The thyroid is a small gland in your neck that’s shaped like a butterfly. It’s small, but extremely mighty, as it regulates many crucial bodily functions like your metabolism, temperature, heart rate, and mood.
According to the American Thyroid Association, roughly 20 million Americans, or 12% of the entire population, have a problem with their thyroid. Women are more susceptible to thyroid disorders than men, with one in eight females struggling with a thyroid problem.
If you live near Tulsa, Oklahoma, turn to our knowledgeable team at Grassroots Healthcare for holistic and comprehensive thyroid support. Let’s examine five reasons you should have your thyroid checked.
A condition called hypothyroidism may be responsible for your fatigue and sluggishness. Hypothyroidism occurs when you have too little thyroid hormone in your system. Without adequate amounts of thyroid hormone in your bloodstream and cells, your muscles are also weak and it takes all your energy to perform basic functions.
When you’re low or deplete in thyroid hormone, it can impair the normal functions of your brain’s serotonin levels. Serotonin is the feel-good hormone that is integral to your moods. If you are feeling chronically depressed and suspect it may be due to your thyroid, you are not alone. Research shows that up to 69% of people with hyperthyroidism have depression.
If your weight is going up and down but you haven’t changed your portions or eating habits, it’s likely that you are vacillating between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, which is an overactive thyroid. Both of these conditions influence your metabolism, which directly impacts your weight.
Your thyroid helps regulate your body temperature. That’s why one of the first signs of a thyroid issue is the inability to tolerate temperature variations or settle on a temperature that makes you feel comfortable. Many people with thyroid issues are either always cold or always hot.
Thyroid problems can throw your menstrual cycle off track by reducing the frequency and flow of your periods. This is due in large part to the underproduction of the hormone thyroxine, which can impair your fertility by making it hard for your ovaries to release eggs.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, we recommend a range of tests that determine if you have a thyroid problem and what’s causing it. We offer comprehensive support to help restore your thyroid function, such as lifestyle recommendations, nutritional supplements, and thyroid-replacement medication.
To learn more, call us today or use our online scheduling feature to book your appointment now.
