More cases of thyroid are seen in women than men. Lack of thyroid hormone in the body reduces the ability to digest food and convert it into fat. This leads to weight gain.
From irregular eating habits to increased stress levels in the body, one has to face many health problems. One of them is thyroid, which is a lifestyle disorder. When the thyroid gland does not produce hormones in proper quantity, this problem has to be faced. Actually, endocrine gland is present in front of the neck which produces hormones and controls other organs. Know how thyroid problem affects health (thyroid affects health) ,
Thyroxine T3 and triiodothyronine T4 are included in the thyroid hormones. These hormones are important for metabolic processes. They help maintain energy usage in the body. These affect everything from heart rate to digestion.
Thyroid affects health
Excess or less production of thyroid hormone proves to be the cause of this problem. Excess production of thyroid hormones is called hyperthyroidism. Low production of thyroid hormones is known as hypothyroidism. The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ located on the neck. Its regular quantity in the body boosts metabolism and helps in controlling energy levels and overall health.
More cases of thyroid are seen in women than men. According to the National Institute of Health, the problem of thyroid dysfunction is commonly seen in young women in South India. One out of every eight young women here is a victim of thyroid dysfunction. This problem was found 11.4 percent more in women than in men. However, the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism increased with age.
Read also
Health changes caused by thyroid
Dr. P. Venkat Krishnan, Internal Medicine Expert, Artemis Hospital, Gurugram, says that thyroid hormone helps in maintaining metabolism in the body. But its deficiency in the body reduces the capacity to digest food and converts it into fat. This leads to weight gain. Apart from this, weakness starts being felt in the body. Those women who are pregnant, problems in fetus development start increasing. To avoid this problem, there is a need to exercise and keep the diet under control.
1. Affects heart health (Thyroid effect on heart)
Insufficient thyroid hormone causes the heart rate to slow down. Due to this the flexibility of the arteries starts decreasing. Also, blood circulation in the body gets affected, due to which blood pressure starts increasing. High cholesterol levels cause narrowing and hardening of the arteries. Due to this the amount of cholesterol in the body starts increasing.
2. Reduce fertility (thyroid effect on fertility)
In hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones. Menstruation may become irregular and blood flow is also affected, leading to a decline in the ability to conceive. Whereas in hyperthyroidism, due to overactive thyroid gland, problems of premature miscarriage, irregular menstrual cycle and paramenopause can increase.
3. Increases the risk of diabetes (Thyroid effect on blood sugar)
According to the National Institutes of Health, diabetes and thyroid affect each other. In fact, proper levels of thyroid hormone in the body helps regulate carbohydrate metabolism and pancreatic function. But lack or high levels of hormones increases the risk of diabetes in the body and one has to face difficulty in managing blood sugar levels.
Thyroid disease also interferes with the production of insulin. Insulin enables blood cells to use glucose to provide energy. This keeps the blood sugar level under control.
4. Combating weight gain (Thyroid effect on weight)
Dr. P Venkat Krishnan explains that due to increasing deficiency of thyroid hormone in the body, the productivity of the body starts decreasing. Besides, there remains fatigue in the body. Apart from this, the ability to digest food starts declining, due to which it starts getting accumulated in the form of fats. Due to this, fat starts accumulating in the body, which leads to weight gain.
5. Affects pregnancy (Thyroid effect on pregnancy)
Thyroid testing is done in women in the first trimester. In fact, as its deficiency increases in the body, the child’s growth starts getting hampered. Due to this the child has to face low IQ level. Apart from this, it also affects the nervous system. Hormonal imbalance in the body also proves to be the cause of miscarriage.
Ways to get relief from thyroid (How to balance your thyroid level)
1. Exercise regularly
Take the help of exercise to reduce the level of calories stored in the body. This helps in healthy weight management in the body by burning fats. Women are advised to do weight training and high intensity exercises. This increases the strength of bones and reduces fatigue.
2. Adopt a healthy diet plan
There is a need to be cautious regarding diet. Dr. P. Venkat tells that include iodized salt in your meal. Apart from this, avoid excessive consumption of cabbage and cauliflower. Also include seasonal fruits in your diet. Keep distance from junk food and take meals on time.
3. Take medicines
After examination, take the medicines recommended by the doctor. Apart from this, get the thyroid level in the body checked every 3 to 6 months. This helps in getting relief from the problem and its causes can be removed.
4. Avoid caffeine and smoking
People who smoke daily and consume caffeine develop deficiency of thyroid hormones. Actually, the thiocyanate compound from cigarette smoke blocks the amount of iodine in the body. Due to this the production of thyroid hormone starts decreasing.
Also read- Foods to control thyroid: Yes, you can control thyroid imbalance by making necessary changes in your diet.
