Overweight? Get Your Thyroid Checked

Do you feel tired and achy all the time? Or your periods are irregular and there is an unexplained weight gain? Does your skin feel very dry or you have a difficulty remembering things? All these signs are an indication that you may be suffering from thyroid.

In at least 60% of the women this problem goes undiagnosed. Due to depression and irritability as its symptoms patients and doctors think of it as an emotional disorder or weakness rather than a possibility of thyroid. Untreated thyroid disease can lead to other medical conditions. It is very important to know your TSH (Thyroid stimulating hormone secreted by the pituitary) level.

What is thyroid?
It is a small gland located in the neck which pumps hormones to regulate our metabolism. Our entire blood supply circulates through the thyroid gland.

Types of thyroid:
There are two types of thyroid:

Hypothyroid:
When the gland produces too little of a thyroid hormone is known as hypothyroidism. The symptoms in this case are fatigue, feeling of unhappiness, weight gain, constipation, chilliness, hair loss, memory loss and irregular menstrual cycle.

Hyperthyroid:
When the gland produces too much of thyroid hormone is known as Hyperthyroidism. The symptoms are the exact opposite of an under active thyroid… weight loss, excessive sweating, sleep disorder, diarrhea and in some cases women feel anxious and nervous.

Reason behind this problem:
It is an auto immune disorder in which body attacks against its own tissues. 50% is genetic but other triggers are—stress, pregnancy, major illness, menopause etc.

Diagnosis and treatment:
The disease can be diagnosed by a simple blood test. It can be done in any pathology lab. The test measures TSH, thyroxin (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) levels. Once it is diagnosed the doctor gives a drug which has to be taken for life. Delayed diagnosis can lead to heart attack, eyes move forward out of socket, bones become brittle, it can cause depression and sometimes cause chronic illness. But the good part is once you have started the treatment the results start showing in less than two months.