Preventive medicine for hypo/hyper thyroidism?

Question

I have had a family member die of hyperthyroidism and another one diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Besides measuring TSH levels, is there anything I can do to monitor and take preventive action to ensure my thyroid is well.

Answer 1

I have seen dozens of people completely reverse their thyroid conditions on a live food diet and get off their medications. So, if it can be reversed, it can be prevented. Radish juice is especially good for both hyper- and hypo-thyroidism.

Do a google search on "live food" or "raw food" and "thyroid" and you will not be disappointed. If you cannot find anything, email me and I'll send you my file which is full of great testimonials from people who have to keep cutting back on their meds because their thyroid starts to work again. So much for incompetent doctors who do NOT study food and say you'll be on medication for the rest of your life!

Answer 2

TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is produced in the pituitary and it's job is to...d'uh...stimulate the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones. It is the main screening test used to check for over or under active thyroid. It can then be confirmed by checking the actual horomone levels, T3 and T4, which is a bit more expensive test, so is not done routinely.

The main cause of underactive (hypothyroid) in the developing world is lack of iodine in the diet. In most industrialized nations, we don't have that problem as iodine is added to table salt.

There are many causes of Hyperthyroidism, the most common being the bodies own immune system turning on the the thyroid gland. The cause of this is not known, but may be related to a viral infection.

There is nothing you can do to monitor it other than regular checks by your doctor, and blood tests as you have a strong family history of thyroid problems.

NOTE TO REBECCALYNN:
Thermoscan is a completely bogus procedure that has not been shown in any valid studies to accomplish anything other than relieve you of your $200

Answer 3

Hi there,
I recently found a good online resource about hypothyroidism. I wanted to know more about treatment options and how to stop hypothyroidism at the source and I bumped into this program called hypothyroidismrevolution. I found it very useful. Check it out here http://www.goobypls.com/r/rd.asp?gid=290
I hope it helps

Answer 4

There is a new procedure thermo scan to make sure your organs are all in working order. It usually covered by insurance, but if not only cost two hundred dollars. It checks your thermo temperatures to check for body function.

I also see a kensiologist (a good one) that can tell you what vitamins and minerals you need to take to keep it working right.

Answer 5

1

Answer 6

Much simpler is monitoring of T3 and T4 done easily on blood once a year.

Answer 7

There is no prevention per sae. Thyroid problems sre usually an autoimmune problem. The prevention of complications due to thyroid problems is the key. Proper diagnosis and treatment is the foremost prevention of these complications.

Common problems with an underactive thyroid and too little thyroid hormone
feeling tired and listless
feeling chilly, especially when other people are comfortable
dry skin
hair loss
constipation
slow-growing and brittle fingernails
slow heart rate
leg cramps
sore muscles
depression
for women, heavier periods
for men, loss of interest in sex, erectile dysfunction
weight gain due to fluid retention, but usually no more than 3-4 pounds

Common problems with an overactive thyroid and too much thyroid hormone:
feeling too hot when others are comfortable
shakes and tremors of your hands
feeling nervous and irritable
sweating more than you used to
fingernails growing faster
muscle weakness, especially thighs and upper arms
faster heart rate, sometimes irregular rhythms and an erratic pulse
more frequent and looser bowel movements
for women, lighter periods, as well as difficulties in becoming pregnant or in carrying the child to term
for men, loss of interest in sex, erectile dysfunction
eyes that appear larger than normal


Thyroid disorders are easy to manage, but complications, including significant disruption to one's quality of life, can occur if they are left untreated or improperly treated. Graves' disease, for example, includes the possibility of weakened heart muscle leading to heart failure, osteoporosis, or severe emotional disorders if left untreated. Depression, a symptom of hypothyroidism, can have devastating effects if the condition is improperly diagnosed or treated. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Be aware of changes in how you feel. Don't disregard symptoms because you think they could be due to something else.

Choose a health care professional who is knowledgeable about autoimmune disorders, in general, and thyroid diseased in particular, and who listens to what you have to say and takes your symptoms seriously. Type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis are examples of more common autoimmune diseases. But, there are more than 28 different autoimmune conditions.

Explain how you feel to your health care professional. You may even want to keep a journal, making brief notes about your symptoms and what you think may be causing them. Include those symptoms that are the most bothersome, when they seem to be the hardest to tolerate (for example, are certain symptoms worse during a particular phase of your menstrual cycle?), and what, if anything, causes them to get better or worse. You could use the journal to jot down questions you may want to ask during your visit.

Let your health care professional know about any pattern of autoimmune diseases that may exist in your family's medical history, since there is a possibility that you may be suffering from one as well (a useful "family tree" form can be downloaded from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists' Web site).

Be sure your health care professional examines you thoroughly and orders any lab tests that may help in making a diagnosis. Along the way, ask key questions, such as "Will the procedure hurt?" and "What will the test results tell me about my condition?" Also, it's probably a good idea to find out about the practical aspects for the test, such as how much it costs and whether it is covered by insurance. All these issues should be considered before moving forward in a particular therapeutic direction.

Seek out second, third or even fourth opinions if you are not satisfied with how your evaluation and treatment are progressing.

Although there is no known method to "cure" some thyroid disorders (such as Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis), there is effective treatment, and the healthier you are in general, the better your body will be able to cope with treatment. A healthy diet, exercise, meditation and other mind-body therapies have given many patients relief and comfort, but cannot take the place of standard medical treatment.

If you begin thyroid hormone replacement therapy:

Find a way to remember to take your pills every day. Some people report that associating their pill taking with something else they do everyday -- such as brushing their teeth -- helps them to remember.

Alert other health care professionals of your medication when you need non-thyroid prescriptions, to be sure there are no drug interactions.

Notify your health care professional if you become pregnant.

Be vigilant about yearly check-ups to reassess your dose.