What is Thyroid
Thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland located in the neck below the larynx. It’s job is to make thyroid hormones. These hormones are secreted in the whole body through blood. The Thyroid hormone helps the body to stay warm, use the energy and keep all the organs working. This hormone is called Thyroxin or T4. The T4 name comes from the fact that this hormone contains 4 Iodine molecules in its structure. Thyroid hormones manage the way how our tissues utilize the energy. Thyroid maintains the temperature of body, blood pressure, heart rate and the body metabolism, which is the rate at which food is converted into energy.
What is Hypothyroidism?
When your Thyroid gland is under active, that means you have Hypothyroidism. It is a disease related to thyroid in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone which is required for the usual working of all the organs. As a result, the organs function’s slow down and hence the problems that patients face. Patients suffering from Hypothyroidism have symptoms such as fatigue, dry skin & issues with memory. It can be diagnosed by taking a blood sample for TSH or thyroid-stimulating hormone. If one is diagnosed with Hypothyroidism, then it is treated by taking thyroxin pills everyday for lifetime. With one pill taken daily, the patient with Hypothyroidism can work as any other normal individual.
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
- Weight gain – or difficulty in losing weight or excess body fat
- Feeling exhausted
- Constipation
- Forgetfulness
- Intolerance of cold temperatures
- Low body temperature
- low blood pressure
- muscle pains
You may also feel
- Mood Swings
- Dry or grey hair
- Swollen hands or feet
- Disturbed sleep
- Loss of interest in sex
Reason for Increase in Weight
Thyroid hormone regulates the metabolism. Metabolic rate is the rate at which our body burns the calories. It is a major factor in deciding how quickly we can burn calories and hence lose weight. So when the metabolism rate is slow, it becomes difficult to burn calories and lose weight. Not only in weight management, but thyroid also plays a crucial role in maintaining body temperature, appetite and emotions. People feel cold when it’s not that cold for others. When your partner fights with you for AC temperature regularly, it might be because of thyroid levels. Without treatment, these problems will not be solved be it weight or body temperature.
How to Lose Weight in Hypothyroidism
First things first. In order to lose weight, you need to start taking medication. Otherwise you might gain weight plus you also might feel difficulty in doing routine works. Even with medications, losing weight can be difficult. Thus people with Hypothyroidism find it difficult to lose weight even with medications. Thus exercising and keeping a check of your diet is very important. Initially you may feel doing exercise to be difficult as you feel fatigued, but slowly as you lose weight, you have more energy reserves and better distribution of energy creating a positive momentum towards weight loss.
If you have hypothyroidism, your doctor will prescribe thyroid hormone tablets. Available in the Market as Brand names: – Tablets Eltroxin / Thyronorm & available in different strengths i.e. (25/50/75/150 mcg) depending on what dosages is required. With a regular 3 monthly checking of your TSH Levels, if you stop taking the medicine, the problem might come back along with the weight.
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