| The thyroid is a gland that regulates the | | | | Stagnaro-Green, an endocrinologist at the |
| body's metabolism. Any imbalance in the | | | | University of Medicine and Dentistry, N.J., |
| body's thyroid levels can result in | | | | New Jersey Medical School, feels that it |
| debilitating thyroid health problems. A | | | | will soon become routine to test women for |
| malfunction or even an infection could lead | | | | thyroid health problems when they are |
| to drastic weight problems, which are hard to | | | | pregnant. Research carried out indicates |
| overcome. Thyroid health problems could occur | | | | women with thyroid health problems being |
| due to both overactive and under active | | | | twice as likely to miscarriage than women who |
| thyroid glands. Many incidences of thyroid | | | | don't. A study in Italy found that when women |
| health problems are caused due to poisoning | | | | who had hypothyroidism were treated with a |
| by fluoride present in water. | | | | thyroid hormone, the pre-term delivery and |
| | | | miscarriage rate dropped. |
| Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism | | | | |
| | | | Natural Treatment of Thyroid Problems |
| An under active thyroid results in sluggish | | | | |
| metabolism and weight gain. This condition, | | | | The treatment and prevention of thyroid |
| known as hypothyroidism, is caused when the | | | | health problems can be done through diet and |
| body has an insufficient quantity of thyroid | | | | supplementation. Marine phytoplankton is a |
| hormone. Acute hypothyroidism slows the | | | | thyroid health food that contains ingredients |
| metabolism down tremendously, and whatever | | | | the body needs for an ideal metabolic rate |
| food is eaten is metabolized very slowly, | | | | and can prevent thyroid health problems. |
| leading to significant weight gain. | | | | Go-ji, or lyceum, berry juice also has |
| | | | appears to have the capacity to balance the |
| Hyperthyroidism presents the opposite | | | | abnormal reactions of the body, preventing |
| problem: there is an over production of the | | | | thyroid problems. |
| thyroid hormone and the metabolism is revved | | | | |
| up and goes into high gear. Food is | | | | In recent years natural vitamins have been |
| metabolized very rapidly resulting in | | | | used in the treatment of thyroid problems. |
| accelerated weight loss. | | | | Anyone on thyroid medication should ensure an |
| | | | adequate daily intake of multivitamins, |
| There are a number of medications on the | | | | including vitamin C after consultation with |
| market for the treatment of hyperthyroidism. | | | | their doctor. Kelp, which is a combination of |
| The main shortcoming of most of them is that | | | | minerals, vitamins and supplements, works |
| the underlying thyroid health problems often | | | | well in alleviating thyroid health problems - |
| come back after a course of medication is | | | | mainly due to high iodine content. |
| stopped. For this reason, many patients with | | | | Supplementing the diet with Vitamin A could |
| hyperthyroidism are advised to consider a | | | | help prevent hypothyroidism because it |
| treatment that permanently prevents the | | | | enables the thyroid glands to absorb |
| thyroid gland from producing too much thyroid | | | | sufficient amounts of iodine. |
| hormone. Often this means some kind of | | | | |
| surgery. | | | | A little care goes a long way in minimizing |
| | | | thyroid problems. When treated in the initial |
| Thyroid Problems in Pregnancy | | | | stages, the condition is easier to overcome. |
| | | | |
| Links have been found between thyroid | | | | For more information, see the American |
| problems and complications in pregnancy. Alex | | | | Thyroid Association's website. |