Thyroid Problems and Menopause

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As women approach menopause many changes can occur. One of the most significant changes can be in hormone balance. Hormonal imbalance is not uncommon. Though it is common, it can create problems. Hormone imbalance can be very disruptive to daily life and present many problems for women.

For most women menopause begins between the ages of 40 and 58. It is at this time that the production of estrogen declines. Because of the reduction in estrogen women may begin to notice certain physical and mental ailments that they have not experienced before. Some side effects of decreasing hormones may include weight gain, hot flashes, insomnia, irritability, muscle aches, dry skin, weakness, fatigue, intolerance to cold and dry brittle hair to name a few.

It's important for women to recognize that although these symptoms can in fact be related to menopause, these same symptoms can be the result of low thyroid as well. Low thyroid or hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid does not produce enough thyroid hormones. It tends to become noticeable in women who are older. This is one of the reasons the symptoms of it become confused with menopause.

The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland near your Adam's apple. This gland helps secrete hormones, which help regulate our body's metabolism. Metabolism is key in the function of heart rate, stamina, body temperature, muscle strength and appetite among other things. One can see that these symptoms can mimic those of menopause.

If you are a woman who is finding that your menopausal symptoms still persist even though you are taking estrogen and progesterone, it might be time to have your thyroid checked. Although hormone replacement therapy or HRT may work for some women, it may not work for all. Spending time with in expert in thyroid support may be the first step in finding answers to your low thyroid questions.

Once women educate themselves on the symptoms of menopause and low thyroid they will be able to make knowledgeable decisions about where to turn for help. As most women know, the balance of hormones is an intricate, delicate component of our overall feeling of well being. When our hormones are out of balance, it feels like our world is out of balance. Stress is harder to bear, fatigue seems intolerable, our weight is harder to maintain and our moods become troublesome. The impact of hormone imbalance on our daily lives is immeasurable at times.

Aside from the physical ailments, it can also impact our social life and in turn our relationships. With signs of depression, irritability, sluggishness and overall negative outlook, we may find that people just don't want to spend time with us. These feeling of isolation could lead to even more profound moodiness or depression.

As you can see, seeking help and guidance on balancing your low thyroid might just be the answer to some of your current health questions. It's no surprise then that most women want to find help in resolving these problems. If in fact your low thyroid is causing these symptoms it is advisable to find a specialist who can support you in finding ways to help with your low thyroid issues.

Denver Thyroid Support, from Dr. David Arthur, DC, DACNB, FACFN, CCCN. Dr. Arthur is a leading expert in low thyroid and thyroid problems in Denver, Colorado. He works with women (and a few men) of all ages who suffer from thyroid issues. Dr. Arthur takes a unique, neurological and functional medicine approach to thyroid support. If you're suffering from thyroid problems and want help, information and solutions, visit http://www.denverthyroidsupport.com/

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Tachycardia - A Symptom of Thyroid Problems

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Have you ever heard someone using the term tachycardia? It refers to a heart rate that is higher than the normal range, as measured when the person is at rest -- such as sleeping or otherwise not active. The particular figure at which someone's heart rate is considered high enough to qualify as this varies based upon the patient's age. However, once reaching adulthood (defined here as 15 years old) that number is simply any rate beyond 100 beats per minute.

Now, let's take into consideration some of the thyroid problems that could be behind tachycardia. Keep in mind that this is not intended to be exhaustive, and many non-thyroid issues can also lead to this raised heart rate.

Graves' disease

This medical issue is the most frequent cause of cases of hyperthyroidism. Additionally, it can be noted that it is autoimmune in nature. Aside from having tachycardia, a patient with Graves' disease might exhibit other symptoms such as eye bulging, goiter, weakness in the muscles, etc.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT)

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a common reason behind hypothyroidism. HT is also an autoimmune condition. Although it can provoke an increased heart rate, it is also possible for it to lead to a slowed beat, otherwise known as bradycardia. High cholesterol is another symptom that may result. One other possible symptom is a change in weight, which may be either a gain or reduction.

Thyroid storm

Although thyroid storm is rare, when it does occur it is life-threatening. It can occur in different situations, one of which is if the patient stops using medicine for his hyperthyroidism. Lung infections may also lead to it. Along with the possibility of a rapid heart rate, other symptoms that may show up include shortness of breath and disorientation. Some of the other potential symptoms are pain in the chest and a particularly high temperature that may reach all the way up to 106 F.

You can read more information on tachycardia as well as thyroid problems that may lead to it.

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Thyroid Problems After Pregnancy

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Hormonal Changes During Pregnancy

When a woman is pregnant, her body produces more hormones than usual. This is the cause of mood swings, changes in appetite, having feelings of extreme tiredness, or excessive sleepiness. When the baby is finally out it the world, mommy's hormones are still adjusting. One gland of the endocrine system that is affected by pregnancy is the thyroid.

During pregnancy, the thyroid gets a little bigger. This, in turn, has impact on the thyroid's production of hormones that regulate a person's metabolism, energy use, and protein production. A woman who is with child should have a balanced intake of iodine to avoid problems with the thyroid during pregnancy and after giving birth.

While pregnancy causes changes in the thyroid gland and its production of the thyroid hormone, it can also lead to certain thyroid conditions such as hyperthyroidism where there is overproduction of thyroid hormones, or hypothyroidism where a woman has an under-active thyroid gland.

This condition is called postpartum thyroiditis (PPT). It usually follows the pattern of having hyperthyroidism which is then followed by hypothyroidism.

What is PPT?

PPT is a condition that manifests its symptoms from one to eight months after giving birth. Considered as an auto immune condition, PPT can cause hyperthyroidism that can last from a month or two. This condition is similar to two other auto immune diseases that affect the thyroid gland namely; Grave's disease and Hashimoto's disease which is also called Hashimoto's thyroiditis. PPT is said to be a variation of Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Some of the most common symptoms are:

Weight gain or weight loss depending on the level of thyroid hormone producedFatigueExcessive sleepinessDry hair that may lead to hair falling outRapid heartbeat and lack of concentrationDecreased amount of milk produced for breastfeeding.

What Can Be Done?

Avoiding PPT can be done by having a balanced diet that has the right amount of iodine for the mother and the baby's needs. If needed, supplements to adjust the level of the thyroid hormone to the normal state may be needed.

The symptoms present above may not immediately be seen after giving birth. An interval of one to eight months is the span where such symptoms may manifest themselves. Treatment can be done by taking replacement thyroid hormones prescribed by the OB-gynecologist.

In some cases, the thyroid gets too damaged by the hormone production changes it has undergone and may not return to its normal function. When this happens, the woman may need to have lifelong medications to compensate for the loss of thyroid function.

Dr. Jonathan Berns, D.C. helps people everyday in the Tampa, Florida area overcome the very misunderstood and often mistreated conditions caused from dysfunctional thyroids. Visit Tampa Thyroid Program at Integrative Physical Medicine of Tampa to learn more about thyroid management.

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