As you age, you may start feeling tired a lot more during the day. While you may consider this to be normal for aging, there might be an underlying cause for the problem, thyroid. Women are more prone to suffer from thyroid related diseases in their lifetime. Worse yet, most of these women tend to go about their lives without even recognizing that they have a thyroid problem.
Why is the Thyroid so important?
The thyroid gland is the mastermind of your body. Located in your lower neck, it is responsible for controlling all the bodily functions. Hence, an issue with the gland will definitely offset something else in the body, causing you great discomfort.
Causes for thyroid problems
The causes for hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism differ.
The causes for hypothyroidism aka less insufficient thyroid in the body include exposure to iodide, removal of the thyroid gland, use of lithium based drugs and autoimmune disorders like Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.
The causes for hyperthyroidism aka excess production of thyroid in the body include pituitary gland malfunctions, toxic adenomas, sub-acute thyroiditis and cancerous growths in the thyroid gland.
Symptoms of thyroid problems in women
There are different types of thyroid issues, with hypothyroidism being the most common in women. The most common symptom of this condition is extreme fatigue while signs like hair loss, chronic constipation and weight gain are also noticed.
Some of the other common symptoms of thyroid problems in women include neck discomfort, muscle/joint pains, high cholesterol levels, sore throat, hoarseness, thyroid enlargement, goiter, skin/hair changes, diarrhea, constipation, bowel problems, digestive disorders, menstrual irregularities, recurrent miscarriage, infertility, mood swings, panic attacks, anxiety, depression, restlessness and sleep disorders.
Effects of thyroid disorders on a woman’s body
Thyroid disorders tend to have myriad effects on a woman’s body. Some of these include and are related to the following areas.
Onset of puberty and regular menstruation:
Thyroid diseases can prevent the onset of puberty and delay the same for quite some time. In addition to experiencing irregular periods, women with thyroid disorders tend to experience either very light or very heavy periods.
Reproduction:
Thyroid diseases can cause ovulation problems in women. Women with thyroid would not ovulate regularly and in some cases, may not ovulate at all. They also have increased chances of developing cysts in the ovaries. Severe cases of the condition can lead to the breasts producing excess milk even when the concerned woman is not pregnant.
Pregnancy and childbirth:
Thyroid disorders can harm the unborn fetus during the pregnancy. It can also lead to postpartum thyroiditis in women after childbirth.
Menopause:
Women with thyroid disorders tend to experience menopause very soon. Thyroid disorders can also cause certain effects that mimic the symptoms of menopause, including weight gain, night sweats, mood swings and hot flashes.
Treatment options for thyroid problems
The prescribed treatment for a specific thyroid problem would take into account the cause for the condition, they type of thyroid disorder and the patient’s body condition.
Hypothyroidism is usually dealt with a regular dose of prescription synthetic T4. Also called as levothyroxine sodium or L-T4, this medication will help replenish the thyroid levels in your body. You would probably need to take the medicine for life on a daily basis while the dosage for the same would vary from time to time.
Hyperthyroidism is dealt with a form of treatment that involves the use of I-131 radioactive iodine. This substance is known to kill the thyroid tissues and reduce the excess production of thyroid in the body. Depending on your condition, the doctor may also prescribe other forms of treatment like surgery and anti-thyroid drugs for hyperthyroidism.
Tips for prevention
While a thyroid disorder itself cannot be prevented, you can take preventative measures to handle the side effects of the disorder.
It is considered wise to opt for regular screenings with the doctor to check the severity of the condition. In addition to this, a healthy diet, meditation, exercise and mind body therapies can help you control the side effects of thyroid disorders better.
Thyroid is a very common issue in women and usually goes unnoticed until it balloons into something bigger. Ensure to note these symptoms in order to identify the onset of the issue and talk to your doctor about preferable treatment options for the same. Also follow appropriate tips to prevent the disorder from recurring in the future.