Hypoactive Thyroid

You might read or heard about this medical term some time in your life. Or you have encountered someone who went through such ailment. So what is hypoactive thyroid? Hyperthyroidism, as it is otherwise called, is an endocrinal problem that occurs when the thyroid gland becomes underactive, producing insufficient level of thyroid hormones. This familiar condition affects millions of people around the world. Due to varied symptoms that are difficult to identify, often emulating other conditions, many individuals with a hypoactive thyroid gland may be totally not aware of the problem.

What is Thyroid Gland

In order to gain a basic understanding about the nature of hyperthyroidism, you need to acquaint yourself with thyroid. Anatomically, thyroid is one of vital glands that constitute our endocrine system. It is a small gland located at the base of the neck (just under the larynx or Adam's apple of men). This endocrine gland produces hormones essential to different physiological functions. It enables our body to perform various bodily processes and it works in accord with pituitary gland. Pituitary gland is the master gland which manufactures thyroid stimulating hormones (TSH).

TSH plays an important role in activating the thyroid gland for hormonal production which includes thyroid hormones namely T3 and T4. These thyroid secretions influence metabolism and organic functions in the body. They determine and regulate bodily activities and in the use of energy. When the thyroid becomes underactive and doesn't produce sufficient amount of these hormones, hyperthyroidism can build up. The result- there is a decrease of metabolic rate and energy level, and eventually the body's energy utility is slower that it should.

Symptoms of hypoactive thyroid and who suffers from it?

Medical statistics show that underactive thyroid occurs in 1 out of 50 women and 1 out of 1000 men. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism are more common in women who are older and can also take place more often during pregnancy.

The symptoms of hypoactive thyroid are hard to recognize from other conditions, which makes an accurate medical analysis very important. Some of these symptoms include:

-Thrush (a kind of fungal infection)
-allergic conditions
-palpitations of the heart
-breast pains
-digestion problems/bloating of the stomach/constipation
-queasiness or nausea
-unusual skin problems
-low sex drive
-motion sickness
-dry and tangly hair or hair loss
-muscle soreness and aching joints
-depression
-abnormal weight gain
-brittleness of nails
-exhaustion and fatigue
-poor in concentration
-menstrual troubles (for women)

Causes of Hyperthyroidism

There are several diseases or health conditions that can be a potential cause of hypoactive thyroid.

*Thyroiditis- this is a thyroid disorder marked by inflammation of the thyroid gland. When this occurs, the thyroid cells are damaged and cannot able to manufacture adequate hormones. This is caused by a specific infection or traumatic condition.
*Hashimoto's disease- this disease is characterized by an attack to our antibodies, our immune system's defense against foreign infections and substances. This auto-immune disorder largely affects the thyroid gland leaving it swollen and cannot function well.
*Treatment consequences- people who go through hyperthyroidism are given treatments with anti-thyroid medications which are radioactive in nature. If this treatment results in too much reduction of thyroid's hyperactivity, the thyroid glands can be hypoactive otherwise.
*Iodine deficiency- people who are lack of adequate iodine in the body is risky to get hypothyroidism.
*Pituitary or hypothalamic disease- the problem could arise if the pituitary gland fails to manufacture sufficient TSH- the hormone in charge for activating the thyroid to secrete T3 and T4.

Natural Treatment

It is important to bear in mind that our thyroid gland is a subtle part of our body. It needs a selection of nutrients to achieve optimal function. Top up vital fatty acids to your regular diet. You can also consume supplements of fish oil daily. Iodine-rich foods like seaweeds, algae and chlorella should be eaten frequently to maintain functional balance of thyroid.

One more thing to bear in mind when talking about natural diet for hypoactive thyroid is to be aware of foods that actually delay the function of the thyroid. These consist of some veggies and nuts like cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, turnips, mustard greens and Brussels sprouts. Moreover, be careful to avoid exceedingly processed foods and put limitation to dairy products, caffeine, artificial sweeteners and intake of alcohol. Herbal and natural remedies can also be applied to sustain optimal function of thyroid. Bladder wrack, a kind of algae is a potential source of iodine, important for healthy thyroid gland. India's most valuable herb Shilajeet-Asphaltum puniabiunum is considered a wonder drug because of its incredible mineral content. Clinical tests have also shown that forskolin, a chemical substance originated in coleus may contribute to maintain thyroid hormone production.