Thyroid health

It is estimated that 59-million people in the US suffer from thyroid issues and most are not aware they have a problem. However, when the thyroid is dysfunctional, it can cause a vast array of health issues, most commonly weight gain, depression, sexual dysfunction, sluggish bowels, depression, heart disease, and extreme fatigue.

If you suffer from the following common symptoms it could indicate a thyroid condition…
1. Fatigue
If you already get 8 or 10 hours of sleep a night and are unable to function all day without a nap or stimulants (caffeine) that could be a sign of thyroid problems. If hyperthyroid, you may have nighttime insomnia leading to your exhaustion.

2. Weight Changes
The inability to maintain your ideal weight even if you have tried every low-fat, low-carb, low-calorie diet with little weight loss success; you might have hypothyroidism. Or those diets could have caused your The same goes for hyperthyroidism and the inability to gain weight while eating way more than usual.

3. Muscle & Joint Pain
Constant aches and pains in the muscles and joints, even without engaging in physical exertion can be symptomatic of a thyroid condition.

4. Swollen Neck
While goiter is rarely seen these days, swelling in the neck or a visibly enlarged thyroid that leads to neck pain and a gravelly voice can indicate thyroid disease.

5. Hair & Skin Changes
Dry hair, hair loss, and dry, thin, or scaly skin are often some of the first signs of thyroid problems that lead women to question their thyroid health.

6. Constipation
Painful bowel movements or long-term constipation is often the result of total metabolic slowing.

7. Menstrual Abnormalities
Heavy, irregular, or painful periods can be indicative of hypothyroidism—while shorter, lighter or irregular menstruation can indicate hyperthyroidism.

8. Mood disorders
Depression or anxiety disorders can indicate thyroid disease. Usually hypothyroid is associated with depressive mood and anxiety, panic attacks and palpitations is associated with hyperthyroidism. Although this is not always one or the other.


The hypothyroid medication levothyroxine (Synthroid, AbbVie) continues to be the nation's most prescribed drug but as you'll see in my future posts many thyroid conditions can be resolved without pharmaceutical interventions.