Thyroid Problems in Women: Causes, Symptoms, and Best Treatments
Today thyroid is a common issue that can affect people of all ages i.e. from middle age to older adults. Though it is rare sometimes it can affect newborn babies, teenagers, and young because of some deficiency or genetic factor. However, thyroid has a major effect on women than men. So, the question arises as to why women are affected more than men. Let’s look at this blog and understand thyroid problems in women: Causes, symptoms, and best treatments.
What is a Thyroid?
It is a small butterfly-shaped gland located around the throat area. Your thyroid gland produces two large hormones, called T3 and T4 that control your body’s metabolism. These hormones work together to regulate your body’s use of energy, which can influence women’s metabolism, menstrual cycles, heart rate, body temperature, and more. So, when your thyroid gland is not working properly then it can impact on your entire body.
Thyroid is of two types:
Hypothyroidism: If your thyroid doesn’t make enough hormones and then it might lead to gaining weight, dry skin, feeling cold, feeling tired, etc.
Hyperthyroidism: If your thyroid makes too many hormones then it speeds up your body and leads to a loss of weight, sweating, feeling hot all the time, and a fast heartbeat.
Causes of Thyroid
Genetics: if in your family someone has thyroid issues like your mother, father, sister, etc, or genetic then there is a high chance you can develop thyroid.
Age and gender: Thyroid is most common in women. They might develop thyroid at the age of 40 or a certain point in stages like pregnancy, menopause, and postpartum.
PCOS: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome can develop at any age. Some girls can also develop PCOS at the age of 15. So, women with PCOS can increase the risk of developing thyroid at an early age too.
Autoimmune disease: If you have type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, lupus, etc then the risk of thyroid can be increased.
Iodine deficiency: The thyroid needs iodine to produce hormones. If iodine is deficient in your body, then it can lead to thyroid swelling or hypothyroidism.
Medications or therapy: Certain medicines or treatments like radiation therapy to the head or neck can affect thyroid function and thyroid disorder can be increased.
Lifestyle factors: if you are stressed, or have a poor diet then it can affect you too.
Symptoms of Thyroid:
Symptoms of thyroid are based on hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Let’s discuss the symptoms:
Symptoms of hypothyroidism include:
- Have dry skin and bitter nails
- Feel cold all the time
- Having a depressive mood, mood swing
- Feel tired all the time
- Have heavy periods or irregular periods
- Weight gain without too much eating.
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:
- Have difficulty sleeping
- May feel hot all the time
- Excessive sweating
- Have light or missed periods
- Feel anxious, nervousness, or irritability
- Explained weight loss
- Frequent bowel movement i.e. diarrhoea.
Women Thyroid Treatment
Thyroid treatment in women depends on which type of thyroid she has. The best treatment is:
Hypothyroidism: In this, your healthcare provider you dome medication like levothyroxine which helps to restore hormone levels in your body.
Hyperthyroidism: If the women have excessive thyroid hormones, then your healthcare provider you medicine like methimazole and propylthiouracil. These medicines help you to stop excessive thyroid hormones.
Beta-blockers: This medicine helps you if you have symptoms like rapid heartbeat, anxiety, etc but it doesn’t affect your thyroid.
Radioactive iodine therapy: This treatment helps you to prevent if you have high levels of thyroid hormones by damaging the cells.
Surgery (thyroidectomy): If your thyroid is severe then your healthcare might go for surgery. It will stop creating excessive hormones. However, you have to take thyroid replacement pills after the surgery for the rest of your life.
Lifestyle changes: In addition to all other treatments, lifestyle changes, such as exercise, facial exercise, dietary changes, stress management, iodine (if deficient), and avoidance of tobacco, alcohol, junk, or sugary food, can prevent thyroid disorders.
About Dr. Vipul Agarwal
Dr. Vipul Agarwal is one of the best Physicians and a Diabetologist, with a distinguished academic background with an MBBS and MD in Internal Medicine. Moreover, with expertise in the fields of diabetes, hypertension, fever, etc he is also one of the best Thyroid Doctor in Jaipur who gives you the best guidance and treatment for your problems which makes him a valuable partner in the route of your problems.
Conclusion
After understanding Women: Causes, symptoms, and Best Treatments you already get to know why women suffer more than men in thyroid disorder. Thus, if women suffer any of the symptoms then get an appointment because early detection can manage your thyroid before it gets worse.
