im 143pounds, 5'4 and 16 yrs old. i lose a lot of hair and have very irregular periods. i also gain wieght very easily. do i have a slow thyroid? or do i just need to exercise more?
2006-12-01 16:13:37 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Women's Health
Crystal, I would definitely say you are a candidate for thyroid testing.
If your TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is elevated, your doctor will probably prescribe supplemental thyroid for you.
If your TSH is in the normal range, you may want to be tested for "Free T3" and "Free T4."
You can find more answers at www.thyroid.about.com and by doing a search for hypothyroid symptoms.
I don't know if you need to exercise more, but regular walking is good for your thyroid.
You might be both overweight and hypothyroid. I hope you'll get a thyroid test.
2006-12-01 16:22:30 · answer #1 · answered by E V 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Weight to height ratio is not the only measure for correct/best weight. The skeletal size - big bones, small/thin bones, etc., all should be taken into account. But aside from that, you should not be losing 'a lot of hair'. That is a sign of low thyroid. I had a lot of hair thinning, went for tests, got put of thyroid medicine, and my hair has filled in nicely.
As for weight gain, the thyroid gland mal-function, which does run in families, can and does influence weight and many other organs in the body.
Don't delay. See a doctor and get your thyroid checked. You won't regret it.
As for speeding up your metabolism...exercise on a regular basis. Not necessarily a strenuous routine -- walking, stretching, etc. will help a lot. If you like a particular sport, try to get into that.
Get ready, get set, go>>>>>>>>!!!!
2006-12-01 16:37:13 · answer #2 · answered by TexasStar 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would go to the gyno ... it could be your thyroid ... it could be that you are somewhat overweight, but 143 doesn't sounds like a ton to me ...
first, you could just try losing a little bit of weight and see what happens ... take note of what you eat because that may be why you gain weight easily. irregular periods are a result of being athletic, stressed, overweight, underweight ... and other things so it's hard telling with that
and i know nothing about the loss of hair, unless you dye it a lot, i do know that that causes some people's hair to thin ... exercise is always good, but not an excessive amount! good luck!
2006-12-01 16:21:46 · answer #3 · answered by called*to*love 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Considering your symptoms, I would go get your thyroid checked by a physician. Describe your symptoms to the physician and lab tests can determine if you have a thyroid problem.
Actually, 143 is just slight overweight for your height, so do something now by having yourself a good checkup.
You sound very nice and I hope I have eased your mind a bit.
2006-12-01 16:17:50 · answer #4 · answered by makeitright 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're not THAT overweight, just about 10-15 pounds, and that's not all that unhealthy.
Plus, you're a teenager, which means you're still growing.
Just in case though, here's a site for the symptoms of both a slow thyroid (hypothyriodism) and an overactive one (hypERthyroidism)
http://thyroid.about.com/cs/basics_starthere/a/symptoms.htm
Also, here's a site on hyperparathyroidism:
http://endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/hyper/hyper.htm#symptoms
The hair loss bothers me more than the weight.
You may simply be malnurished.
Yes, you can be malnurished AND overweight.
I was. (I'm still overweight, but I'm healthier)
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/sym/hair_loss.htm
Especially look inot Cushings Syndrome, that might explain any rapid weight gain.
Make sure you're getting all the nutrients you need, and exercise! Not to lose weight, but just to keep healthy.
Remember:
HEALTH COMES BEFORE SIZE!
Good luck!
Sheena
2006-12-01 16:30:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Only a doctor can test for thyroid issues. But you should always try to stay in a good physical shape or stay active and eat normal.
2006-12-01 16:17:36 · answer #6 · answered by streetlevelinfo 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the easiest way to find out if u have a thyroid problem is to go to ur doctor and get a thyroid function blood test. if the results prove ur thyroid is underactive u may be put on thyroid medication. It is heriditary so find out if anyone in ur family has problems with their thyroid. go see ur gp
2006-12-01 16:17:04 · answer #7 · answered by suzi Q 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thats not that heavy. and for your age. maybe a little for your hight. but you are still average. it is probibly just the exercise. but here is some good news. in health class this week we were taught that the most fatburning exercise is the easy to moderate exercise. the intense exercise moreso increases muscle mass. and also women naturaly have more fat than guys. dont be to woried but dont let it get out of hand either.
2006-12-01 16:17:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Possibly, but only a trip to your doctor for a blood test will say for certain. I have often been surprised by the results of lab work on my patients, so I don't guess anymore.
2006-12-01 16:16:32 · answer #9 · answered by Eric 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get yourself checked by a doctor. It could be your thyroid, but you won't know until the doctor tests you.
2006-12-01 16:16:05 · answer #10 · answered by Nancy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋