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Thyroid Disease Problem-Symptoms

Problems That Can Linger Despite Proper Treatment

Aug 23, 2009 Jim Lowrance

Treatments for thyroid disorders and diseases can be very effective. There are however particular symptoms that can continue to cause problems in some patients.

The symptoms of both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are varied and sometimes very serious. Some symptoms are common with both types of disorders or what might be called “crossover symptoms”.

Common Symptoms of Thyroid Hormone Imbalances

The typical symptoms of both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are usually significantly improved with treatments for each. “Problem-symptoms” would be those that are not as typical and that often require additional attention to see significant resolution for them. Following are lists of common symptoms for both hypothyroid and hyperthyroid disorders.

Hyperthyroidism – is a condition involving elevated thyroid hormone levels that increases metabolism to an abnormally sped-up level. Hyperthyroid symptoms include increased energy, nervousness, rapid weight loss, sweating, tremor (trembling), rapid heart rate and breathing, difficulty sleeping, heat intolerance, goiter and increased bowel movements and urination.

Hypothyroidism – is the opposite condition in which thyroid hormone levels drop below normal, causing slowed bodily metabolism. The symptoms of becoming hypothyroid include lack of energy and fatigue, depression, weight gain, dry skin, cold extremities, an increased need to sleep, goiter, difficulty concentrating, feeling slowed down and constipation.

Low Libido

Libido is a term meaning sex-drive and thyroid patients often experience a drop in sexual desire, which can be very concerning when they feel they are not as responsive to the needs of their partners. For male patients this can be more of a problem due to the fact that they may experience erectile dysfunction which causes inability to complete intimacy at the fullest level.

In addition to being reassured by a treating doctor that a patient’s thyroid hormone levels are at proper range, there are prescription medications for erectile dysfunction including Viagra, Levitra and Cialis. Natural treatments that can help increase libido in both men and women include Vitamins E and C, flaxseed, arginine (amino acid), the mineral-zinc, bioflavonoids and the herbal supplements - ginkgo biloba and ginseng.

Hair Loss

This problem-symptom is not exclusive to men, in fact thyroid disease is a major cause of hair loss in women. Thyroid hormone imbalances of either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism can cause hair to fall out or in some cases to become brittle and break-off. Patients taking thyroid hormone replacement can experience hair loss when first beginning their treatment dose. As the body better adjusts to the hormone, the hair loss will usually improve or completely resolve. Switching brands after being adjusted to a current one can also cause a phase of hair loss and it seems to be slightly more common in patients taking synthetic brands of thyroid hormone rather than natural brands.

Medications used to treat hair loss include Finasteride and Proscar-Propecia for men and Minoxidil and Aldactone for women. In some cases pattern baldness in both men and women can be caused by adrenal and/or sex hormone imbalances, in which case, a treating doctor would administer additional hormone replacement therapy in addition to treating the thyroid disorder.

Brain Fog

This symptom, often not completely resolved with treatment for thyroid disorder, is in the area of one’s ability to concentrate and focus on things requiring mental abilities. Patients report that their concentration lacks the sharpness and clarity they had before the onset of their thyroid disease. Some even report episodes of difficulty in word-retrieval, meaning they find it difficult to complete sentences with the appropriate words or to remember the names of people they are well-acquainted with.

When well-treated thyroid hormone imbalance does not improve brain-fog symptoms, there are lifestyle changes and supplements that can help in this area. Getting proper sleep and rest is very important, as well as improving diet practices by eating healthy foods and eliminating stimulants such as caffeine, alcohol and refined sugar. While these substances can help with energy and concentration short-term, they can also cause energy crashes or what might be referred to as stimulant-hangovers.

Supplements that can increase mental clarity and concentration include CoQ10, selenium, B-vitamins (including folic acid), Vitamin C and E and Omega 3 fatty acids. Herbal supplements that may help in this area include ginkgo biloba and Asian ginseng but any supplements should be approved by a treating physician.

Thyroid Symptoms May Need Special Attention-Suite101

The copyright of the article Thyroid Disease Problem-Symptoms in General Medicine is owned by Jim Lowrance. Permission to republish Thyroid Disease Problem-Symptoms in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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