthyroidism, such as:
- Anti-thyroid drugs, that stop your thyroid from making hormones.
- Beta blockers, that control your symptoms.
- Radioactive iodine that damages your thyroid so that it won’t produce high levels or hormones.
- Surgery to remove the thyroid.
How Can You Manage Thyroid Issues?
Thyroid problems can be managed in much the same way as many other issues can: through leading a healthy lifestyle. While not a substitute for the necessary medical treatment, a healthy lifestyle can improve your thyroid function.
Diet
Your diet can help with your thyroid issues – and it can worsen them. If you have thyroid problems, it’s important to consult with your doctor about your diet in order to determine any necessary adjustments. For instance, it is possible for nuts to improve your thyroid health, and it is possible for soy products to inhibit it. In order to determine whether or not you need to make any dietary changes, you will need to talk with your doctor.
Exercise
Exercise can improve some of the symptoms of thyroid problems. People who have hypothyroidism often struggle with fatigue and depression, which can make it difficult to move their bodies. Exercise can reduce some of the symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as joint pain, weight gain, and more.
If you have hyperthyroidism, you already have an increased heart rate, even when you are not exercising. As such, you will want to be careful when exercising and consult with your doctor about an exercise plan that is right for you. Certain exercises, such as weight-lifting, can help to normalize your metabolic rate, but it is best to consult your doctor before starting an exercise plan with hyperthyroidism.
Do You Struggle With Thyroid Issues?
Regeneration Health can help! Thyroid issues can often be worsened by aspects of our daily lives, and making changes to your diet and lifestyle can help you manage them. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you manage your condition.
