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