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