Weight Changes Due To Thyroid Disease

The thyroid is part of the endocrine system of the body. It is a gland that, among other things, produced hormones which regulate the metabolism. There are many people who have imbalances in their thyroids which lead to affects on their weight which they can not control through diet or exercise.

The symptoms which are exhibited depend on whether the imbalance experienced is an overactive or under active thyroid. With an overactive thyroid, also known as hyperthyroidism, there is an overabundance of hormones produced. In the case of an under active thyroid, known as hypothyroidism, too little of these hormones are produced. In either case, the result is a metabolic imbalance.

When the metabolism is too rapid, as with hyperthyroidism, the person usually experiences an uncontrollable loss in weight along with an increase in appetite. Other symptoms are common which are indicative of the overactive nervous system, including shortness of breath, anxiety and palpitations, to name a few.

In the case of hypothyroidism, the person experiences the opposite problem. With the slowing down of the metabolism typically comes water retention and an excessive weight gain. Other symptoms can be increased cold sensitivity, feeling tired more easily than normal and possibly depression.

Symptoms tend to appear over a period of time, perhaps weeks or even months. And, as most of the symptoms are not specific only to thyroid problems, it can be difficult for the sufferer to know that they need to seek out a doctor. For example, one does not first think of hypothyroidism when one feels unusually tired.

There are various tests that can be done to determine if a person has thyroid disease once they do seek out their doctor. Blood tests alone do not always give a correct diagnosis. As there are various causes of thyroid disease, there are various treatment methods as well.

If a person suffers from an overactive thyroid, they can take medications which help to lower the output of hormones. In this case, care must be taken with dosages so that the person does not become hypothyroid. In many instances, people taking these medications can even experience periods of remission of their disease. Treatment with iodine that is radioactive is another possible method, although some people prefer not to use this method because of that radioactivity. Surgery is generally not opted for unless absolutely necessary.

With hypothyroidism, the recommended treatment is almost always hormone replacement medication. This can come in a more natural form, made from the thyroid of pigs, or synthetic. However, the synthetic type is far more commonly used.

As with many illnesses, many people would prefer to find a natural alternative therapy. Among those that are being used for disease of the thyroid are herbal supplements, diet, acupuncture or acupressure and yoga or other breathing exercises. However, many alternative therapists say that these are much more effective if the condition is in its early stages and not yet severe. Even so, these therapies may be of interest to sufferers of thyroid conditions as an adjunct to their more traditional therapies.

Would you like to learn more about natural cure for hypothyroidism? Read other articles at thyroid disease guide