What Is Hyper And Hypothyroidism?  - The Difference In Their Symptoms.

You have noticed changes in your skin, hair, energy levels, weight, and even mental outlook. You just assume it’s because you are getting older. But, the changes could be a result of thyroid problems from an underactive thyroid gland. Low thyroid hormone production called hypothyroidism is common in women in fact; women older than fifty are usually more likely to have hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism is an underactive thyroid in which your thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough of certain hormones. Hypothyroidism upsets the normal balance of chemical reactions in your body but does not cause symptoms in the early stage. After a simple blood test to determine any thyroid problems, treatment with synthetic thyroid hormones can be given.

The thyroid symptoms of hypothyroidism can include

• Fatigue
• Cold intolerance
• Appetite loss
• Weight gain
• High blood pressure
• Reduced sweating which can cause dry skin and brittle nails
• Thin or coarse hair or dry skin and hair
• Difficulty concentrating, memory problems
• Constipation
• Slower speech and movement
• Heavier, more frequent periods
• Muscle aches and joint pain
• Depression

The other extreme of thyroid disease is hyperthyroidism.  Symptoms of hyperthyroidism, which is an overactive thyroid, can vary by age groups.

Younger people show an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, irregular heart beat, extreme sweating, hand tremors, nervousness, anxiety, insomnia, and increased appetite with weight loss.

Older people with hyperthyroidism experience weakness, sleepiness, are confused, withdrawn, and depressed.

Another thyroid symptom of hyperthyroidism is an enlarged thyroid gland or goiter and bulging eyes.

The thyroid symptoms of hyperthyroidism in general are

• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Extreme sweating
• Nervousness and anxiety
• Insomnia
• Increased appetite with weight loss
• Heat sensitivity
• Thinning of your skin
• Feeling hot
• Fine, brittle or thinning hair
• Muscular weakness
• Eye problems
• Menstrual irregularity
• Muscle weakness
• Frequent bowel movements

Even though you may be prescribed prescription medications to correct the imbalance with your thyroid problems, whether it be hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, alternative remedies are also available to help soothe and support the thyroid gland and will work with the entire system to create a healthy balance.

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Thyroid gland, how it works, diseases, problems and treatment

Overactivity or underactivity of the gland as may occur with hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism is usually reflected in decreased or increased radioiodine uptake.

Author: R. T. Shelly

R.T. Shelly is a health enthusiast who has been researching natural remedies for various health conditions for many years. Find out more about some of the most effective treatments for natural cures for thyroid imbalances at http://www.prescriptiondrugalternative.com/thyroid.htm

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Thyroid Imbalance Symptoms

Do you constantly feel tired or exhausted despite getting more than adequate sleep? Do you have trouble remembering things or have poor concentration? Are you often cold, especially at your extremities (hands and feet)? Are your nails and hair dry or brittle? Are you suffering hair loss, dry, flaky skin or cracking on heels, elbows and knees? Are you having extreme difficulty budging that excess weight?

Located just beneath the larynx, the thyroid gland controls metabolic function, activating more than one hundred enzymes responsible for a number of cellular functions, such as weight, skeletal structure, circulation, energy levels, mood, stress, libido, memory, sleep, hair, and nails.

By utilising iodine, found in foods like bread, seafood and salt, the thyroid gland manufactures the hormones, thyroxine and triodothyronine. These hormones send messages to specific organs and tissues, telling the cells within to speed up or reduce their activities of converting food and oxygen into energy, heat and living tissue. With thyroid hormones activating over one hundred cellular enzymes, it’s not surprising that a multitude of problems occur when this gland is not working properly.

Common symptoms associated with an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), as well as those mentioned previously, are slow reflexes, muscle weakness, pain or stiffness in muscles and joints, hoarse or deepening voice, infertility, a lump in the throat or enlarged thyroid gland. Less common symptoms include irregular heartbeat, chest pain, dizziness, rashes and allergies, visual disturbances, dry eyes and mouth, or blood pressure problems.

An abnormally functioning thyroid gland, if left unchecked, may lead to serious health problems, including osteoporosis, high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, congestive heart failure, myxedema (dry swelling of the skin and subcutaneous tissues), loss of mental function, and coma or death in extreme cases. For pregnant women, second trimester miscarriages increase, as do intellectual disabilities in their children.

An underactive thyroid is often caused by a lack of iodine in the diet, especially true in developing countries, but also in western countries where soil is low in iodine. Lack of iodine prevents the thyroid from producing T4, causing the thyroid to enlarge, eventually forming a goitre.

However, low iodine intake is not the only cause of underactive thyroid. The thyroid gland is part of a complex system that includes the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands, liver and kidneys, as well as cytokines. A malfunction in one of these components can result in the thyroid becoming underactive.

Nutritional deficiencies may be an underlying cause in an underactive thyroid. Copper, zinc, and vitamins A, B2, B3, B6 and C, are necessary for T4 production, while selenium and zinc are necessary for conversion of T4 to T3.

Although hypothyroidism can affect every part of the body, not everyone suffers from all the associated symptoms or to the same extent. Genetics, lifestyle, background, human uniqueness, and environment all influence symptoms experienced by individuals, and blood tests alone don’t indicate the exact cause.

Thyroxin replacement is the treatment often used to restore normal levels of thyroid hormones. T3 and T4 need monitoring to maintain correct levels, and if necessary, the thyroxin dosage adjusted. Other medications and nutritional supplements may interfere with thyroxin replacement therapy, so it is important to inform your doctor of anything you take, no matter how insignificant it seems. Once thyroxin replacement has begun, it is usually for life, as it suppresses production of the body’s own thyroid hormones.

Some people with hypothyroidism prefer alternative treatments to thyroxin replacement therapy, partly due to its lifelong dependence. These methods aim to return the thyroid’s normal function using natural methods. Thyromine is one such supplement.

Kelp, rich in iodine, assists in restoring iodine levels required for normal thyroid function. It also contains more than sixty vitamins, minerals and trace elements, as well as being high in protein and fibre. However, too much iodine can inhibit T4 synthesis. The daily iodine requirement from all sources should be no more than 600 international units.

Treatments such as reflexology, kinesiology and chiropractic may be helpful to stimulate thyroid activity. Exercise and a healthy diet are essential. Diet without exercise, even with thyroxin replacement, will be less effective in relieving the effects of hypothyroidism. A weight-reducing diet may further-reduce the metabolism in patients with under-active thyroid as the body tries to conserve energy. Exercise helps prevent the reduction of metabolic rate, therefore a daily exercise programme of thirty to sixty minutes, including aerobic and weight training components, is required.

High quantities of fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, seeds and nuts, organic if possible, as well as iodine-rich foods like seawater fish, milk, eggs and seaweed, should form your diet. Although people with food intolerances, like nuts and dairy, should avoid these foods as they have a negative effect thyroid function.

Keep consumption of goitrogens to a minimum because they block iodine uptake by the thyroid gland. These foods include soybean, cabbage, broccoli, peanuts, pine nuts, turnip, and millet.

It is recommended to take a high-quality multi-vitamin supplement containing zinc, copper and selenium (low in Australian soils), as well as vitamins A, B2, B3, B4, B6 and C. Sleeping eight hours a night is also important.

Profound exhaustion, aches and pains, muscle weakness, along with poor digestion make exercise difficult. Digestive disturbances, poor nutrient absorption and bowel disturbances contribute to exhaustion. Poor metabolism often leads to low appetite and poor eating habits. Depression, poor concentration and memory loss also affects well-being.

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By: Lachlan Walker

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Lachlan Walker promotes the benefits of safe and natural herbal products such as Thyromine Thyroid Supplement through such websites as HerbalWorks Herbal Product Review.

Affiliate Disclosure: It is advisable to assume that any mention of a product or service on this website is made because there exist, unless otherwise stated, a material connection between the product or service owners and this website and should you make a purchase of a product or service described here the owner of this website may be compensated.  To learn more, please click here.

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