Hypothyroidism is the term given to the condition where the thyroid gland is not able to produce enough thyroid hormone, thyroxine, to keep the body healthy. It’s an extremely common condition in america, with roughly 1 in 50 women and 1 in 1000 men experiencing issues with their thyroid in some time in their life.
Autoimmune reaction
It’s a state that can not be averted, with the most frequent cause being an autoimmune reaction where the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, thus preventing it from generating sufficient thyroxine. However, while the condition can not be prevented or treated, it can be controlled with daily doses of hormone pills to replace the lost thyroxine. The most common treatment for hypothyroidism involves taking tables that contain the synthetic thyroid hormone, Levothyroxine, an oral medication that works to restore optimum hormone levels, and so reverse the symptoms associated with the condition.
Therapy
The therapy works relatively fast with most recipients noticing an improvement in their symptoms within 7 to 14 days, particularly in regard to fatigue. Levothyroxine also has the effect of lowering the amount of cholesterol in your bloodstream, and might help to reverse any weight gain that you might be experiencing. You’ll have to take this hormone replacement therapy for the rest of your life, however your doctor is very likely to create yearly checks of your thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels to be able to make certain that you’re on the proper dosage.
Many alternative practitioners think that poor nutrition may the cause of several thyroid problems, such as hypothyroidism, and indicate that a diet full of nutrients is very important to reverse the effects or to prevent any further decrease in thyroid function. As a healthy thyroid is dependent upon a selection of nutrients, particularly iodine, selenium and folic acid, it makes sense to consume a diet that’s rich foods that contain these.
Final note
However, most individuals are not able to get enough of these nutrients through diet alone, so supplements are often needed. You also need to add foods that are naturally high in B vitamins, such as whole grains, seeds and nuts, and iodine containing foods, such as fish, seaweed, vegetables and all sorts of root vegetables. Should you suffer from hypothyroidism, always consult your doctor before taking any nutritional supplements, as excesses of certain substances can have just as detrimental impact on the thyroid for a deficiency. To prevent such a detrimental impact you will need to take every possible precaution. Consulting your doctor is one such precaution and this advice should not be taken lightly.