Is Your Thyroid The Real Reason You're So Tired All The Time?
Your thyroid is a tiny gland in your neck that's crucial to your health, but it might not be doing its job
The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck, near the windpipe. It makes thyroid hormones, which help control your growth, cell repair, heart rate, blood pressure and metabolism — the process your body used to converts what you eat into energy. But sometimes the thyroid does not do its job properly.
It's thought that 5 -10 per cent of Singapore’s population may suffer from thyroid disorders – and it's 10 times more common in women than men. In the early stages, people with a thyroid disorder can experience symptoms like a lack of energy, bloating, forgetfulness, anxiety, insomnia and weight problems.
The problem is that all the symptoms are non-specific, and can be similar to other conditions, so you might not even think to ask your doctor to check your thyroid.
Hypothyroidism is when your thyroid gland is not working hard enough. Celebrities who have been open about their struggles with hypothyroidism include model Gigi Hadid, Avatar actress Zoe Saldana and Sex And The City Star Kim Cattrell. "I always had a lot of energy and when it suddenly dropped I knew something was wrong, " explains Kim.
An overactive thyroid is less common. But celebrities Oprah Winfrey and reality star Kelly Osborne have both battled an overactive thyroid. Australian singer Sia has been very open on social media about her struggle with it. She wrote on Twitter, "I'm not crazy, I have Grave's Disease. The shakes, the nerves!"
So what symptoms can clue you in to possible thyroid problems?
Hyperthyroidism is when the thyroid gland is too active, and producing too much thyroid hormone. The condition can be caused by an autoimmune problem, such as Graves Disease, or a toxic nodule that is secreting too much thyroid hormone.
"Your thyroid is responsible for your metabolism, so when it is too active it can feel like you are running a marathon 24 hours a day," says endocrinologist Dr Katherine Tonks. "You are burning lots of energy, so you feel exhausted and nervous, you suffer unexplained weight loss, heart palpitations and hair loss or thinning hair."
The most common cause is Graves Disease, an autoimmune problem that causes the thyroid to produce too many hormones.
Graves’ disease can affect anyone, but it’s more common in women and in people under 40 years old. The primary treatment is to reduce the amount of excessive thyroid hormone the body produces.
The same antibody that affects the thyroid gland can sometimes attach itself to the muscles of the eyes and cause swelling and bulging eyes.
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include;
Restlessness
Irritability
Feeling too hot
Increased heart rate
Anxiety - some sufferers feel like they are having a panic attack
Hair Loss and thinning hair
Insomnia
Tremors and shaking hands
Irregular menstruation
Unexplained weight loss
The treatment is thyroid medication using radio-iodine. Some people also opt to have the thyroid removed by surgery. Dr Tonks explains. "It's a step-by-step process. Many people improve with medication. If it does not work well enough we can use radio-iodine - which is a non-surgical ay to remove the thyroid. It's a simple procedure - you take a tablet and go home."
When you have an underactive thyroid it is not producing enough thyroid hormones, This slows your metabolism. Because your metabolism affects your body temperature and at what rate you burn calories, people with hypothyroidism often feel cold and fatigued and may gain weight easily.
Sufferers also report feeling foggy, sluggish and heavy. Symptoms can spiral, and include weight gain, constipation, higher cholesterol levels and a low mood."The diagnosis is made via a simple blood test," says Dr Tonks. Your doctor will test your blood for TSH levels - the thyroid hormones.
The most common cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto's Disease, an autoimmune condition that causes your own immune system to attack your thyroid gland. Hashimoto’s disease is more common among middle-aged women, although anyone can develop the condition.
Model Gigi Hadid has spoken about her diagnosis on social media, "For those of you so determined to come up why my body has changed over the years, you may not know that when I started @ 17 I was not yet diagnosed w/Hashimoto’s disease," Gigi wrote on Twitter, "Those of u who called me 'too big for the industry' were seeing inflammation & water retention due to that." She said that since her diagnosis, she's been taking medication for her condition and she also works hard to live a healthier lifestyle. "
Symptoms of hypothyroidism include:
Feeling limp and tired
Depression and low mood
Dry and rough skin
Feeling cold all the time
Hoarse voice
Constipation
Unexplained weight gain
Bloating and water retention
Irregular menstruation
To help regulate your thyroid, it's also important to make sure you get enough iodine in your diet. Good dietary sources include seaweed, fish, and iodized salt, which is regular table salt that has been treated with iodine.
To minimize symptoms and help regulate your thyroid, it;s also important to make sure you get enough iodine in your diet. Good sources include seafood, seaweed and iodized table salt..
Selenium helps "activate" thyroid hormones so try adding selenium-rich foods to your diet. This includes Brazil nuts, tuna, sardines, eggs, and legumes like lentils.
Like selenium, zinc helps the body “activate” thyroid hormones, and studies show it may also help regulate production. So Aim to eat more zinc-rich foods like shellfish, beef, and chicken.
Thyroid disorders can have a genetic link, so if you suspect there's a problem, you might want to look at your family health history. Hollywood actress Zoe Saldana starred in Avatar and Guardians of the Galaxy. She was diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease at age 30. But her mother and sisters also have the disease, so from a young age, she had regular blood tests to check on her thyroid. Zoe explains, "My mother struggled with Hashimoto's in her life -- fighting fatigue, wanting to live a more active life, constantly feeling like her body was inflamed. At age 17, I showed signs of an overactive thyroid."
As well as medication, Zoe stays healthy with exercise and a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables and few processed foods. She says her symptoms are well under control. She says, "I'm a working mom with three kids, in a high-intensity business. So I have to be disciplined about my diet and not overbook myself."
Bauer Syndication/ ARE Media.