● The thyroid plays an important role in the overall health and proper functioning of the body. ● The thyroid is the largest gland in the endocrine system. ● Located in the middle of the neck, its function is to secrete hormones into your body to regulate your metabolism.
● The thyroid produces three specific hormones: ○ Thyroxine (T4) ○ Triiodothyronine (T3) ○ Calcitonin ● T3 and T4 are made within the thyroid gland using iodine and tyrosine. ● When these hormones are released into the body, they interact with your cells to boost your metabolism and to to increase general cellular activity.
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If your thyroid isn’t working properly or you have thyroid disease, it can throw off your metabolism. As a result, your entire body can be affected. Hyperthyroidism is when the thyroid is overactive and too many hormones are being produced. Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid is sluggish and not enough hormones are being produced. The thyroid can also experience growths. Many times, they’re cysts or nodules, but but these growths can sometimes be cancerous.
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If you have hypothyrodism, it’s important to see a thyroid specialist or hormone specialist as soon as possible. Knowing the symptoms can help. Some of the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism include: ○ Constipation ○ Weakness ○ Feeling cold ○ Joint pain ○ Weight gain
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Why is it that having an underactive thyroid can cause you to gain weight? Simply put, it’s because your body doesn’t use the calories you take in as efficiently as it should. When your thyroid doesn’t regulate your metabolism to move quickly enough, it’s easier to gain weight. Thankfully, most of the weight is excess water and extra salt in your body. Most people who gain weight due to an underactive thyroid only gain about 5-10 pounds.
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If you have an underactive thyroid, you’re not necessarily “doomed” to gain a lot of weight or have a hard time losing it. Seeing a thyroid doctor or hormone specialist can make a big difference. Unfortunately, not enough is known about effectively treating hypothyroidism, so it usually comes down to individualized treatment. Creating a treatment plan with your thyroid specialist can help increase your thyroid activity as much as possible. With a specialist, you can set goals and work toward those goals with the help of thyroid treatment.
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If you find it very hard to lose weight or you seem to gain weight easily, you might want to get your thyroid checked. Most often, it’s an autoimmune problem that causes damage to the thyroid, and may be the reason it isn’t working as efficiently as it should. Getting your thyroid checked at your annual physical will help ensure it's functioning properly and will allow you to address any concerns.
� If you have hypothyroidism, the reality is, you’re probably going to have to work harder than the average person to lose weight or to simply keep from gaining it.
Crystal Run Healthcare has a team of thyroid doctors who can work with you to normalize your thyroid levels to help you live your best life. You can easily book an appointment with many Crystal Run Healthcare physicians through the website or contact us if you need additional assistance.
An underactive thyroid can make your metabolism sluggish, making it easy to gain weight and difficult to lose weight. With the right treatment and the ability to normalize your hormone levels, though, hypothyroidism can be treated.