Work-it-out-Wednesday! Thyroid Awareness

9 Comments / Healthy Living Tips, Interview

Happy Work-it-out-Wednesday!

I was so intrigued by my fellow Morselite’s Blog Post,

on her site, EMBRACE ACTIVISM,

I asked if I could use it for THE MORSELIST.

Karen graciously said, “YES!” 

How many of you know someone with an over active

or under active Thyroid?

It is something many of us take for granted.

January is THYROID AWARENESS MONTH and

I know a number of very close loved ones affected,

so this is in their honor.

While this photo to the right has NOTHING to do with THYROIDS,

I took it while in Tahiti and just LOVE what the Artisan Chef created.

Please read and share and have a  MORSELICIOUS day!

Be sure to check out our EVENTS Page for any upcoming events near you.

January Thyroid Awareness Month
By: Karen Whittier  –  1/16/2012

January is Thyroid Awareness Month. The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland, is located in the neck and produces hormones that control metabolism. Your metabolism reflects how your body extracts and uses the energy from the foods you eat. When you have an overactive thyroid gland you’re considered hyperthyroid; when your thyroid gland is underactive you’re considered hypothyroid. When the thyroid isn’t working properly there can be problems that affect all aspects of health.

Some of the most common signs of a thyroid condition are:
1. Fatigue: Never fully rested, no matter how many hours of ‘sleep’; insomnia
2. Weight Change: Unexplained weight gain or lost regardless of diet and exercise.
3. Emotional Change: Depression or anxiety
4. Forgetfulness, lack of concentration
5. Cholesterol Issues: Levels not consistent with diet/family history/medications
6. Family History: Risk increases if others in your family have had thyroid problems
7. Menstrual Irregularities and Fertility Problems
8. Bowel Issues: Constipation is associated with hypothyroidism whereas diarrhea
presents in hyperthyroidism
9. Hair & Skin Changes
10.Neck Discomfort/Enlargement: Turtlenecks and/or ties are uncomfortable; a swollen
feeling in the neck or visible swelling
11.Muscle & Joint Pain: Aches and pains, weakness in the arms with a tendency to develop
carpal tunnel syndrome could all be due to a thyroid disorder


Learn more about your thyroid here and additional resources from theAmerican Thyroid Association. In this slideshow the mechanism by which the thyroid releases the thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) is illustrated. Once the thyroid hormones are released into the blood, T4 converts to T3, the active hormone, the one that affects metabolism.

Concerned you may be at risk for thyroid disorders?  Read here.  If you suspect you may have a thyroid condition, the first lab test typically done will be a blood sample to test TSH. TSH stands for thyroid stimulating hormone and basically measures your pituitary gland’s attempt to regulate adequate amounts of thyroid hormones. Unfortunately there are situations where the TSH reading may not accurately portrait the functionality of the thyroid. A complete thyroid panel measures TSH, T3, T4, free T3, free T4 and supplies much more information to formulate an appropriate treatment plan. As mentioned above, thyroid conditions can affect all aspects of health. This article may be helpful in terms of what to keep in mind as a (sometimes elusive) proper treatment plan is being developed.

Once your condition is properly treated, be sure not to undermine the effectiveness of your hormone replacement with drug or food interactions. The following guide will help you avoid potentially serious complications and reap the most from your thyroid replacement medication.

To commemorate Thyroid Awareness Month artist Allyson Averell created a (self) body painting. She notes the inclusion of the word Believe: “I chose the word believe for a few reasons. Believe in advocacy. Believe in a cure. Believe in helping others. Believe in asking questions. Believe in living healthy. Believe in living happy. Believe in turning something bad into something beautiful. And most importantly, believe you WILL get better.” There’s no better way to end this…

Believe in Health, Wellness & CURES!!
Karen

9 thoughts on “Work-it-out-Wednesday! Thyroid Awareness”

  2. Christen Carr

    I have Hashimoto’s autoimmune thyroiditis. It is all of the above Hypo thyroid symptoms plus 20 or so more. The exhaustion was unbelievable. Diet was the biggest game changer. I take a thyroid medication and a selinium pill each day. I was told to give up Gluten, Soy and Dairy. After 6 or 7 weeks, I started to feel better. I now (after 6 months) have enough energy to exercise again. A helpful book I read is: Hope For Hashimoto’s by: Dr. Alexander Haskell, N.D. It is full of useful information to fight the disease. I hope this is helpful to someone else. When I finally got tested after 3 years of trying to find out what was wrong with me, no one had any answers for me except medication and a sigh. The doctors lead me to believe there was nothing I could do to get my life back. NOT TRUE. There is a way to manage this disease.

  3. Susannah

    Hi Karen,
    How funny! I thought I was the only one that takes medication in the middle of the night. I keep a bottle of water and my thyroid pills in bed with me. How sad – just me and my water/pills. No man. Haha

    Were you told not to eat walnuts as well?

  5. Karen

    That’s what I’ve been told as well Susannah. I actually get up in the middle of the night to take mine to insure I have an empty stomach…something that’s not guaranteed during my awake hours 🙂

    Thanks for sharing Mo!

  6. Susannah

    Hi Maura, So glad you’re back safe and sound. Hope your dad is feeling better:)
    I take thyroid medication and was told it’s very important not to eat walnuts and not to eat or take calcium in any form for 4 hours after taking the medication. Don’t really understand the walnut thing though. Anyone have any info about that? Thanks!

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