Papimi Mexico

When Your Thyroid Goes Awry       

 Reviewed by Rinku Chatterjee, MD on September 30, 2011    published Nov/09/2011

 

 

Does fatigue drag you down day after day? Do you have brain fog, weight gain, chills, or hair loss? Or is the opposite true for you: Are you often revved up, sweaty, or anxious? Your thyroid gland could be to blame. This great regulator of body and mind sometimes goes haywire, particularly in women. Getting the right treatment is critical to feel your best and avoid serious health problems.

 

What Is the Thyroid Gland?

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the front of the neck. It produces hormones that control the speed of your metabolism — the system that helps the body use energy. Thyroid disorders can slow down or rev up your metabolism by disrupting the production of thyroid hormones. When hormone levels become too low or too high, you may experience a wide range of symptoms.

 

Symptom: Weight Gain or Loss

An unexplained change in weight is one of the most common signs of a thyroid disorder. Weight gain may signal low levels of thyroid hormones, a condition called hypothyroidism. In contrast, if the thyroid produces more hormones than the body needs, you may lose weight unexpectedly. This is known as hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism is far more common.

 

Symptom: Swelling in the Neck

A swelling or enlargement in the neck is a visible clue that something may be wrong with the thyroid. A goiter may occur with either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Sometimes swelling in the neck can result from thyroid cancer or nodules, lumps that grow inside the thyroid. It can also be due to a cause unrelated to the thyroid.

 

Symptom: Changes in Heart Rate

Thyroid hormones affect nearly every organ in the body and can influence how quickly the heart beats. People with hypothyroidism may notice their heart rate is slower than usual. Hyperthyroidism may cause the heart to speed up. It can also trigger increased blood pressure and the sensation of a pounding heart, known as heart palpitations.

 

Symptom: Changes in Energy or Mood

Thyroid disorders can have a noticeable impact on your energy level and mood. Hypothyroidism tends to make people feel tired, sluggish, and depressed. Hyperthyroidism can cause anxiety, problems sleeping, restlessness, and irritability

 

Symptom: Hair Loss

Hair loss is another sign that your thyroid hormones may be out of balance. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause hair to fall out. In most cases, the hair will grow back once the thyroid disorder is treated.

 

Symptom: Feeling Too Cold or Hot

Thyroid disorders can disrupt the ability to regulate body temperature. People with hypothyroidism may feel cold more often than usual. Hyperthyroidism tends to have the opposite effect, causing excessive sweating and an aversion to heat

 

Other Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism can cause many other symptoms, including:

·         Dry skin and brittle nails

·         Numbness or tingling in the hands

·         Constipation

·         Abnormal menstrual periods

 

Other Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism can also cause additional symptoms, such as:

·         Muscle weakness or trembling hands

·         Vision problems

·         Diarrhea

·         Irregular menstrual periods

 

Thyroid Disorder or Menopause?

Because thyroid disorders can cause changes in your menstrual cycle and mood, the symptoms are sometimes mistaken for menopause. If a thyroid problem is suspected, a simple blood test can determine whether the true culprit is menopause or a thyroid disorder — or a combination of the two.

 

Who Should Be Tested?

Everyone should be screened for thyroid dysfunction every five years, beginning at age 35, according to the American Thyroid Association. People with symptoms or risk factors may need tests more often. Hypothyroidism more frequently affects women over age 60. Hyperthyroidism is also more common in women and in people over 60. A family history raises your risk of either disorder.

 

Thyroid Neck Check

A careful look in the mirror may help you spot an enlarged thyroid that needs a doctor’s attention. Tip your head back, take a drink of water, and as you swallow, examine your neck below the Adam’s apple and above the collarbone. Look for bulges or protrusions, then repeat the process a few times. See a doctor promptly if you see a bulge or lump.

 

Diagnosing Thyroid Disorders

If your doctor suspects a thyroid disorder, a blood test can help provide an answer. This test measures the level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), a kind of master hormone that regulates the work of the thyroid gland. If TSH is high, it typically means that your thyroid function is too low (hypothyroid). If TSH is low, then it generally means the thyroid is overactive (hyperthyroid.) Your doctor may also check levels of other thyroid hormones in your blood. In some cases, imaging studies are used and biopsies are taken to evaluate a thyroid abnormality.

 

Hashimoto’s Disease

The most common cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto’s disease. This is an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks the thyroid gland. The result is damage to the thyroid, preventing it from producing enough hormones. Hashimoto’s disease tends to run in families.

 

Other Causes of Hypothyroidism

In some cases, hypothyroidism results from a problem with the pituitary gland, which is at the base of the brain. This gland produces thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which tells the thyroid to do its job. If your pituitary gland does not produce enough TSH, your levels of thyroid hormones will fall. Other causes of hypothyroidism include temporary inflammation of the thyroid or medications that affect thyroid function.

 

Graves’ Disease

The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves’ disease. This is an autoimmune disorder that attacks the thyroid gland and triggers the release of high levels of thyroid hormones. One of the hallmarks of Graves’ disease is a visible and uncomfortable swelling behind the eyes.

 

Other Causes of Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism can also result from thyroid nodules. These are lumps that develop inside the thyroid and sometimes begin producing thyroid hormones. Large lumps may create a noticeable goiter. Smaller lumps can be detected with ultrasound.

 

Thyroid Disorder Complications

When left untreated, hypothyroidism can raise your cholesterol levels and make you more likely to have a stroke or heart attack. In severe cases, very low levels of thyroid hormones can trigger a loss of consciousness and life-threatening drop in body temperature. Untreated hyperthyroidism can cause serious heart problems and brittle bones.

 

Treating Hypothyroidism

If you are diagnosed with hypothyroidism, your doctor will most likely prescribe thyroid hormones in the form of a pill. This usually leads to noticeable improvements within a couple of weeks. Long-term treatment can result in more energy, lower cholesterol levels, and gradual weight loss. Most people with hypothyroidism will need to take thyroid hormones for the rest of their lives.

 

Treating Hyperthyroidism

The most common treatment for hyperthyroidism is antithyroid medication, which aims to lower the amount of hormones produced by the thyroid. The condition may eventually go away, but many people need to remain on medication for the long term. Other drugs may be given to reduce symptoms such as rapid pulse and tremors. Another option is radioactive iodine, which destroys the thyroid gland over the course of 6 to 18 weeks. Once the gland is destroyed, or removed by surgery, most patients must begin taking thyroid hormones in pill form.

 

Surgery for Thyroid Disorders

Removing the thyroid gland can cure hyperthyroidism, but the procedure is only recommended if antithyroid drugs don’t work, or if there is a large goiter. Surgery may also be recommended for patients with thyroid nodules. Once the thyroid is removed, most patients require daily supplements of thyroid hormones to avoid developing hypothyroidism.

 

What About Thyroid Cancer?

Thyroid cancer is uncommon and is among the least deadly. The main symptom is a lump or swelling in the neck, and only about 5% of thyroid nodules turn out to be cancerous. When thyroid cancer is diagnosed, it is most often treated with surgery followed by radioactive iodine therapy or, in some cases, external radiation therapy.

 

SOURCE: http://women.webmd.com/slideshow-thyroid-symptoms-and-solutions

  

  

  

Type 2 Diabetes and Women

 

Special concerns if you’re a woman with type 2 diabetes.

 

By Shahreen Abedin WebMD Feature

 Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

 

 
 

 

 

For women, living with type 2 diabetes can be tough. Diabetes brings many other health risks that you need to know about.

 

For instance, women with type 2 diabetes are more likely than other women to have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease.

 

The good news: A healthy lifestyle and solid medical care can halt those risks.

 

Here’s what every woman with type 2 diabetes needs to know.

 

The Heart of the Matter

 

Type 2 diabetes makes heart disease — the top killer of U.S. women — more likely.

 

Women with diabetes are as likely to have a heart attack as someone who has already had a heart attack. Compared to men, women with diabetes are more likely to have a heart attack and to die from it. And they tend to have a poorer quality of life than men.

 

“Nobody knows for sure why these heart risks are different for women than men – whether it’s hormones or socioeconomic factors or some combination of those two,” says ob-gyn and diabetes educator Cassandra Henderson, MD, of New York’s Montefiore Medical Center.

 

If you’re a woman with type 2 diabetes, your blood pressure needs to be closely monitored, Henderson says. High blood pressure also makes stroke, kidney disease, and vision problems more likely, so it’s a key part of diabetes management. Keeping your cholesterol levels in check will also help protect your heart.

 

Planning on Getting Pregnant?

 

Type 2 diabetes usually strikes after age 40. But it’s on the rise in younger women, mainly because of obesity.

 

That means many women now have type 2 diabetes during their childbearing years. And that can be risky.

 

If you have type 2 diabetes and plan to get pregnant, see your doctor. You need a plan to keep your blood sugar level under control. That will help your odds of a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. High blood sugar levels, particularly early in pregnancy, can increase risk of birth defects.

 

A healthy pregnancy is possible when you have type 2 diabetes. But it takes work.

 

A woman with a high blood sugar level is more likely to give birth to a baby with low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) and jaundice. She’s also more likely to have a larger baby, which makes for a more difficult delivery.

 

You may need to see an ob-gyn who specializes in high-risk pregnancies. Your doctor should check on your diabetes drugs, because some shouldn’t be taken during pregnancy. As a result, you may need to take insulin.

 

Of course, a healthy diet and exercise are a must. That’s true for everyone, but for pregnant women with type 2 diabetes, it’s especially important to help control blood sugar levels.

 

You’ll also need to check your blood sugar level frequently — up to eight times daily — while you’re pregnant, to flag any blood sugar level spikes.

 

Type 2 and Gestational Diabetes

 

Gestational diabetes occurs only during pregnancy. Most women are usually screened for it at 24-28 weeks of pregnancy, and 3% to 8% of women develop it.

 

“Although gestational diabetes usually goes away after pregnancy, it’s a wake-up call for future risks,” Henderson says.

 

About 5% to 10% of women who have gestational diabetes are found to have type 2 diabetes after pregnancy. Women who have had gestational diabetes also have up to a 50% chance of getting type 2 diabetes within the next five to 10 years.

 

So Henderson advises women with gestational diabetes to heed the warning and start upgrading their diet and exercise habits now.

 

Diabetes and Breastfeeding

 

Unless a doctor advises against it, breastfeeding is recommended for all new moms — with or without diabetes.

 

Once she has a baby, a woman’s blood sugar control can change. If she has type 2 diabetes, she may need less insulin or a change in her diabetes drugs or doses.

 

“That’s why you need to have a plan in place ahead of time for your target goals,” Henderson says. It’s important to discuss this plan with both your ob-gyn, as well as your primary doctor for diabetes.

 

Nursing your baby increases chances of getting back to a healthy weight, and can help get blood sugar and insulin levels under control. And it can cut stress levels and encourage mother-baby bonding.

 

Breastfeeding might also help delay or prevent type 2 diabetes from developing. A 2005 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed every year a woman breastfeeds may translate into a 15% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future. A 2010 study showed that breastfeeding for at least a month after giving birth has an effect on a woman’s risks for future type 2 diabetes.

 

If you’re pregnant with type 2 diabetes, take a breastfeeding class. And ask for a lactation consultant to visit you at the hospital after you deliver.

 

Breastfeeding is not always easy or convenient, and many women can’t breastfeed exclusively. But the perks for mother and child can make it worth trying.

 

Diabetes and Menopause

 

As women enter menopause, problems stemming from type 2 diabetes can grow.

 

During these years, lower estrogen levels and changes in sleep can cause blood sugar levels to fluctuate and become less predictable and harder to control, says internist Melanie Jay, MD, MS of New York University’s Langone Medical Center.

 

Blood sugar levels become even harder to control if you’ve also gained weight, developed insulin resistance, or aren’t physically active.

 

Blood sugar fluctuations can cause symptoms similar to those common in menopause, such as mood changes, fatigue, and hot flashes. So it’s not uncommon to mistake them for signs of low blood sugar and try to correct the problem by eating more calories, thus raising blood sugar risks.

 

Type 2 diabetes might also worsen sexual function problems that often arise during menopause, Henderson tells WebMD. Symptoms include vaginal dryness and painful intercourse. Poorly controlled diabetes can interfere with neurological function, causing lower sexual desire and decreased sensation around the genital area, Henderson says. If that happens to you, talk to your doctor about it.

 

Infection Risk

 

“Certain types of infections can happen to anyone, men or women, but they tend to happen more frequently among women with type 2 diabetes,” Jay says. That’s because higher blood sugar means more food for bacteria and yeast to grow, she says.

 

Urinary tract infections happen when bacteria grow more readily in the lining of the bladder. Higher blood sugar levels in the urethra and bladder make women with diabetes more prone to these infections. Urinary tract infections can usually be treated with antibiotics your doctor prescribes.

 

Vaginal yeast infections may also accompany type 2 diabetes. The yeast called Candida, live all over our bodies and especially thrive in warm, moist areas. An infection results when there is too much yeast in one area.

 

Yeast infections can occur in other parts of the body more often where skin folds exist, such as under the armpits or beneath the breasts. Men and women with diabetes can be prone to higher rates of these infections.

 

“Developing a yeast infection from diabetes means your blood sugar is way out of control,” says endocrinologist Robin Goland, MD, of New York-Presbyterian Hospital. If you think you have a yeast infection, see your doctor to treat the infection and to better manage your diabetes.

 

Take Charge

 

The first line of defense against type 2 diabetes is a healthy diet and exercise plan.

 

Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days, according to the American Diabetic Association. That can mean any activity that gets your heart rate up and causes you to sweat a little – even if it’s gardening, walking, or cleaning your house.

 

Coping with stress can also help tame your blood sugar.

 

Your doctor can help you change your diet, make healthy food choices, control portions, and more.

 

Choose high-fiber foods. The fiber helps keep your blood sugar level on an even keel.

 

Also, swap white starchy foods for whole grains, put lots of vegetables in your diet, and go easy on sweetened beverages, including fruit juice.

 

If diet, exercise, and other lifestyle changes are not enough to control your diabetes, your doctor can prescribe oral or injected treatments to treat the condition.

 

But even if you have a prescription, you still need to take those lifestyle steps. They can curb, or even end, the need for diabetes drugs for some people.

 

It’s all about being good to yourself. Managing type 2 diabetes means taking care of yourself, no matter what.

 

“Diabetes requires self-care to do it well,” Goland says. “While many women are comfortable at taking care of others, it can be hard for them to take care of themselves,” she says.

 

Goland suggests involving a team of professionals to help you manage your diabetes – including your primary care doctor, nutritionist, and diabetes specialists.

 

Get your family on board, too. They can support you and learn healthy habits for themselves — and that’s a win for everyone.

Source: http://diabetes.webmd.com/features/type-2-diabetes-women?page=3