Thyroid problems affect millions of people worldwide, but there are ways to manage them. ThyroScreen is an easy-to-use blood testing kit that can be used at home to monitor thyroid levels. For those with hypothyroidism who take medication, it’s important to watch what they eat to ensure that the medicine is absorbed effectively. Foods such as high-fiber, soy products, iron or calcium supplements, and antacids with aluminum or magnesium should be avoided for at least four hours after taking medication. Taking selenium supplements can help those with moderate thyroid eye disease (TED) minimize symptoms and enhance overall quality of life.
Pregnant women with specific risk factors should consider getting tested to make sure that their thyroid hormone levels are in a healthy range. Removing lymph nodes from the neck after thyroid cancer surgery can greatly reduce the likelihood of the disease returning. It’s important to talk to a doctor about the best ways to manage thyroid problems and improve overall health.
Screen yourself
Are you sick of feeling weary and cold all the time? Do you have trouble with your skin and hair becoming dry? These could be signs of a thyroid that isn’t working well, a problem that affects millions of individuals around the world. But don’t worry, ThyroScreen is a simple way to fix the problem. With this easy-to-use blood-testing kit, you can monitor your thyroid levels at home. And if the findings suggest that you do have a thyroid problem, don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor about what to do next. With ThyroScreen, you can take charge of your health right now.
Schedule your medication
If you have hypothyroidism and take medicine for it, there are some easy things you may do to make the medicine work better. Specifically, it’s crucial to watch what you eat since some foods can stop your body from getting the medicine it needs. To get the most out of your treatment, don’t eat high-fiber foods, soy products, iron or calcium supplements, or antacids with aluminum or magnesium for at least four hours after taking your medicine. By performing these steps, you can help make sure that your medicine is absorbed effectively and that you get the most out of your treatment.
Ask about selenium
Thyroid eye disease (TED) can cause several painful and unattractive symptoms, such as eyes that stick out. But new research from Europe reveals there may be a simple and effective way to fix the problem. The study found that taking selenium supplements for six months can assist people with moderate TED minimize their symptoms and enhance their overall quality of life. Even after 12 months of taking the supplements, these benefits were still there, and no bad side effects were recorded. So, if you’re having trouble with TED, you should ask your doctor if selenium supplements could be part of your treatment plan. Keep in mind that TED is usually caused by a thyroid gland that works too much, not too little.
Take no iodine
When it comes to thyroid problems, you should watch how much iodine you take in. Even while not getting enough iodine in your diet can sometimes cause thyroid problems, taking extra iodine is usually not a smart idea. Too much iodine can cause issues for both those with overactive thyroids and people with underactive thyroids. Kelp seaweed supplements, which are commonly sold as a way to “wake up” a slow thyroid, should be treated with the same care. Even though kelp extract does provide iodine, taking it as a supplement can cause the thyroid to work too hard, making the condition you’re trying to fix worse. So, if you’re worried about your thyroid health, it’s important to talk to your doctor about the best methods to support your thyroid function through nutrition and other lifestyle modifications.
Pregnant? Get tested
During pregnancy, it is very important to keep the proper amount of thyroid hormones in the body, as imbalances can have major effects on the baby’s health, such as brain damage. Researchers in the Czech Republic have revealed that about one-third of pregnant women who don’t have any symptoms but are at risk of having thyroid issues after giving birth can be found with a blood test. In the United States, however, pregnant women do not usually get routine thyroid tests. In the UK, current guidelines say that women with specific risk factors like
- Previous history of thyroid disease
- Type 1 diabetes
- Present thyroid disease
- Goiter
- Family history of thyroid disease
- Signs of an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
If you are in any of these groups, you should talk to your doctor about getting tested to make sure that your thyroid hormone levels are in a healthy range while you are pregnant.
Think about having surgery
According to a recent study from the University of California, removing lymph nodes from the neck after thyroid cancer surgery can greatly lower the likelihood of the disease returning. According to the study, only 1.5% of patients who had their central neck lymph nodes removed required a second procedure, as opposed to 6.1% of those who only had their thyroid removed. If you’re thinking about having surgery for thyroid cancer, it could be worthwhile to talk to your doctor about whether this course of action is right for you. You can improve your chances of a positive outcome and better general health by taking efforts to lower the risk of recurrence.
Eat everything you want
Some people say that foods like soybeans, pears, peaches, and cruciferous vegetables (like cabbage) can lower the amount of thyroid hormone in the body. But the British Thyroid Foundation says there’s no need to worry because no food has enough goitrogens to harm the way the thyroid works. So, if you’re worried about your thyroid health, don’t limit your food more than you need to. You can keep eating a wide range of healthy foods without worrying that they will harm your thyroid hormone levels.
Adrenal fatigue? Don’t believe it
If you go to a complementary practitioner because you are tired, stressed out, and can’t sleep, they may tell you that you have adrenal fatigue and give you a supplement to fix the problem. But the Society for Endocrinology, which is a group of hormone experts from all across the world, says that adrenal fatigue is not a real medical illness. The adrenal glands can’t get “tired,” and if they aren’t working well, it’s because of a problem with the adrenal glands or the pituitary gland, which needs medical care. Also, the symptoms of so-called adrenal exhaustion can be caused by many other disorders as well. If your symptoms worry you, it’s crucial to talk to your doctor and get a comprehensive checkup to find out what’s going on with your health. If you just use treatments or diagnoses that haven’t been tested, you could have to wait longer to get the right care, which could be bad for your health.
Stay away from germs
Cortisol and aldosterone production are both impacted by Addison’s disease, an uncommon disorder. People who have this illness are more likely to contract infections, which can result in an adrenal crisis that could be fatal. According to studies, people with Addison’s disease have a 1.5 times higher risk of getting an infection than the general population. It’s crucial to take extra care if you have this disease to prevent the flu, the cold, and other ailments. This entails avoiding close contact with sick people and ensuring that you have received the most recent flu shot. You can contribute to your health’s protection and lower the likelihood of infection-related consequences by following these easy actions.
Have your gear on hand
If you have Addison’s disease, you should be ready for an adrenal crisis, which can be caused by an injury, an illness, or a lot of emotional stress. You should always have an emergency kit with a hydrocortisone injection that can be given right away. This will keep you safe if your hormone levels decrease suddenly. It’s also important to let your family, friends, and coworkers know about your condition and what to do in case of an emergency. Also, a MedicAlert tag can provide emergency medical workers crucial details about your condition if you need help while you are away from others who know about it. By taking these actions, you may help make sure that if you have an adrenal crisis, you get the care you need quickly.