The incidence of clinically diagnosed hypothyroidism is 2% women, 0.2% men and sub-clinical hypothyroidism is 6-8% women, 3% men. But many more are undiagnosed!
If you think you may have this, you should talk to your health care provider!
You can may have either an over active or and under active thyroid gland- so what is your thyroid gland and how would you know what to look for?
What is the thyroid and why should you care?
Your thyroid is a small gland in the front of the neck, it is part of the endocrine system (hormones). Its main function is to use the iodine from your food and convert it to thyroid hormones. All of the cells on the body depend upon the thyroid to regulate metabolism.
The thyroid gland is controlled by the pituitary gland in the brain- when thyroid hormones get too low it releases thyroid stimulating hormone which stimulates the thyroid to produce more- acting like a thermostat to maintain adequate temperature, it helps to maintain thyroid hormone levels. The hypothalamus in the brain tells the pituitary gland what it needs to do.
Why should you care? Well, a dysfunctional thyroid has multiple effects on the body- as part of the endocrine system this can affect your metabolism, growth, reproduction, sleep and mood.
What is thyroid dysfunction?
Thyroid dysfunction is where the thyroid either doesn’t produce enough (hypothyroidism) or produces too many (hyperthyroidism) thyroid hormones.
Hypothyroidism
The thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones, which has a knock on effect on the metabolism, causing this to slow.
It can be attributed to lots of factors, but the main ones are:
An autoimmune condition- like Hashimotos, where antibodies (proteins manufactured by the body that help fight against antigens- foreign substances), first stimulate the thyroid and then
A pituitary gland dysfunction.
Environmental exposure to toxins- can cause deficiencies or superfluous amounts.
Hypothyroidism is more common in 40-50 years olds, and 10 times more likely in women! Lower oestrogen levels in menopause may actually affect thyroid receptor cells an affect thyroid hormones entering cells. Iodine helps to maintain the oestrogen balance, however heavy and irregular menstrual bleeding often experienced during menopause may occur as a result of iodine deficiency. As iodine is needed to make thyroid hormones… this will influence thyroid hormone levels.
Some of the symptoms of hypothyroidism:
Weight gain
Slow movements, thought and speech
Pins and needles
Breathlessness
Dizziness
Palpitations- slow or irregular pulse
Loss of libido
Dry/gritty eyes
Hoarse voice
Difficulty swallowing/ swollen tongue
Hair loss especially outer third of eyebrows
Dry skin
Muscle and joint pain
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Loss of appetite
Constipation
PCOS
Fibrocystic breasts
A low waking temperature i.e. The Basal temperature
Puffy face or fluid retention
Cold extremities/ decreased tolerance to cold.
Hyperthyroidism
The thyroid gland produces more thyroid hormones than necessary, this increases the metabolism and energy production in the body. This can happen if you have Grave’s disease ( immune system attacks the thyroid and causes it to make more thyroid hormone than your body needs), a goitre (swelling/ enlargement of thyroid gland), and thyroiditis (temporary inflammation of the thyroid gland).
Some of the symptoms of hypothyroidism:
Weight loss, despite an increased appetite, although a few patients may gain weight
Palpitations/rapid pulse
Unexplained sweating and heat intolerance
Tiredness and weak muscles
Anxiety, nervousness and irritability
Shakiness
Mood disturbances or aggressive behaviour
Loose bowel movements
Nausea
Sweaty palms- warm, moist hands
Increased thirst
Passing increased amounts of urine
Unexplained itchiness
Enlarged thyroid gland
Eye issues (inflammation of eye muscles and tissue behind the eye, causing the eyes to be pushed forward creating ‘bulging’ eyes and red eyelids).
This is by no means an exhaustive list of symptoms- but if you have more than a few of these, it may be worth getting tested!
Unfortunately for us, women are more likely than men to have thyroid disease, some of the main issues we experience are:
Menstrual issues- as the thyroid controls your cycle, it may cause light, heavy, irregular or absence of periods.
Pregnancy issues- as the thyroid affects menstruation, it therefore also affects ovulation- it can make it more difficult to conceive.
Mistaking symptoms- sometimes they may be mistaken for menopause symptoms!
How can you check yours?
These are the common tests that are run when considering a thyroid issue. It’s important to gain a full picture and that the results are taken in context.
TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)
Free T4 (thyroxine)
Free T3
Thyroid antibodies – Anti Thyroid Peroxidase
(TgAb)/ Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin (TSIAb)
There are lots of private companies where test can be undertake, but initially speak to your GP and see if these can be done via the NHS.
References
http://www.thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/About_Us/study-report-5.01.12.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30224316
https://academic.oup.com/bmb/article/99/1/39/298307
https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/99/3/923/2537300
https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/thyroid-disease
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8051643
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23998691
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3113168/
Disclaimer: It is obviously important to be assessed by a physician who can make a diagnosis. This is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice and treatment from your personal physician. Readers are advised to consult their own doctors regarding the assessment of medical conditions, so as there is no misunderstanding or misuse of the information provided and discussed here.
Please reach out or enquire if you need more support and guidance.
