Thyroid Health 101
During the month of January, we celebrated Thyroid Awareness Month. Unfortunately, people tend to forget about the importance of proper thyroid health and the different health problems associated with thyroid function.
Most of us have heard about the thyroid gland but probably don’t know how important it is or what it can mean for our health when it’s not functioning correctly. In order to help so many people enjoy a better, healthier, younger life for much longer, we are happy to bring you our easy guide, Thyroid Health 101.
What Is the Thyroid Gland, and What Does It Do?
The thyroid is a small gland located in the front of your neck. The gland resembles a butterfly and wraps around your windpipe (trachea).
The thyroid produces a hormone that shares the same name – thyroid hormone – which plays a vital role in many bodily functions, including:
- Regulating the rate at which your body burns calories so it plays a role in weight loss or weight gain
- It can slow down or speed up your heartbeats
- It controls your body temperature; it can raise or lower it
- It influences the rate at which the foods you eat move through your digestive tract
- It controls the way your muscles contract
- It dictates the rate at which dying cells are replaced
Types of Thyroid Disease
There are two main types of thyroid disease:
Hypothyroidism: Also known as an underactive thyroid. Hypothyroidism happens when your thyroid doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones. The condition slows down many of your bodily functions, like your metabolism.
Hyperthyroidism: Also called overactive thyroid. Hyperthyroidism means your thyroid gland produces more hormones than your body needs. The excess hormones cause many of your body’s functions to speed up.
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Forgetfulness
- Having frequent and heavy menstruations
- Dry, coarse hair
- Having a raspy or hoarse voice
- Sensitivity or intolerance to cold temperatures
Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism
- A feeling of anxiety, nervousness, or irritability
- Having trouble sleeping
- Unintentional weight loss
- Having an enlarged thyroid gland or a goiter
- Experiencing muscle weakness and tremors
- Irregular menstrual periods – in some cases, your menstrual cycle may stop
- Experiencing vision problems or unexplained eye irritation
- Sensitivity to heat
How to Restore Balance to Your Thyroid Gland
Because thyroid hormone imbalances cause thyroid disease, one way to treat it is to restore that balance.
If you are experiencing thyroid problems, our BioTe® hormone therapy may help relieve your symptoms and restore your physical and emotional wellbeing.
Biote® uses bio-identical hormone pellets to supplement low thyroid hormone levels if you suffer from hypothyroidism. Likewise, the treatment can be customized to balance high levels of thyroid hormones in your body due to an overactive thyroid gland.
Biote® pellets are small enough to insert under your skin. The hormones are released as your body needs them, and one pellet can last between three and four months. After your body has fully absorbed the pellet, you can return to have a new one inserted.
Thyroid conditions are serious ailments; therefore, a doctor should supervise your treatment. In addition, Biote® hormone replacement therapy is only available from Biote® Certified Provides, making it a safe and cost-effective treatment for thyroid conditions.
To find out if hormone replacement therapy is a good option for you, schedule an appointment with our doctor today.
