Could You Be Living with an Invisible Illness?
Because I have, and I don’t want anyone to ignore their symptoms.
I wish I found the support I needed and resources available sooner to help keep me informed.
by Elaine Moreno
Here at Health: It’s Personal, we care about all aspects of health. As we’ve learned throughout our many series’, mental and physical health are very much connected. It often feels like chicken and egg. Am I tired and anxious because something is physically wrong or is my mental health affecting my sleep and therefore, I’m tired?
There are many underlying conditions that lead to different symptoms we face. It is challenging to know what is causing them. Our bodies are complex systems and work hard to create balance and harmony. One specific group, the endocrine system, impacts our growth, metabolism, and reproduction. The endocrine glands release hormones directly into the bloodstream to help our bodies function properly. Many glands are found in the brain, neck, lungs, kidneys, and stomach. These glands include the hypothalamus, pituitary, pineal, thymus, adrenal, and pancreas.
Sometimes we are anxious, tired, sluggish, and have no idea why. One cause of these symptoms that many people are not aware of is the thyroid gland. Did you know you could have Thyroid Disease and not even know it? Many of the symptoms are common; and therefore, it might go undetected.
I discovered 5 years ago that I have Hypothyroidism. For many years, I had anxiety, depression, chest pain, chills, forgetfulness, fatigue, and thyroid problems that contributed to having an early miscarriage. Many mornings, I could not get out of bed because my body would not let me move. Some people experience other symptoms such as hair loss, weight gain/weight loss, infertility, and other ailments.
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck that produces hormones and affects most of the organs in our bodies including the brain, digestive system, and it controls our metabolism. When the thyroid does not function properly, the body shuts down.
According to the American Thyroid Association, “women are five to eight times more likely than men to have thyroid problems,” and they estimate that 20 million Americans have some type of thyroid disease, while only up to 60 percent are aware of it. Women are more likely to develop thyroid problems for several reasons.
Some of the most common thyroid diseases are as follows:
Goiter – A goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid. It’s often caused by iodine deficiency.
Hashimoto’s disease – This disease is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune defense system attacks the thyroid. Hashimoto’s is a genetic disease often passed from parents to children.
Hyperthyroidism – Also known as Grave’s disease, hyperthyroidism is a disorder of the immune system. It can lead to skin disease, nervousness, and a fast heartbeat.
Hypothyroidism – When the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone, it can lead to metabolic issues.
Non-functioning thyroid – About 1 in 4000 children are born with a thyroid gland that is not functional. Newborns are screened for this condition and are treated. If it is not, it can lead to mental and physical disorders.
Postpartum thyroiditis – Between 5 percent and 9 percent of women suffer from decreased thyroid function after giving birth. The condition is usually temporary and can be treated.
Thyroiditis – This is swelling or inflammation of the thyroid that can reduce the number of hormones the thyroid releases.
The best way to determine if you have thyroid disease is to take a blood test from your doctor and test your TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone), T3 & T4 thyroid panel. Thyroid disease can be hereditary or can appear at any time. Once diagnosed, your healthcare professional will go over treatments and may suggest surgery to remove the thyroid. Your doctor may also recommend thyroid medication that can be taken to maintain levels within range and constant monitoring of blood levels to help keep your thyroid functioning normally. Contact your physician to discuss treatments or ways to help improve your diet. Many experts suggest regulating thyroid function by eliminating gluten, lowering sugar intake, taking vitamins and supplements such as zinc, selenium, vitamin B-12, and probiotics.
Working with a naturopathic doctor could help improve thyroid levels without medication by taking a holistic approach to heal your symptoms naturally.
Understanding the symptoms and the challenges of thyroid disease will help bring awareness to people who might not know they have it and to those we care about the most. If you feel you may be affected, simply checking in with your doctor could improve your well-being and daily life!
Please note I am not a medical expert, but I understand the agony of feeling the symptoms of thyroid disease. I hope this is a starting point to bring awareness and to know you are not alone! There are many resources available to help and support you!
