The Thyroid organ is shaped like a butterfly, lies below our Adam’s apple wrapped around the upper part of the windpipe. The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system which is responsible for the release of various hormones to perform different activities in our body.
According to the latest research, 5 out of 100 adults are suffering from thyroid disease. Women are much more likely than men to develop thyroid disease. Thyroid disorders can be scaled from a harmless goitre to life-threatening cancer.
Most Common Thyroid Disorders
Several disorders can occur when our thyroid gland can produce too much or too little hormones. Some common thyroid disorders are as under.
1- Hyperthyroidism:
It is also called overactive thyroid which occurs when the thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone thyroxine. Hyperthyroidism is less common in men. Doctors use several treatments for hyperthyroidism like anti-thyroid medications or radioactive iodine to slow down the hormones or sometimes they remove all or a part of the thyroid gland.
Symptoms:
- Rapid weight loss
- Abrupt heartbeat
- Fatigue, muscular weakness
- Sleeping disorder
- Depression, Anxiety
- Irregular or sometimes painful menstrual cycle
- An enlarged thyroid gland
- Excess of appetite
- Nervousness, shaking or sweating
- Dry skin, bulging eyes, thin hair
2- Hypothyroidism:
Hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid happens when the body doesn’t produce adequate thyroid hormone which affects mood, brain and various functions of the body. The symptoms of hypothyroidism are hardly noticeable but untreated hypothyroidism can cause some serious health problems. Few signs and symptoms may include:
Symptoms:
- Fatigue, tiredness
- Sensitivity to temperature
- Memory issues
- Excessive weight gain
- Depression, Anxiety
- Digestive disorder
- Constipation
- Heavy menstrual cycle
- High cholesterol
- Muscular weakness
- Puffy eyes and face
- Trouble falling asleep
Hypothyroidism in infants, children and teens:
Mostly hypothyroidism affects middle-aged women but anyone can develop the condition even infants and children. Some babies are born without the thyroid gland or if some babies have the gland it doesn’t work properly. Some of the symptoms may include:
Symptoms:
- Pale yellow skin
- Continue crying
- Difficulty breathing
- Excessive sleepiness
- Poor growth
- Poor mental development
- Delayed teeth development
3- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis:
It is also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, often leading to an underactive thyroid gland. It mostly affects middle-aged women but it can also occur in men and children. The disease occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks or slowly destroys the thyroid gland which affects the body’s ability to produce hormones. The signs of this disease are very minor at first. This disease progresses over the years and could cause chronic thyroid damage.
Symptoms:
Hashimoto disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism so signs and symptoms are mainly those of an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism).
4- Goiter:
A goitre is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of goitre worldwide. Goitre can also be caused by hyperthyroidism or sometimes also associated with Grave’s disease. Enlarged goitres are mostly painless but it could make it difficult for you to swallow or breath. Goitre mostly affects women who are around 40 and have a thyroid disorder. Doctors treat goitre by giving small doses of iodine or radioactive radiations to shrink enlarged goitre or sometimes they remove the thyroid gland. Symptoms depend upon the size of the goitre, some of them are as under:
Symptoms:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty breathing
- Coughing
- Tightness in the area of the throat
5- Thyroid nodules:
Thyroid nodules are solid or liquid-filled lumps that grow within our thyroid gland. The causes could be iodine deficiency and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Most thyroid nodules are not serious, only a small amount of thyroid nodules are cancerous. In most cases, people won’t notice that they have thyroid nodules until your doctor tells you or maybe your thyroid is large enough to be visible or make it difficult to swallow or breathe. Thyroid nodules are more common in women than men.
Symptoms:
Some nodules produce thyroid hormones, causing a high level of thyroid in the blood. When it happens symptoms of thyroid nodules are similar to the symptoms of Hyperthyroidism.
6- Thyroid cancer:
Thyroid cancer occurs in the cells of the thyroid gland. Thyroid cancer might not cause any symptoms at first but as it grows could cause pain and swell in the neck. Cancer occurs when cells in the thyroid undergo genetic changes. These changes allow the cells to grow and multiply rapidly. These cells lose the ability to die like other normal cells. These abnormal cells form a tumour. The tumour can also spread to nearby tissues or other parts of the body. There are several types of thyroid cancer. Some grow very slowly and others can be very aggressive. As thyroid cancer increases, the symptoms could be as under:
Symptoms:
- A swollen lump in the neck
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty breathing
- The feeling of tightness around the neck
- Change of voice
7- Graves’ disease:
Graves’ is an autoimmune disorder that results in the overproduction of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism). The body’s immune system attacks the thyroid gland by mistake. This mistake causes the gland to overproduce the hormone responsible for regulating metabolism. Doctors treat Graves’ disease to reduce the number of thyroid hormones that the body produces. Symptoms of Graves’ disease include:
Symptoms:
- Enlargement of the thyroid gland
- Change is the menstrual cycle
- Sleeplessness
- Tiredness
- Anxiety
- Irregular heartbeat
- Weight loss
What Does A Thyroid Gland Do?
The thyroid gland has various important jobs to do within our body. It controls and produces thyroid hormones that regulate the body’s metabolic rate, controls the heartbeat, muscles, digestive function, cell repair, manages body temperature, brain development and bone maintenance.
Thyroid Controls Metabolism
The thyroid gland releases hormones that control metabolism. It is a process where the food you consume in your body transfers into energy. A human body needs the energy to keep the system of the body working properly. The thyroid controls your body with T4 (Thyroxine hormone) and T3 (Triiodothyronine hormone). When the thyroid works properly in the body, it releases the right amount of hormones to keep the metabolism working at the right level. These hormones maintain the metabolic rate at which our body uses fats and carbohydrates, help control our body temperature, influence our heart rate and regulate the production of proteins.
Causes of Thyroid Disease
- Iodine deficiency
- Genetic disorders
- Non-cancerous lumps or nodules
- Cancerous tumour
- Auto-immune diseases
- Certain medical treatments
- Inflammation
- Pregnancy, miscarriage, premature birth
Role Of Pituitary Gland
The pituitary gland and hypothalamus control the production and release of T4 and T3 thyroid hormones. The pituitary gland sends out the hormone called Thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH). TSH informs the thyroid gland that how much hormone should be produced and released. TSH levels identify that your body needs more or fewer hormones. The pituitary gland either responds directly to the thyroid hormone or the hypothalamus signals the pituitary gland to make TSH. The hypothalamus releases its hormone called thyrotropin-releasing hormone(TRH). TRH in return stimulates the release of TSH in the pituitary gland which then signals to the thyroid gland.
Thyroid and Diet
A proper diet can have a significant impact on the symptoms of the thyroid. Some food choices may improve the symptoms of thyroid while others may make them worse. Food alone can’t cure the thyroid, however, a combination of the right nutrients can help restore thyroid function and can minimize the symptoms.
Best food for Hypothyroidism:
Having hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid means that this gland is producing fewer hormones than the body needs. An underactive thyroid slows down the metabolic rate and causes weight gain and fatigue.
Several nutrients are essential for optimal thyroid health.
Iodine: This is a very essential mineral that is needed to make thyroid hormones. But the body doesn’t make it so a person needs to get iodine from his diet. An iodine deficiency can also cause goitre, an enlarged thyroid gland. It is very important to add iodized table salt into your meals or eating iodized rich food is also a good idea. Foods rich in iodine include:
- Cheese
- Milk
- Himalayan pink salt
- Seafood
- Seaweeds
- Eggs
Selenium: This mineral plays a very important role in the production of thyroid hormone. Selenium boosts thyroid hormones so that they can be used in the body. Adding a selenium-rich diet to your food is a great idea to boost the selenium levels in the body. Foods rich in selenium include:
- Beef, chicken, turkey
- Eggs
- Whole wheat bread
- Brazilian nuts
- Oatmeal
- Tuna, shrimp, sardines
- Legumes
Zinc: Like selenium, zinc also helps boost thyroid hormones. Studies have shown that zinc may help the body regulate TSH levels. If you have hypothyroidism then add zinc-rich food to your regular diet. Foods rich in zinc include:
- Beef, chicken
- Oysters, shellfish
- Fortified cereals
- Yogurt
- Pumpkin seeds
- Legumes
Foods to eat with hypothyroidism
There are plenty of food options that a hypothyroid patient can choose.
Eggs- Eggs have plenty of iodine, selenium and loads of protein in them.
Meat- Beef, chicken, turkey and lamb
Fish– All seafood is included in it
Vegetables– Green vegetables should be eaten in moderation especially when cooked.
Gluten-free grains and seeds
Dairy- Products like milk, cheese, yogurt
Beverages- water and non-caffeinated drinks
Foods to avoid with Hypothyroidism
Foods with soy products like tofu Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, turnip, kale Gluten found in bread, pasta, rice Fried food, sugary food like cookies, cakes, muffins Processed food Limit fibre intake as in legumes, beans, vegetables Caffeinated drinks
Best Food for Hyperthyroidism
In hyperthyroidism, the thyroid gland is overactive. It produces too much of its hormones. A higher level of thyroid hormones in your body can be toxic. Certain foods can help keep your thyroid healthy and reduce its negative effects on the body. Some minerals, vitamins and nutrients are necessary to balance hyperthyroidism.
Low-iodine diet: This mineral plays a very important role in the development of the thyroid gland. If you are suffering from hyperthyroidism then you should take food that is low in iodine. For example:
- Non-iodized salt
- Unsalted nuts
- Potatoes
- Honey
- Maple syrup
- Egg whites
Cruciferous Vegetables: These vegetables are beneficial for hyperthyroidism.
- Broccoli
- Brussel sprouts
- Cauliflower
- Kale
- Mustard
- Turnip
Vitamins and minerals: These vitamins and minerals are essential to balance the production of thyroid hormones.
- Iron: Low- level of iron is linked with hyperthyroidism. It is very important to add plenty of iron in your diet like:
- Beans, legumes, lentils
- Poultry
- Nuts, seeds
- Whole grains
- Red meat
- Green leafy vegetables
Selenium & Zinc: Selenium-rich food and zinc-rich food is also important to balance the thyroid hormones in the body.
Calcium & Vitamin D: Weak and brittle bones are the major cause of hyperthyroidism. So these minerals are necessary for building healthy bones.
Calcium-rich foods are Spinach, beans, okra, almond milk, and orange juice…..
Vitamin D is found in fortified orange juice, cereal, beef, liver, mushrooms, fish……
Healthy fats are also important to balance thyroid hormones. Unsalted nuts and seeds, avocado, coconut oil, olive oil …… included in the list of healthy fats.
Foods to Avoid with Hyperthyroidism
Eating too much iodine-rich food can make the symptoms of hyperthyroidism worse. Gluten may harm the thyroid by causing inflammation. So it is beneficial to limit gluten in your diet. Limit soy products in your diet as soy may interfere with the treatment of hyperthyroidism. Foods and beverages that contain caffeine may lead to anxiety, depression and rapid heartbeat. In some cases, hyperthyroidism causes lactose intolerance so if you experience indigestion, bloating, fatigue after consuming dairy products so it’s better to avoid dairy. Skim milk or organic milk is a good option. Red meat has high levels of cholesterol and saturated fats. Reducing red meat may help reduce the symptoms of hyperthyroidism.
Yoga and Thyroid
If someone has health issues with the thyroid gland it not only affects physical health but it also put a negative impact on mental health too. Yoga helps to reduce stress and anxiety also improves overall health.
A small study conducted in 2014 found that yoga improved thyroid function.
The yoga poses associated with the throat are very beneficial. They improve circulation and strengthen the neck where the thyroid is located. For example:
- Plow pose
- Fish pose
- Bridge pose
- Cobra pose
- Boat pose
- Upward Bow Pose
- Shoulder stand pose
Home Remedies for Thyroid
1- Apple cider vinegar is good for hormone regulation and detoxification of the body. It helps lose weight, improves metabolic rate and maintains blood pressure and diabetes.
2- Taking a regular dose of coconut oil or using it while cooking may be beneficial to improve thyroid function.
3- Ginger tea is one of the safest choices for the better function of thyroid hormone.
4- Almond is one of the perfect dry foods for the health of the thyroid.
5- Consuming raw onion is also good for the thyroid.
6- Coriander seeds are also best for the thyroid gland. Boil seeds of Coriander in a pan, strain it and drink it early in the morning on an empty stomach.
7- Massage your throat with Walnut oil to make your thyroid healthy.
Hijama Cupping Therapy and Thyroid
Hijama cupping therapy is known for the treatment of the Thyroid gland. Cupping therapy helps with most thyroid disorders, especially Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism. When a cup is applied to the skin by creating a vacuum using heat or suction, it draws up the underlying tissues. When the cup is left on the skin for a few minutes, blood stasis is formed and healing takes place. For the treatment of thyroid hormone, five to six sessions are necessary.
For the first session, 7 organ points should be targeted. Al-Kahl Sunnah’s point is also included in this session. Dry cupping and wet cupping should be performed in this session.
For the second session, detox points should be done. 7 cups should be performed on the neck and shoulder area.
6 cups should be done on the upper back.
For the third session, moving cupping should be done on the neck (Akhadayan points). Wet cupping should be done on the upper front part of the neck.
For the fourth session, Dry cupping should be done on the upper part and lower part of the back. After dry cupping wet cupping should be performed.
For the last session, 7 organ points should be performed again for the detoxification of the body. Following the Sunnah diet for the thyroid is also very helpful. The benefits of cupping therapy are endless due to its stimulating and strengthening effects.
