Hypothyroidism is a disease in which the thyroid gland stops functioning properly and produces less thyroid hormones. This causes all sorts of health issues throughout the rest of the body. There are a range of hypothyroidism supplements that will help people suffering from the disease. However before taking supplements obtain medical advice. And only ever take hypothyroidism supplements under strict medical supervision. Indeed, most medical practitioners will suggest that you try and obtain most of the required nutrients from your diet before you resort to taking supplements.
Interesting Questions about Thyroid:
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, also called chronic thyroiditis, is named for the Japanese doctor who discovered it. It affects about 5% of the adult population, increasing particularly in women as they age. Hashimoto’s, the most common form of thyroiditis, is the leading cause of hypothyroidism.
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis results from problems with the body’s immune system. Normally, the immune system defends against germs and viruses, but in diseases such as Hashimoto’s, the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues. In patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the immune system produce antithyroid antibodies, which damage the gland and keep it from producing enough hormones.
Diseases of the immune system tend to run in families and are about five times more common in women than in men. Hashimoto’s is linked to other autoimmune conditions, such as Graves’ disease, premature gray hair, diabetes mellitus, arthritis and patchy loss of pigment of the skin (vitiligo).
Are all thyroid lumps cancerous? How common is thyroid cancer?
Thyroid lumps (also called nodules) are growths in or on the thyroid gland. They occur in 4%-7% of the population. A thyroid nodule might cause your voice to become hoarse, or it could make breathing or swallowing difficult. However, it usually produces no symptoms and is discovered incidentally by you or your physician
More than 90% of these lumps are benign (not cancerous) and do not need to be removed. Thyroid cancer is found in only about 15,000 people each year and causes about 1,210 deaths per year. The most common form (papillary cancer) moves very slowly, and treatment is almost always successful when the cancer is detected early. A less common form (follicular cancer) also moves relatively slowly. Two less frequent forms of thyroid cancer (undifferentiated, or anaplastic, and medullary) are more serious.
Who can get thyroid cancer?
Anyone can get thyroid cancer. However, one group in particular has a higher risk: people who have had radiation to the head or neck. From the 1920s to the 1960s, x-ray treatments were used for an enlarged thymus gland, inflamed tonsils and adenoids, ringworm, acne, and many other conditions.
At that time, doctors thought the x-rays were safe. About 1 million Americans received the treatment, and some of these people will get thyroid cancer up to 40 or more years after receiving the treatment. We now know that radiation therapy to the head or neck increases the chance of developing thyroid cancer later in life. (Radioactive iodine treatments and x-rays used for testing do not increase the risk of cancer.)
Others at higher risk include a child or elderly person with a lump (nodule) in the thyroid. If a man has a thyroid nodule, it is more likely to be cancerous than if a woman has one.
If you or a blood relative has Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Graves’ disease, there is a chance that your children will inherit the problem. These diseases are also linked to other autoimmune conditions, such as premature gray hair, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, and patchy loss of skin pigment (vitiligo). You should tell your child’s doctor, so that the appropriate examinations can be performed.
Also, one out of every 4,000 infants is born without a working thyroid gland. If the problem is not corrected, the child will become mentally and physically retarded. Therefore, all newborns in the United States are tested for the disease. Once the problem is discovered and corrected, the child can grow up normally.
Have more questions? Need more answers? Check our Full Thyroid FAQ
Important Nutrients In Hypothyroidism Supplements
In developing countries iodine deficiency is the primary cause of hyperthyroidism. The thyroid uses iodine and the amino acid tyrosine to produce thyroid hormones. Therefore a hypothyroidism supplement with iodine will help rectify the problems caused by dietary iodine deficiency.
Another important nutrient for thyroid function is selenium. Selenium acts as an anti-oxidant to neutralise the free radicals created as a byproduct when the thyroid makes hydrogen peroxide, one of the components in thyroid hormones. Free radicals, which are atoms that have lost an electron, are highly unstable and will attempt to replace that electron by stealing one from another atom, thereby turning that atom into a free radical and setting up a domino effect that may result in cancer. Selenium is also involved in the process that converts thyroid hormone T4 to thyroid hormone T3 in the body.
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Zinc is the third nutrient required in reasonable amounts for optimal thyroid function. Zinc helps selenium convert T4 to T3. It may also help regulate TSH production in the pituitary.
The thyroid also requires iron, copper and a number of vitamins. As previously mentioned, the best way to obtain these is through a healthy balanced diet. There are plenty of foods that contain good quantities of them. However, if you do require hypothyroidism supplements speak to your doctor first.
