According to the NFHS IV report, a total of almost 2.7% of the total female population of India is suffering from thyroid disorders such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, which is much higher than the number of total men diagnosed with thyroid dysfunctions. The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped organ that is responsible for producing and controlling TSH, T3, and T4 hormones. This organ also helps to manage metabolic functions in our body. A slight abnormality in the functioning of this organ can affect our overall health. Thyroid disorders cannot be cured permanently but can be managed easily with the right treatment and care. In this blog, we will guide you through thyroid disorder symptoms and solutions to help manage it effectively.
Symptoms of Thyroid Disorders in Women
For managing thyroid efficiently, you need early detection, and the below-mentioned common symptoms can help you in the early diagnosis of this disorder.
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
- Sudden and unexplained weight gain
- Fatigue
- Slower heart rate
- Dry skin
- Coarse hair
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism
- Sudden weight loss
- Faster heart rate
- Problem sleeping
- Sensitive to heat
- Sweaty skin
- Nervousness, irritability, or anxious feeling
- Irregular menstrual cycle
These thyroid disorders symptoms can give you a hint of the dysfunction of your thyroid gland, but for confirmation, you need to check with a healthcare professional.
Solutions To Manage Thyroid
Thyroid disorder is a medical condition that affects the natural functioning of the overall body, and it has no permanent cure till today, but it can be managed by the following care tips.
Dietary Changes for Thyroid
Diet is an important factor to keep our health intact and disease-free. For managing thyroid disorders, increase iodine intake, as iodine is necessary for thyroid hormone production. Incorporate foods which are rich in iodine, such as dairy food like milk and cheese, iodized salt, and fish, in your daily diet. Also eat a healthy balanced diet enriched with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Try to avoid soy food and goiterogens that can interfere with thyroid hormone functioning. Following this thyroid diet for weight loss can help you enhance your thyroid health and manage weight effectively.
Adequate Sleep
Just like diet, adequate sleep also plays a crucial role in keeping our health checked. A proper sleeping cycle can help your body to work properly by providing it the needed rest. Sleep is also essential for maintaining the hormonal balance in our body, which is one of the major problems during thyroid dysfunction. Aim for 7-9 hours of proper sleep every night for enhancing overall health and wellbeing.
Daily Exercise
Physical activity plays a crucial role in managing a healthy weight and overall health. Exercise benefits are uncountable; it not only helps in weight loss but can also keep you away from diseases and supports management of health disorders. It also helps to manage metabolic functions and reduce stress. Engage yourself in regular exercise, including a combination of cardio exercise and weight training exercises to improve physical strength.
Stress Management
A little bit of stress is common in our daily lives, but when it becomes constant and remains for a very long time, it becomes chronic. This chronic stress can boost thyroid issues and interfere in the proper functioning of the thyroid gland. To manage chronic stress, practice stress management strategies such as yoga, meditation, deep breathing exercise, and recreational activities like swimming, cycling, or reading a book.
Herbal Solutions
There are many herbs present in our surroundings that are helpful in managing thyroid health effectively and have been used in many thyroid management capsules for decades. Some of them are listed below.
Kachnar: Kachnar is a natural herb that has many health benefits for female health, such as managing conditions like PCOS. This ayurvedic herb can also help in managing thyroid health by enhancing the production of T3, T4, and TSH hormones. It can also help to control the proper functioning of thyroid hormones.
Kuth Mithi: This ayurvedic ingredient is a potent herb to treat many health issues as it has a lot of nutrients that can be useful in medical purposes. This natural ingredient also contains health benefits to manage thyroid disorders. It helps improve blood glucose levels and regulate thyroid functions by balancing hormones.
Trikatu: Trikatu is a unique herbal mixture of three powerful natural herbs: black pepper, long pepper, and ginger that are packed with many nutritional benefits that are helpful in managing medical health concerns like thyroid gland disorders. Due to its nutritional contents, it has the capability to boost metabolism and reduce thyroid disorder symptoms.
Ginger: Ginger also known as adrak in India, is a common kitchen ingredient in every Indian household. Our meals are considered to be incomplete without ginger. Besides enhancing taste, this commonly found ingredient also contains many health benefits to help manage conditions like thyroid. It helps in managing the sudden increased weight during hypothyroidism.
Shankh Bhasm: Shankh bhasma is made from powdering the purified conch shells. It is primarily used as an ayurvedic medicine to treat many health disorders, including hypothyroidism. It helps to reduce the risk of thickening of arteries during hypothyroidism, which can lead to a slower heartbeat and eventually heart failure. Because it has essential health benefits, this natural ingredient is used in thyroid capsules.
Conclusion
Detection of thyroid and management may seem difficult and challenging, but with a little care and following some effective thyroid care tips, such as eating a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and iron, and avoiding goitrogens and soy foods. Combine a healthy diet with regular physical activity, proper sleep, and stress management activities for better results. Other than these lifestyle changes, including herbs like kachnar, kuth mithi, ginger, trikatu, and shankh bhasm in your daily routine can also help in thyroid health management.