Thyroid Unhinged: Recognizing Thyroid Complications

Let’s talk “roids.”

THY-roids. (What on earth were YOU thinking?)

January is Thyroid Awareness Month. Most of you have probably heard of the thyroid gland, but chances are, if yours is at peak operating performance, you might not know just how important that little dude is. Consider yourself fortunate; daily life can be turned upside down for those who have thyroid problems. Let’s explore why.

The thyroid is a gland that curves around in front of your windpipe. Take a moment and feel your throat from your jaw to your chest. You don’t have to go down very far before you can feel a wing-like structure on both sides of the windpipe.  It feels a little funky, but you can actually move it back and forth. Like all body processes, the function of the thyroid is complicated. My intention is to help simplify the mechanisms of action so every one of you can apply it to your health journey.

The thyroid produces hormones that control how the cells in your body use energy from food, a process called metabolism.

GASP!

That’s it! That’s the…the…the THING! If I have a fast metabolism, I can eat whatever I want! If my metabolism is slow, I must carefully watch everything I put in my mouth. Keep in mind that although the concepts are correct, these are overgeneralized statements, as one is not necessarily born with a fast or slow metabolism. One can, however, be born with a number of congenital abnormalities that affect how the thyroid gland controls how the body uses the energy produced from what you eat.

 Your thyroid can either play the role of the couch potato or the role of Speedy Gonzales (Google him! He’s quite awesome…) When your thyroid slows down hormone production (hypothyroidism), all your body’s processes follow. This can result in a number of uncomfortable conditions, such as fatigue, depression, swelling in the neck, constipation, memory problems, muscle aching and weakness, slow heart rate, and unexplained weight gain/difficulty losing weight. When thyroid production increases (hyperthyroidism), think about the opposite of the symptoms just listed; high energy leading to problems with sleep, diarrhea, trembling muscles, more neck swelling, increased heart rate, and sudden weight loss. Now, one of those may seem more glorious than the other (hello, weight loss…), but the truth is that both conditions are extremely disruptive and affect activities of daily living.

As you have probably already guessed, these symptoms mimic those from a number of other more simplified conditions, so thyroid issues might be overlooked.  Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor to rule out a thyroid issue. A simple blood test can measure the level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in your system. Your thyroid might be the boss of you, but there’s ALWAYS a supervisor that is delegating to your boss. There is actually another hormone that tells your thyroid to increase or decrease production, and that is TSH. When your boss is misbehaving, you consult with TSH through the bloodwork to get the real story!

My sister, and your Friday financial blogger, was diagnosed with an underactive (low) thyroid. Since she had borderline results, she has chosen to beef up her exercise to increase her metabolism, and she is looking into more natural remedies that contribute to thyroid health.

My sister-in-law, now 50 years old, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at age 16, and she had her thyroid removed. She has been on thyroid medication since that time with no complications.

Serious issues can result when your thyroid goes rogue, but proper diagnosis, natural remedies, and medication can easily get that rebel thyroid under control, making you feel much, much better.

Team up with that doctor, and reign in that thyroid! Together, you can continue to…

Be well!

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