Hypothyroidism and Hormonal Imbalance

The production of bodily hormones is one thing that few people have full appreciation for. In fact, most do not even know what hormones are and what they do to the body. Scarcely will there be an individual who is well versed as to what would happen if something affects the body’s production of hormones.

All About the Thyroids and its Hormones

One of the hormones that the body produces is thyroid hormone. This hormone is known for its effect on metabolism and heart beat rate. As a result, when production of this hormone is either low or high, one of the first indicators to tell about the condition is changes in body weight as well as similar changes in heart beat rate.

Defining Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism refers to a thyroid that is underactive or sluggish. Although this description is accepted, it does not always mean that because aside from thyroid activity, there are also other factors that can cause hypothyroidism. The problem can also be caused when there is an underproduction of hormones in an otherwise healthy thyroid. For example, when there is a low production of the thyroid’s main hormone thyroxine, the problem begins. Moreover, the thyroxine has to be converted to its active form triiodothyronine to be utilized by the liver in order that the body will be able to use it. When something is amiss in any of these stages of producing hormones, the result is hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism and Women

It is important to note that hypothyroidism affects women more than men. This is especially true during menopausal years or even during monthly periods when a woman experiences hormonal changes in the body. As a consequence, hormonal imbalance results. Most women ignore the correlation between menopause and hormonal imbalance. This is very dangerous because approximately 20 percent of menopausal women do suffer from one form of thyroid dysfunction. Moreover, being able to detect hypothyroidism is a good indicator that a woman may already be in her perimenopausal years—those years when a woman’s body experiences plenty of hormonal changes a few years before the onset of menopause.

Causes of Hypothyroidism

Because of frequent hormonal changes in a woman’s body due to menstruation and menopause, women are more susceptible to hypothyroidism than men. One of the reasons why it affects women is that women have estrogen and progesterone wherein a delicate balance between the two must be maintained. However, the balance can be upset when a woman experiences stress. That is why stress management in a woman must be thoroughly maintained to avoid hormonal imbalances. Another cause of hormonal imbalance is taking birth control pills and other drugs that can also affect the hormones in a woman’s body.

Treating Hypothyroidism

Treating hormonal imbalance is still a topic of debate today. However, experts suggest that the best way of treatment is still prevention. Here, diet, the kind of nutrients that a woman should get, along with her lifestyle are the factors that are very helpful in making sure that there is hormonal balance maintained in her body.

by: James Pendergraft
Source : www.articlecity.com

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