Hyperthyroidism symptoms are sometimes so mild that most people fail to recognize it. Therefore, they do not get diagnosed with hyperthyroidism until it gets worse. Especially when it comes to older people, the sudden loss of weight and the feelings of anxiety and depression do not make people recognize the underlying cause until a blood test confirms it.
Hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid disease, generally means that your thyroid gland makes and releases too much thyroid hormone. The thyroid gland is located right in the front of your neck, just below the location of your Adam’s apple. It makes hormones that have a great impact on your metabolism.
What Causes Hyperthyroidism?
In more than 70% of cases, hyperthyroidism is caused by an autoimmune disorder called Graves’ disease. Normally the antibodies produced by the immune system provide protection to your body against viruses, bacteria, and other foreign substances.
An autoimmune disease is when your immune system starts producing antibodies that instead of protecting your body’s tissues and/or organs, starts attacking it. When you suffer from Graves’ disease, the antibodies produced by the immune system stimulate the thyroid hormone, inciting it to produce way too many hormones. Doctors are of the opinion that hyperthyroidism usually runs in the family and affects more young women.
Symptoms of Thyroid
The symptoms and their severity depend on the duration and extent of excess thyroid hormones, and also the age of the individual. The symptoms, which individuals should be more aware of, are:
- Nervousness and irritability
- Sudden Palpitations and tachycardia
- Tremors
- Heat intolerance or excessive sweating
- Predominantly weight loss, in some cases weight gain
- Increase in appetite
- Frequent bowel movements or diarrhea
- Lower leg swelling
- Sudden paralysis
- Shortness of breath with exertion
- Menstrual irregularities
- Fertility problems
- Sleep issues which include insomnia
Changes in vision which includes:
- Photophobia, or light sensitivity
- Irritation of eyes with excessive tears
- Double vision
- Exophthalmos, or forward protrusion of the eyeball
- Experiencing fatigue and muscle weakness
- Thyroid enlargement
- Fluid buildup in the tissues right about the shin bone.
Hyperthyroid Specialized Diet
When your thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone, it can be only be treated with prescribed medicines and a special diet, as the condition strips off a lot of nutrients from your body. The bodily processes speed up with this disorder.
Sticking to the prescribed medication should be the norm. But you should also complement the conventional treatment with the right kind of diet and exercise. Follow these dos and donts to control your spiraling thyroid levels.
- First things first, you must avoid foods which are high in iodine, such as seafood, eggs, curd, iodized salt, and milk.
- Unlike in conditions such as hypothyroid, where you need to skip raw cruciferous vegetables; if you suffer from hyperthyroidism, you need to eat cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli, which are preferably raw.
- Another welcome addition to your diet should be green leafy vegetables like mustard greens, spinach and kale, said to suppress the function of your thyroid.
- Make sure you add flaxseed oil and ground flaxseeds to your diet, as they are the best plant-based omega 3 fatty acids. Also, don’t forget the vitamin D from eggs, mackerel, salmon, and mushrooms.
- Steer clear of soybeans and processed soy products which can impact your already over-stimulated thyroid.
- Whole grains like millet and brown rice, combined with nuts and seeds are great sources of zinc, which are extremely important nutrients necessary for the body functions that might get depleted due to an imbalance of thyroid function.
- Eating healthy and avoiding alcohol, smoking, excessive amounts of tea, coffee, colas, and chocolates should become the norm.
- Also, proper supplementation with your doctor’s guidance is essential. High-potency B-complex supplements should be taken daily to replenish the fast depleting B vitamins used up for increased metabolism.
- Exercise is a must to avoid hypothyroid.
