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Do you constantly
feel as if you've been run over by a truck, or like you could drop off to sleep
in an instant, if your head came even remotely close to a pillow? Are
there times when your voice becomes hoarse and you feel like there's a lump of
some sort in your throat when you swallow? It could just be that
you've recently gained some extra weight for no reason at all, or that you
feel as if you've sunk into a mild pit of depression. If you're
experiencing some or all of the symptoms above, it's possible that you may be
experiencing the symptoms of an underactive thyroid.
The thyroid gland, located at the base
of the throat, is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland which supplies
hormones to control your body's metabolism. When this
gland isn't working properly, your body lacks the appropriate amount of
hormones needed to regulate certain functions, thus resulting in hypothyroidism,
or an underactive thyroid. This can be caused from an iodine
deficiency, it may be auto-immune related, or it could be a result of a
malfunctioning pituitary gland located in the brain. Woman are more likely
to suffer with hypothyroidism than men and is more common in adults,
although it is possible for children to be diagnosed with the condition as
well.
Symptoms of an Underactive Thyroid: (a few, but not all)
- feeling constantly fatigued for no reason
- unexplained weight gain
- very cold hands and feet
- hair loss
- pale and/or dry skin
- nervousness
- hoarseness of voice
- depression
- emotional changes/ mood swings
- a lower than normal blood pressure
There are more symptoms of hypothyroidism, but the list above includes some
of the most typical symptoms often described by people who have experienced
them. Problems with the thyroid gland can also result in seizure activity,
though this symptom is very rare.
With diet and exercise, combined with the correctly prescribed medications,
these problems will gradually begin to ease up.
Being a woman during these fast-paced, modern times often causes some
neglect on our own well-being. Many women today are so busy juggling jobs
and managing their homes, that it's difficult to even find time to make those
annoying, yet necessary, yearly check-up appointments at the
doctor. Sometimes, there are very serious problems occurring within
our own bodies and not paying attention to those problems can have
very negative repercussions on your health. If you are experiencing
some or all of the symptoms listed above, it's quite possible that you may have
an underactive thyroid and you should seek medical help as soon as
possible.
Links for more information regarding Hypothyroidism:
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