Women And Undiagnosed Thyroid Conditions

Hypothyroidism is a condition that is often left undiagnosed and untreated for years after its initial onset. The reason for this is that the symptoms of hypothyroidism closely resemble menopause. In their study of this condition Harvard Medical School and the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center concluded that ten of twelve women suffer from hypothyroidism of some degree by the time they are fifty and by sixty this figure is increased to five to six women suffering from the condition.

The symptoms of menopause in women in the fifties and sixties often masks the reality that they have hypothyroidism. Often estrogen replacement therapy is instituted and further tests to ascertain any other conditions are not pursued. When symptoms persist after the implementation of ERT, physicians often just keep changing doses of the medication and eventually, most women stop talking about their symptoms thinking that they will be thought delusional.

The thyroid gland produces T3 and T4 hormones which play a part in how almost every part of a person's body works. These hormones regulate body temperature, fertility, and much more. When a person is suffering from hypothyroidism they may suffer all of the symptoms that are involved or only a few depending the the severity of their condition.

There are many symptoms that one suffers from when they have hypothyroidism. These include cold sensitivity, fragile finger and toe nails, anxiety or panic attacks and many more. All together there are about sixteen symptoms of hypothyroidism most of which are also found in the symptoms of menopause.

The study mentioned above also discussed how hard it is to diagnose thyroid conditions. The most common test conducted is a blood test called the T3 and T4. The study found that this test is not a reliable testing method and that many false negatives result in the testing.

When a person is suffering from the symptoms of hypothyroidism the test that will give accurate results is a Thyroid Antibodies Test. This test is not given automatically and must be requested. But it is important to find out if hypothyroidism is an issue. Left unattended a thyroid condition can create serious health issues.

There are many alternative medical therapies for thyroid conditions. These include several herbal remedies, acupuncture is a suggested treatment, and other. But, taking any medication whether it is a natural remedy or over the counter can be very dangerous if a person doesn't know what is wrong with them.

After finding out that a thyroid condition exists there are other ways to help alleviate the condition that do not include medication. The easiest of these is to change one's diet. By eating a diet that includes more fresh fruits and vegetables, eliminating refined foods and polyunsaturate oils one will feel better and their thyroid will function much better.

Among the many herbal remedies that are available is Black Walnut. This herb contains iodine, soothes inflamed tissues, and increases blood circulation. Other herbal remedies include Bladderwrack, Irish Moss and Kelp, Ginseng, and much more. Another alternative medical remedy that has proven successful for some individual has been the use of acupuncture. This treatment is focused on increasing blood circulation and detoxifying the body.

The first step if an individual believes they may be one of the ten to twelve women who have undiagnosed hypothyroidism is to make a doctor's appoint and be tested to confirm the diagnosis. After the diagnosis is made a knowledgeable decision can be made about the type of treatment alternative that will be best.