Understanding Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is also referred to as underactive thyroid disease. It is an endocrine disorder that’s common among adults. According to statistics, nearly 10 percent of the population of the United States has hypothyroidism. Women are more likely to develop hypothyroidism as they age, with their chances at roughly 12 percent, compared to men with a 2 percent chance.
Hypothyroidism often does unnoticed, and upto 60 percent of the people who have it don’t know until they are diagnosed or have it by a medical professional due to their deteriorating overall health. Hypothyroidism can cause several health issues, including weight gain, excessive hair fall, depression, etc.
Diagnosing hypothyroidism isn’t as simple as you think because it presents no unique symptoms and can often be confused with other conditions. A misdiagnosis can also lead to complications in the future. Let’s take a detailed look at hypothyroidism, its symptoms, complications, and treatment options.
The Thyroid Gland and Its Functions
The thyroid is a gland located in a person’s neck, right under the Adam’s apple. It’s shaped like a butterfly, and is an important part of the endocrine system, along with the pituitary gland, adrenal glands, and parathyroid glands.
The thyroid’s job is to control the body’s growth and metabolism and maintain a healthy body temperature (97.5-98.9 degrees Fahrenheit). It’s also responsible for producing hormones.
Two major hormones it produces are triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). These hormones are produced inside the thyroid and circulate in the blood around the body. These hormones affect the functions of the heart and nervous system and affect other body parts, including the skin, muscles, and more.
A person’s hypothyroidism develops when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough T3. T3 levels drop when the thyroid becomes underactive and doesn’t secrete enough hormones into a person’s bloodstream, affecting the nervous system and the heart.
· Eat Selenium-Rich Foods
Selenium is a form of a mineral that assists the body in preventing changes in the thyroid gland and prevent the formation of abnormal cells, like cancer. Brazilian nuts, halibut, tuna, cod, chicken, and turkey are all selenium-rich foods you can include in your daily diet.
· Increase Zinc Intake
Zinc is an effective natural treatment for hypothyroidism because it helps regulate the production of hormones in the thyroid gland. Some foods with a rich quantity of zinc are spinach, whole grains, beans, oyster, and more.
· Avoid Goitrogen
Goitrogen is a substance that negatively affects the absorption of iodine in the thyroid glands. Some foods have a high amount of goitrogens in them. These foods include cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, millet, peanuts, cassava, pine nuts, soy products, soy milk, tofu, etc.
The best way to avoid goitrogens is to carefully read labels on food products, especially processed foods, and check the nutrition chart on them.
· Avoid Fluoride
Excessive intake of fluoride has been linked to hypothyroidism, according to research. For dental health benefits, fluoride is added to drinking water in many countries, including the United States. However, if you’re diagnosed with hypothyroidism, your doctor will recommend a fluoride-free toothpaste and drink filtered water from an RO plant.
Chlamydia
Another prevalent sexually transmitted disease found in adults is chlamydia. Anyone can contract chlamydia, which is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. Women usually contract this STD in their throat, rectum, urethra, or cervix. Men normally contract it in their throat, rectum, or urethra (inside the penis).
Chlamydia can be transmitted through oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse with an infected partner. Women can pass chlamydia to their newborns during childbirth. If you have had chlamydia before and have recovered from it, you can get it again if you engage in unprotected sexual activity with an infected individual.
Chlamydia typically has no symptoms initially. You might not even be aware that you’ve contracted it. A person can spread chlamydia to others even if they don’t have any symptoms. If you do experience symptoms, it could take weeks for them to appear after having sex with an infected person.
Women usually experience:
- Irregular vaginal discharge with a strong odor
- Discomfort or burning sensation when urinating
- Painful sex
- Fever, nausea, and lower abdominal pain as the disease progresses
Men may experience:
- Unusual penile discharge
- Discomfort or burning sensation when urinating
- Itching or burning around the opening of the penis
- Enlarged or inflamed testicle (one or both)
HIV/AIDS
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is an STD that destroys a person’s immune system by eradicating certain white blood cells that help the body fight off infections. This increases the chance of contracting serious infections and diseases.
The last stage of HIV is called AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome) and happens whenthe virus substantially damages a person’s immune system and it’s unable to fight off even the slightest of illnesses. HIV doesn’t necessarily turn into AIDS and its progression can be slowed and even stopped with the right medication at the right time.
HIV can be acquired in a number of ways, including:
- Unprotected sexual contact with an HIV-positive person. (This is the most common way of transmission)
- Sharing needles or syringes
- Exposure to the blood of an HIV-positive person
- Transmission to newborns and infants through childbirth or breastfeeding
Although not everyone experiences symptoms, flu-like symptoms may be the first indication of HIV infection. These symptoms include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Night sweats
- Throat infection
- Fatigue
- Rashes
- Mouth ulcers
- Swollen lymph nodes (In the neck, thighs, behind the ears, armpits, etc)
- Muscular pain
These symptoms could be present for 2 to 4 weeks before going away. This stage is referred to as acute HIV infection. If not caught and treated, acute HIV may progress to chronic HIV where the virus incubates in the body and present no symptoms but will keep damaging the person’s immune system by slowly destroying white blood cells. There’s no cure for HIV, but it can be treated and made dormant through medication.
Treatment of Hypothyroidism with Medication
Hypothyroidism has no known cure. The symptoms, however, can be managed through natural remedies and medication.
Doctors commonly treat hypothyroidism patients with levothyroxine. This is a synthetic version of the hormone T3. The medicine replaces the hormone produced by the thyroid and balances the body’s required amount of hormones. Your doctor will regularly adjust the dosage of levothyroxine after conducting blood tests to see TSH levels. You must not take any medication on your own or without a doctor’s prescription or advice.
You will probably need levothyroxine for the rest of your life and regular blood tests to regulate its quantity. If you have hypothyroidism, want to speak to a doctor or suspect you have it due to other symptoms and related conditions, you must speak to a doctor immediately. If you can’t visit a doctor for any reason, you can now speak to an online doctor from the comfort of your home!
TelMDCare is a telemedicine doctor service for the residents of the United States. We have a team of virtual doctors who provide consultation for several conditions, including chronic hypothyroidism, diabetes, hypertension, sinus infections, respiratory infections, and more. Book an appointment with our online doctor, or call us for more information.