Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid is not making enough thyroid hormone. The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland located in the front of the throat. The thyroid is important because it makes a hormone that affects the way the body uses energy. Therefore, having hypothyroidism makes you feel overly tired and depressed. It can cause weakness. It can also raise cholesterol levels. While this may sound very serious, it is important to remember that hypothyroidism is easily diagnosed and treated. The worst part about hypothyroidism is the symptoms.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism also include memory problems, dry skin, a yellowing of the skin. Many people with hypothyroidism have trouble dealing with cold temperatures. Some people also exhibit symptoms such as a slowness in movement and slight weight gain. Another symptom that may appear is an enlargement in the front of the throat. Sometimes it can take years for any of these symptoms to appear. If you are concerned that you may have hypothyroidism, it is best to get tested.
Your doctor will do a thorough exam including an extensive medical history. If your doctor believes that you have hypothyroidism he or she will perform a simple blood test. Sometimes a thyroid ultrasound may be performed as well. An ultrasound is usually only used if an enlargement of the throat is found during a physical exam.
It is especially important for children and pregnant women to be checked for hypothyroidism. Doctors are required to test newborns because hypothyroidism can cause retardation in infants. Doctors also recommend screening on a regular basis for people over 35. It is also important to get tested if you have a close relative with hypothyroidism.
Other people who should get tested are those with diabetes or arthritis. Women who show signs of postpartum depression should also get tested as hypothyroidism may be a partial cause. Remember it is best to ask your doctor about getting tested if you fall into any of the above categories or if you exhibit any of the symptoms of hypothyroidism.
If you are diagnosed with hypothyroidism, treatment is also simple. Hypothyroidism is treated with medication, a synthetic hormone that mimics the one that the thyroid is supposed to produce. Many people improve after a few weeks of taking medication. However, some people may have to take medication for longer periods of time. The elderly and those with immune disorders may have to take medication indefinitely. Other people that may have to continue taking hypothyroidism medication are those undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment.
Remember, hypothyroidism is not a death sentence. It is an easily treatable condition. It is important that you talk to your doctor if you believe that you have hypothyroidism. Only your doctor can diagnose and treat you. Most people go on to live happy, normal lives after being diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Some are completely cured after a short period of time on the medication. Some people will have to take medication for the rest of their lives but the medication as minimal side effects so their quality of life should remain great.
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Hypothyroidism affects children just like it affects adults. Unfortunately it is often misdiagnosed in children because it is so rare. Most doctors do not check for the disorder except when the child is a newborn.
The consequences of children having hypothyroidism is much more dire than that of adults. A child’s brain is not fully developed causing the lack of thyroid hormone to affect their physical growth as well as mental growth. The key to preventing extreme side effects in children is making sure that you recognize the symptoms and seek care for them immediately. It is also important that you be advocate for your child. If you believe that your child has hypothyroidism, ask your doctor to do a test.
The thyroid gland is controls many systems in the body, it is located in the front of throat. Some of the things it can effect are heart rate, menstrual cycle, cholesterol, vision, strength, and mental state, as well as many other functions.
In children, it is important to look out for a bulging in the throat. This would show an enlargement of the thyroid gland. It is difficult to diagnose a child under 2 years of age. Some symptoms they may present are trouble feeding, increased sleepiness and poor muscle tone.
Older children can exhibit numerous other symptoms. Those symptoms include an increased sensitivity to cold, tiredness, constipation, a hoarse voice, poor mental development, slow development of permanent teeth. Some other symptoms are a horse voice, a puffy face, loss of appetite, growth changes, depression. Pain or stiffness in joints, and frequent choking.
Most of these symptoms could indicate something else so it is important to tell your doctor if your child is considered to be at risk.
There are risk factors that help to determine if a child is more likely to have hypothyroidism. One such risk factor is if a close relative, such as a parent or grandparent has the disorder.
Diagnoses and treatment today is fairly simple. If it is suspected that a child has hypothyroidism, a simple blood test is administered. If the test comes back positive, a doctor will place the child on a synthetic thyroid tablet. The doctor may also place the child on hormone treatment if their growth is stunted. This helps the child become more like their peers.
If a child goes untreated, mental retardation would likely occur. The child’s physical growth will also be affected. It is imperative that early treatment is sought so that the horrible side effects can be kept at bay. The symptoms caused by hypothyroidism set children back mentally and physically.
It is critical that children get tested frequently, especially if they are exhibiting symptoms or if they are at risk. Without testing and proper treatment, children are likely to suffer from lifelong problems. However, if the disorder is caught early and treated consistently, most children will not have any lasting effects.
Often, the symptoms of hypothyroidism indicate to doctors that it could be something else. It is quite possible that if your child has the symptoms mentioned above, your doctor will assume it is something else entirely. It may well be something else, but isn’t it worth it to at least rule out hypothyroidism with a simple blood test?
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There are several issues with pregnancy and hypothyroidism. It is important that you discuss testing with your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Hypothyroidism can be managed during pregnancy but there are some risks to the fetus. For example, during gestation the baby depends on the mother’s thyroid hormone. If the mother has a thyroid disorder the baby is more likely to physically develop at a slower rate.
Pregnant women with hypothyroidism are more likely to have children with a slightly lower IQ than women without hypothyroidism. On a related note, children born of mothers with the disorder are more likely to repeat grades and have trouble in school. In other words, mothers with untreated hypothyroidism have children with lifelong problems.
The best way to avoid these consequences is to get screened. Women who are pregnant or who are planning to become pregnant should get screened. If a woman is pregnant with hypothyroidism, she can take a low dose of the thyroid hormone to reduce negative side effects. If a woman is pregnant and taking thyroid hormone, her doctor will have to monitor her closely because of natural fluctuations of hormones during pregnancy.
It is very important to discuss testing with your doctor. You should make sure that you have a strong partnership with your doctor so that both of you can decide on the best course of action for you and your baby. Early action on the part of you and your doctor is critical. If you have already been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, you must let your Obstetrician know as soon as you find out that you are pregnant. This is important because it is critical that your thyroid hormone is kept in check during pregnancy in order to avoid side effects for the baby.
Many women are concerned about having a difficult pregnancy with hypothyroidism. Fortunately, most women with the disorder feel better during pregnancy. They do not feel as bone tired as they did before becoming pregnant. There is also less brain fog. Unfortunately, it is possible that a pregnant woman will develop gestational diabetes because of the hypothyroidism. It is also possible that the baby will have the disease, but it is rare.
The key points to remember for pregnant women with hypothyroidism are:
Get screened as soon as you know you are pregnant.
1.It is important to continue taking your medication even while pregnant.
2.it is important to have a good relationship with your doctor so the two of you can monitor your hormone levels.
3.Be vigilant about all of the above
Remember that there are risks involved with being pregnant and having hypothyroidism. If you pay attention and keep in front of the disease, it is likely that the baby will be fine. Stay vigilant. Take your medicine and communicate with your doctor.
It can be scary but at least it is manageable with early detection and carefully monitored medicine. Many OB/GYNs do not know much about hypothyroidism. Therefore it is important to tell your doctor if you have hypothyroidism.
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It’s easy for me to find a well qualified medical doctor. Being a doctor myself, I know where to look, whom to ask, and what to ask for. But if I need a good lawyer or accountant, I feel a bit helpless. I may ask my friends. Probably they had asked their friends. The quest becomes a daisy chain, in which none of the participants really knows how to tell a good professional from a mediocre or even an inadequate one. They judge mainly on whether the practitioner has a pleasing and persuasive manner, whether he seems to know what he’s talking about. Clearly that’s not good enough. Finding a well qualified physician requires a little insight, but it’s easier than you think. Most physicians are members of the county medical society, although some doctors who are full time in medical schools may not bother to join. Call up the medical society in your vicinity. In Los Angeles, for example, you would find it listed as “Los Angeles County Medical Association.” Say you want to inquire about the availability and qualifications of physicians in your area of the city Hollywood, for example. The receptionist will connect you to the person who has that information. Say you are interested in finding a doctor in Hollywood who is a general practitioner, a specialist, or whatever it is you think you need. If you want an allÂaround doctor to give you an initial examination, to supervise you in a preventive health program such as mine, you probably want either a general practitioner or a physician certified by the Board of Internal Medicine. Ask for recommendations in that category.The county medical society will not recommend a specific person. Nor will it supply information on fees and such matters. But it will gladly give you a list of 4 or 5 practitioners located in your area and in good standing with the society. It will tell you where these physicians went to school, where they served their internships and residencies, how long they have been a member of the county society, and their hospital or medical school affiliations. If they are on the attending staff of a well known hospital Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, for example that’s a plus. Being a member of the recently formed American College of Gerontology would also be a plus.Or if you do start by asking your friends, ask more than one. Compile a short list of physicians whom your friends recommend as attentive individuals. Then call the county society and ask for the credentials of these physicians: what medical schools they graduated from, and so on . Several orgaizations now publish lists of longevity doctors for different regions of the United States. None that I’ve seen has been very discriminating. The lists include a mishmash of M.D.s, some good, some borderline, plus chiropractors, nutritionists, acupuncturists, and so on. TherE are some good people in each of these categories, but you ought at least to know what type of basic credentials you are getting. For example, “Dr.” Robert Haas, author of the best selling book Eat to Win The Sports Nutrition Bible, is not a medical doctor at all. His “Dr.” is a Ph.D. from an unaccredited “university.”8 If that’s okay with you, it’s okay with me, but know what you are getting. The county medical society is apt to have information on M.D. and non M.D. alike. Seek out this information. Having selected a short list of possible practitioners by one of these methods, call them up. Ask what their fees are, and whether they are interested in preventive medicine, nutrition, and anti aging remedies. Don’t be bashful! If they don’t want to talk frankly, go elsewhere. Don’t tolerate the authoritarian mystique that has grown up around organized medicine. Ideally, you want somebody with satisfactory credentials and an open mind on the subject of anhagjng remedies. II he does not take the present book seriously because it .is a popular book for the lay public see if he has read or will read the book by Dr. Richard Weindruch and me, The Retardation of Aging by Dietary Restriction. Our book does not exactly parallel this one, but it’s close enough,and it is a fully documented, high tech science book. A biologIst physician may in part disagree with it, but he or she cannot avoid taking it seriously. And now you have your physician.Checkups And Biomarkers What Exactly To Do Or Have DoneThe General Status Examination ,Start the program with a general medical checkup. The precise nature of this will be up to your physician. It’s interesting that a task force of the Canadian Medical As sociation, reporting on a “cost effective” basis what the “periodic health examination” should consist of (in terms of how much hidden disease per dollar spent might be found in a population)9 recommended the following for symptom-free individuals: a blood pressure determination, examination of the mouth, evaluation of hearing, a test for possible hypothyroidism, and after age 45 a test for traces of blood in the stool. The task force specifically did not recommend a routine history and physical examination, any X-rays, any blood chemistries, urinalysis, or electro cardiograms. Since you want personalized service and are not part of a large scale “cost effective” screen, your physician will be correct in doing a history and physical examination, a urinalysis, and a test for anemia. I would not personally recommend any X rays, blood chemistries, or electro cardiograms, except those included under your “biomarker for aging” tests, unless something shows up on the history and physical examination.
Michael Russell is a health specialist and has carried out research on many health related things, he also writes many too. If you found the above article useful he recommends you to visit his site at: for more related articles.
Selenium deficiency often goes untreated because it does not create any noticeable symptoms. A certain amount of selenium is needed to protect the body from viruses and to promote healthy thyroid function. Research is being done and shows promise in using selenium to treat HIV and AIDS, allergies, flu, chronic fatigue syndrome, strokes, arthritis and more.
Selenium helps to regulate thyroid hormones and also supports the immune system. It helps to create antioxidants that clear out and protect cells from free radicals. Selenium deficiency is thought to trigger viruses into attacking and reproducing. Studies are being done to test the theory that selenium deficiency is the trigger for the HIV virus (among others) to switch from dormant into active status. It is believed that viruses switch into action when they need to visit more cells in search for more selenium. It is also believed that appropriate selenium levels slow down the HIV virus replication process.
Selenium is critical for thyroid hormone metabolism. It is part of the enzyme necessary for conversion of T4 hormone into the active form T3. Low selenium levels can lead to thyroid damage and hypothyroidism. However, high levels can do the same thing. Therefore, if you have thyroid issues, it is extremely important to monitor your thyroid function along with your dietary intake of selenium. A skilled physician or nutritionist will help you adjust and determine the right dosage of vitamins and supplements required for your thyroid to function at its best level.
We get selenium from whole grains, some seafood, most meats, and nuts. The amount of selenium we get from grains and nuts depends on the selenium content of the soil that they were grown in. The content of selenium in meat depends on the amount present in the plants that the animals fed on. Levels of selenium in soil vary so much from region to region that it is very hard to tell how much we are actually getting.
Brazil nuts have an unusually high amount of selenium, as much as eight hundred times the daily requirement per ounce. If you do eat Brazil nuts, do so in moderation and watch for side effects of having too much selenium in your diet. Hair loss, horizontal white streaking or blotching of the fingernails, garlic breath, gastrointestinal disturbance, fatigue, irritability, and flushing of the face are signs of too much selenium.
The anti-viral, antioxidant and antibiotic properties of selenium make it useful for maintaining a healthy immune system and is thought to help prevent heart disease and certain cancers. Depletions can occur when you have gastrointestinal problems that cause selenium not to be absorbed. Selenium is also destroyed in foods that are processed or refined. This can lead to autoimmune problems and thyroid problems.
Talk with your doctor if you plan on supplementing with selenium before you . A vitamins and supplements regimen should be discussed with a health care professional familiar with your health history and current medications to avoid drug interactions or unwanted side effects.
About the Author: Phil Le Breton is owner at Wholesale Nutrition. He has a strong interest in helping people achieve greater brain and body health with . Wholesale Nutrition has the best on the market (C-Salts). Visit to or buy supplements of the highest quality.
Breast Gain | admin January 23, 2010 | 
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