If you experience unusual swelling in the front of your neck, palpitations, insomnia, fatigue, unexplained weight gain or loss, diarrhea, or constipation, you may have thyroid disease.
According to the American Thyroid Association (ATA), more than 12 percent of the U.S. population will have thyroid problems at some point in their lives. One in eight women will also develop a thyroid disorder during her lifetime. In fact, women are five to eight times more likely than men to have thyroid problems, especially after pregnancy and menopause, the ATA says.
However, thyroid disease often goes undetected: as many as 60% of people are unaware they have it, which is why regular screening is important.
What is the thyroid?
The thyroid is a small gland in the front of the neck that produces thyroid hormone, which regulates metabolism. “The thyroid has a wide-ranging effect throughout the body. It affects how fast your heart beats, how fast your hair grows, and how fast things pass through your intestines.”
The thyroid gland commonly fails to function properly, usually because of too much or too little hormone production. An overactive thyroid gland can trigger “hyperthyroidism,” which can cause the body to run and beat rapidly, as well as weight loss, trouble sleeping, muscle weakness, frequent bowel movements, nervousness, or irritability. An underactive thyroid, which often results from the autoimmune disorder Hashimoto’s disease, can lead to “hypothyroidism,” which can cause fatigue, weight gain, depression, constipation, heavy or irregular periods, or trouble conceiving. A family history increases the risk for both Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease.
In most cases, these lumps are harmless and cause no symptoms. "A lump may be considered malignant, which is the least common outcome, while about 25% to 30% of the time it is 'indeterminate,' meaning it contains slightly unusual cells that are not necessarily cancerous." "In those situations, your doctor will send these cells for further testing and then decide to continue to observe the lump or remove it if it turns out to be cancerous."
If the nodules become large enough or interfere with breathing or swallowing, however, they can pose a health risk. Cystic nodules are less of a concern than solid ones. However, a cystic nodule larger than two centimeters or a solid nodule larger than one centimeter will likely require a fine-needle biopsy so your doctor can rule out thyroid cancer. Your doctor may also order blood tests, thyroid function tests, and ultrasound to see if a nodule is solid, cystic, or both.
When the thyroid starts to become underactive it is called hypothyroidism while when it becomes overactive it is called hyperthyroidism. An underactive thyroid is much more common, but most people do not know they have this problem.
Symptoms associated with an underactive thyroid vary, but may include:
Weight gain
Tiredness
Sleep disorders
Depression
Low heart rate
Sensitivity to cold
Hair loss
Infertility
Autoimmune disorders
Most people do not associate these problems with their thyroid, assuming they are related to aging or stress. To evaluate your thyroid function, your doctor may order a blood test to check your TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) levels.
Since the thyroid is affected by various toxins, adding a versatile natural detoxifier to your routine can help promote the release of these toxins from the body.
When we detox, we help support the body's natural processes by decreasing the toxic load. By helping the excretion of heavy metals and toxins, we can support the health of our thyroid and other body systems.
Environmental toxins are all around us. When we combine detoxification with healthy lifestyle choices like eating organic foods, we can significantly reduce our exposure to toxins and play an active role in achieving whole-body wellness.