Effective ways to reduce the Risk of Thyroid Disease

The Thyroid is a hormone-secreting gland coating the windpipe. It is located at the front of the neck and is responsible for the metabolic functions of the human body.

Thyroid diseases can be caused by a lot of factors including-

• Production of excess thyroid hormones (also known as Grave’s disease)
• Production of nodules disrupting the chemical balance of the human body (toxic adenomas)
• Inflammation of the gland, which can lead to temporary hyperthyroidism (subacute thyroiditis)
• Cancerous growths or pituitary gland malfunction

All of these are causes of hyperthyroidism (overproduction of thyroid hormones) in the body

• Autoimmune disorder where the thyroid tissues are attacked from within by the body (called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis)
• Removal of the thyroid gland
• Excess iodine levels
• Lithium (drug) is also responsible

All of these are caused by hypothyroidism (underproduction of thyroid hormones) in the body.

Thyroid disease

It is a medical condition where the levels of thyroid-producing hormones are altered. This disrupts the normal functioning of the body leading to problems.

Some effective ways to reduce the chances of Thyroid disease is-

• Checking your neck for lumps, swelling, or bumps. This might be a basic test but many nodules and bumps arise at the front of the thyroid which can make it easily detectable.
• Eating foods with a high level of Selenium, since it has high levels of thyroid in the human body. Increasing or decreasing the levels of selenium should be discussed with a doctor.
• Iodine nutrition. Iodine is one the requirements for thyroid disease, deficiency in this nutrient can also lead to impairment of cognition, mental growth defects, poor health, etc.
• An unhealthy living style should be omitted like smoking or drinking. Diet should also be kept under a check.
• Soy can be a very controversial topic when discussing thyroid issues but the majority remain that it is unhealthy.
• Having regular checkups is also a good management skill. Some symptoms you can look out for are losing or gaining weight, sensitivity to heat, vision blurriness or irritation, muscle cramps or tremors, disturbance in sleep patterns, extreme irritability, anxiety, etc.
• Regular exercise can help improve a person’s health.
• People with issues like Diabetes type 1, tend to develop thyroid diseases given both the problems that the chances of developing another autoimmune disorder is seen.

We should always try and prevent any problem to occur by maintaining a good, healthy lifestyle. The treatment of thyroid disease includes high doses of medications of thyroid replacement, beta-blockers, and usage of radioactive iodine or finally surgery. Initial steps can lead to a more beneficial, stress-free life.