A Talk About Thyroid.

A topic that comes up often in my discussions with clients is thyroid. Some wonder if they have a thyroid problem because they can't lose or are gaining weight.

In this blog I want to talk a bit about Thyroid Disease; specifically an under-active thyroid or hypothyroidism. It is a common problem for women, but not everyone is educated on the topic. It can often appear following pregnancy or menopause.

The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck. It is responsible for making three thyroid hormones. These hormones travel in the blood throughout the body and are responsible for regulating your metabolism.

If you suspect you have a thyroid problem, don't panic, it is quite common. If you are seeking medical treatment for a thyroid problem and are taking medication to regulate it, there is no reason why you should not be able to lose weight with a good eating plan and exercise.

I have Hashimoto's Disease, where the immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid, damages it so that it does not make enough hormones. I found out that I had this problem when I was trying to get pregnant (which I couldn't for quite some time). Had I known a bit more about Hypothyroidism back then, I could have recognized the symptoms and saved myself a lot of hassle and heartache.

Lucky for me, I have an excellent doctor who was able to get my thyroid levels in a normal range. I carried a healthy baby, I have lots of energy and have no problems controlling my weight.

Here are the most common symptoms of an under-active thyroid.

Unexplained Weight gain. In other words, you're not eating more Excessive tiredness Dry, thinning hair Pale, dry skin Feelings of sadness Feeling cold when it's not Constipation Muscle weakness Heavier menstrual bleeding Hoarseness Muscle & joint pain Slow heart rate A puffy face

You may have only a few of these symptoms but if you suspect you have a thyroid problem, discuss with your doctor. They can determine if they need to do a blood test to measure your levels of thyroid hormone. Thyroid disease can be treated with medicine which is safe for most people if taken correctly.