Brain & Body Care: Are Thyroid Disorders the Cause of Your Depression, Anxiety & Cognitive Issues?

When depression or anxiety leaves you unable to engage in daily activities, it can be debilitating. But before turning to antidepressant medication, you may want to have your thyroid levels checked.

Thyroid Disorders And Mental Health Connection

Thyroid disorders are one of the leading causes of undiagnosed mental health issues. An overactive thyroid can make you feel sped-up and anxious, in a state of perpetual over-caffeination. An underactive thyroid typically means lower brain activity, which can lead to depression, brain fog, or irritability. Researchers have found that people with depression tend to have lower levels of thyroid hormone than people without depression.

According to the American Thyroid Association, patients with hypothyroidism and those with depression can present with similar general symptoms. Because many mood disorders may have an underlying cause in thyroid disorders, it is wise to have blood work done to see if you may be suffering from an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s disease), an overactive thyroid (Grave’s disease), or any number of other related conditions.

Common Symptoms of Thyroid Disorders Associated With Mental Health Issues

Thyroid dysfunction is linked to depression, as well as schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, bipolar disease, ADD/ADHD, and other mental health problems.

Rule out thyroid disorders when noticing symptoms or conditions that appear to indicate mental health warnings. These indicators may include weight loss or gain, hair loss, fluctuations in body temperature, changes to your menstrual cycle, or persistent troubles with diarrhea or constipation.

Other symptoms to look for include:

• Sluggishness
• Racing thoughts
• Memory problems
• Trouble sleeping or unrestful sleep
• Cramps or pain in your muscles or joints
• Brittle nails
• Extra dry skin
• Yellowing skin
• Symptoms of psychosis
• Episodes of mania
• Attentional problems or difficulty concentrating
• Swelling in the front of your neck, which may indicate a swollen thyroid

Some of these symptoms on their own, such as difficulty sleeping and concentrating, can be primary symptoms of depression. The existence of one or several of these at the same time may indicate your thyroid is affected.

Identify and Know your Thyroid Blood Test

Thyroid blood tests are usually a part of a physician’s exam for patients with inadequate functioning thyroids, but there could be more to it than meets the eye.

The stress of life can trigger mental health disorders like anxiety and depression. Knowing your thyroid blood tests can help you manage these disorders.

While standard thinking holds that healthy levels of TSH, or thyroid-stimulating hormone, should range between .5 and 5 in blood work results, not every medical professional agrees. A TSH test reveals just how hard the thyroid gland is working to keep a person’s metabolism working. The higher the test score, the harder the gland is pumping out hormones to jolt you into gear. Generally speaking, lower TSH test results indicate the metabolism is in balance and doesn’t need medication assistance.

What Factors Contribute To Thyroid Disease and Mental Illness?

A wide variety of factors, acting alone or in combination, can contribute to an underactive thyroid gland. Dietary factors and exposure to environmental toxins are among them.

One such factor is rapid loss of weight. When you lose weight rapidly, your thyroid slows down, producing lower levels of TSH. People who suffer from gluten sensitivity and celiac disease may also develop thyroid disorders. Eating gluten can trigger leaky gut symptoms, which leads to the release of an antibody that attacks the thyroid. Celiac disease is often accompanied by thyroid disorders, and one study suggests that following a gluten-free diet can help people struggling with thyroid health. Other studies have found that failure to adhere to a gluten-free diet for people with these risk factors can contribute to a host of debilitating diseases such as osteoporosis, anemia, and an increased mortality rate.

Zinc deficiency is another risk factor. Along with copper and selenium, zinc is required for the production of thyroid hormones. Lastly, women with hypothyroidism who take supplemental estrogen for their health should consider increasing the amount of thyroxine they take in order to prevent a drop in their thyroid function.

Supplements to Balance Thyroid Hormones and Help with Mental Health

A wide variety of natural supplements can boost your thyroid health. These include ashwagandha, zinc (which supports healthy hair), selenium, rosemary extract and l-tyrosine. Potassium, chromium and vitamins A, B2, B3, B6 and D are also helpful.

You may have thyroid hormone imbalance, but that’s no reason not to get your life back on track. Order the right supplements and start feeling better today. Purchase from us here: FullScript Store

Disclaimer: When considering a major change to your diet or supplements you take, consult with your integrative healthcare provider first.

Article Source: www.amenclinics.com