Thyroid

Overview

What is thyroid and why is it so important? Thyroid is a small pear-shaped gland located just below your neck. It controls almost all the major functions in your body. It regulates how your body uses and stores energy. It is responsible to regulate your body's metabolic rate as well as heart and digestive function, muscle control, brain development, mood and bone maintenance. However, when this regulator doesn’t work, it causes thyroid problems. 
About 7.5 crore people suffer from thyroid diseases globally. 1 in 10 Indians suffers from it. The bigger concern is that most cases of thyroid disease go undiagnosed because people fail to recognize the early symptoms. 60% of women suffering from thyroid problems are unaware of their condition. This happens because the symptoms are often mistaken as occurring from other health conditions. For example, weight gain may mask thyroid disorder after pregnancy. 
The two common types of Thyroid dysfunction are Hypothyroidism, where the thyroid gland is under active and hyperthyroidism where the thyroid gland is over active.

Symptoms

Hyperthyroidism Symptoms:

  • Anxiety, nervousness and irritability
  • Changes in menstrual cycle, including lighter bleeding and less frequent periods
  • Weight loss despite increased appetite
  • Trembling and sweating
  • Frequent bowel movements
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Hair turns brittle and thin
  • Weakness of muscles, especially in thighs and upper arms
  • Rapid heartbeat, usually over 100 beats per minute.

Hypothyroidism Symptoms:

  • Unexplained tiredness
  • Weight gain
  • Weakness of muscles - aches, tenderness and stiffness
  • Dry skin
  • Hair loss
  • Impaired memory
  • Heavier than normal or irregular menstrual periods
  • Constipation
  • Decreased heart rate
  • Puffy face and hoarseness
  • Increased sensitivity to cold
  • Pain, stiffness or swelling in the joints 

Causes

Thyroid sometimes results from inappropriate TSH levels (thyroid-stimulating hormone), or may be caused by problems in the thyroid gland itself.

Hyperthyroidism Causes:

Graves' disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. This condition occurs when the immune system produces an antibody that stimulates the thyroid gland, leading to over activity and high TSH levels. Another possible cause of hyperthyroidism is a condition called thyroiditis. This condition occurs when the thyroid gland becomes inflamed.

Hypothyroidism Causes:

The most common cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition where the body makes antibodies that destroy parts of the thyroid gland. Surgical removal and certain medications can also cause hypothyroidism.
Other causes of hypothyroidism include pituitary problems and iodine deficiency, affecting nearly 2 billion people worldwide. Some babies are born with hypothyroidism - this is called congenital hypothyroidism.

Diagnosis

Our doctors will take a detailed case history of the patient’s complaints and know about their thyroid symptoms and its persistence. They may recommend a TSH test to check if its levels are within a normal range. There are times when an MRI may be recommended to rule out any suspicious growth.

Thyroid treatment in homeopathy

There are 3 advantages of homeopathic treatment for hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism:

  • Homeopathy treats thyroid diseases internally and strengthens the body’s immune system, without causing any side-effects.
  • Homeopathy works in conjunction with conventional medicine to give effective and long- lasting results.
  • Homeopathy treats both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism with safe and natural medicines.
  • Homeopathy offers a personalized treatment to treat thyroid problems. Each case of thyroid is unique with regards to its physical symptoms and its emotional disturbances. 

Can thyroid problems be prevented?

If thyroid diseases run in your family and you are worried that it might affect you as well, we can predict it years before it actually occurs with Geno Homeopathy. It is carried out through a simple saliva test that helps us predict the probability of getting thyroid diseases. It reduces your chances of getting thyroid problems through preventive medicine, lifestyle changes, and appropriate thyroid diet. Since Geno Homeopathy is based on your individualized genetic predisposition, it is, therefore, the most individualized and customized thyroid treatment.

  • Is sudden weight gain due to thyroid?
    It is one of the commonest reasons. Thyroid disorders are more prevalent in women and weight gain is seen more in them. Your thyroid gland is responsible for releasing hormones which helps regulate your metabolism (how efficiently your body burns food for energy). When your thyroid gland makes fewer hormones (hypothyroidism), your metabolism slows down not allowing it to burn off calories as quickly thereby leading to gain weight.
  • Can you suggest some self-help tips for managing thyroid? 
    Some self-help tips to manage thyroid levels are as follows:

1.      Maintain optimum weight: Maintaining optimum weight is a sign of normal thyroid functioning. Aim towards maintaining a normal weight through diet and exercise.

2.      Correct iodine deficiencies: Include iodine-rich foods like sea-food, shell fish and sea vegetables such as sea weed and kelp and some dairy products in your diet.

3.      Manage your stress well: Physical or emotional stress can cause an underactive thyroid or overactive thyroid. Surround yourself with positive people. Regular exercise, meditation and yoga can help you to reduce stress considerably.

4.      Maintain a hormonal balance: Oestrogen levels fluctuate greatly in women who have hypothyroidism. Balance your hormone levels with proper medication and a consistent diet with a regular exercise regime.

  • If I ignore my hyperthyroidism, will it go away?
    Hyperthyroid disease will not go away on its own. In fact, not treating it can be very dangerous. Initially, it can lead to a irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure and even a risk of heart attack or stroke, leading to a life-threatening complication called the thyroid storm. So please do not ignore your condition; treat it early with homeopathy.
  • What causes hyperthyroidism in pregnancy?
    During the first trimester, a hormone called HCG is produced in the mother’s body which causes slight imbalance in thyroid activity and leads to morning sickness. An excess of this hormone can cause an onset of hyperthyroidism. Another cause is Graves’ disease - an autoimmune disorder. Graves’ disease is often genetically passed on and an expectant mother should get herself checked if she has a family history of thyroid problems.
  • Is there any truth to the hypothyroidism diet? Can just diet help manage my thyroid without taking any treatment? I fear the side-effects of a treatment. 
    No, just following a particular thyroid diet would not help. Although there are several claims about hypothyroidism diet, there is no evidence that eating or avoiding certain foods will improve thyroid function in people with hypothyroidism. As thyroid is a medical condition, you need to take proper medical treatment as directed by our doctor for proper management. As far as side-effects are concerned, you can take homeopathic treatment for managing your thyroid disease. Homeopathy treats thyroid problems with safe and natural medicines, and therefore causes no side-effects.
  • Can hypothyroidism cause joint pain? 
    Yes, hypothyroidism can cause the following symptoms:

1.      Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness, especially in the shoulders and hips

2.      Joint pain and stiffness

3.      Swelling of small joints in the hands and feet

4.      Carpal tunnel syndrome.