Thyroid Problems in Menopause
Thyroid Problems in Menopause, our patients often ask us this question, the most common symptom of thyroid problems in menopause is an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). Most women with an overactive thyroid will also have symptoms such as weight loss, nervousness and irritability, irregular menstrual periods and fatigue. In rare cases, menopause may cause hypothyroidism, where the thyroid produces too little of its hormone. A goitre is a swelling of your neck caused by the growth of your thyroid gland. If your thyroid hormones are too low for non-cancerous reasons, you may develop a condition known as hypothyroidism that can cause symptoms such as muscle weakness and depression.
Symptoms of thyroid problems in menopause
- Weight gain
- Muscle weakness and fatigue
- Depression, irritability and nervousness (can lead to anxiety)
- Dry skin and hair loss (alopecia)
- Constipation due to poor absorption of nutrients in the intestines
Thyroid disorders during menopause
You may be surprised to know that thyroid disorders are actually very common during menopause. The symptoms of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism include fatigue, weight gain, depression, cold hands and feet, dry skin (especially on the face), hair loss or thinning hair–and they can be treated with hormone replacement therapy.
If you have any concerns about your thyroid health please think to get tested, a blood test can determine your issues, and we offer a blood testing service direct to your door.
Other causes of thyroid symptoms in menopause
There are several other health conditions that can cause thyroid symptoms. These include:
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, a condition in which your immune system attacks the thyroid gland and causes inflammation
- Hyperthyroidism, which means you have too much of the hormone T3 or T4 in your blood (this is more common in women than men)
- Hypothyroidism, which means you don’t have enough T3 or T4 in your blood (this is more common in women than men)
Thyroid disorders may occur in women during menopause.
Thyroid disorders, or changes in the thyroid gland, can occur at any age. They are more common in women than men and usually develop between the ages of 50-60 years. Thyroid problems may be caused by a number of things:
- Exposure to radiation (e.g., X-rays)
- Exposure to chemicals such as iodine and lithium
- Autoimmune disease (an immune system disorder where your body attacks healthy tissues)
Most thyroid problems in women are due to an overactive thyroid gland.
Most thyroid problems in women are due to an overactive thyroid gland. This condition is called hyperthyroidism and can cause symptoms like weight loss, nervousness and irritability, irregular menstrual periods and fatigue.
Graves’ disease is the most common type of hyperthyroidism (also called toxic diffuse goitre). It’s caused by an autoimmune reaction that makes the body attack its own tissues–in this case the thyroid gland. The thyroid then becomes swollen due to increased hormone production:
When the thyroid becomes overactive, it can cause symptoms such as weight loss, nervousness and irritability, irregular menstrual periods and fatigue.
When the thyroid becomes overactive, it can cause symptoms such as weight loss, nervousness and irritability, irregular menstrual periods and fatigue.
Weight loss is one of the most common symptoms of an overactive thyroid. The reason for this is that when your body produces too much T3 (the active form of thyroid hormone), you’ll burn more calories than normal, leading to weight loss. This also explains why some people with an overactive thyroid feel cold all the time: their bodies are working harder than usual so they need more energy from food intake just to keep up with their increased metabolic rate! If you’ve lost weight without trying but aren’t sure why then this might be why!
Nervousness/irritability: When we think about our nervous system we usually think about how it controls feelings like fear or sadness – but did you know that there are nerves throughout our entire body? These nerves help regulate physical processes such as digestion or breathing…and they’re also responsible for regulating our moods too! So if something goes wrong within these systems then it could lead us to feel angry instead of happy…or sad instead of joyful!
In rare cases, menopause may cause hypothyroidism, where the thyroid produces too little of its hormone.
In rare cases, menopause may cause hypothyroidism, where the thyroid produces too little of its hormone. This usually occurs because you’re not producing enough estrogen.
If you have any of these symptoms and think they might be related to your thyroid:
- Fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest or sleep (your doctor can check your thyroid function)
- Weight gain or difficulty losing weight despite dieting (a sign of low metabolism)
- Depression and/or anxiety (these are common symptoms of hypothyroidism)
A goitre is a swelling of your neck caused by the growth of your thyroid gland.
A goitre is a swelling of your neck caused by the growth of your thyroid gland. It can be caused by an overactive thyroid gland, which makes too much hormone.
Goiters usually occur when you have an underactive or absent pituitary gland (the small organ at the base of your brain that controls many body functions). This means that there isn’t enough TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) being produced to control how much thyroxine gets released into the blood stream by this organ, so it goes wild producing extra amounts on its own!
If this happens after radiation therapy for cancer or if you were exposed to iodine deficiency as a child (for example if you grew up on a remote island), then there may be some permanent damage done to some parts within this region of your brain – causing them not function correctly anymore..
If your thyroid hormones are too low for non-cancerous reasons, you may develop a condition known as hypothyroidism that can cause symptoms such as muscle weakness and depression.
If your thyroid hormones are too low for non-cancerous reasons, you may develop a condition known as hypothyroidism that can cause symptoms such as muscle weakness and depression. The symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, depression, muscle weakness and weight gain.
Hypothyroidism occurs when the body does not produce enough thyroid hormone (T4). The main cause of this condition is Hashimoto’s disease where the immune system attacks the thyroid gland and stops it from working properly so there isn’t enough T4 being produced by your body.
To treat thyroid problems, doctors treat the underlying cause.
Once a doctor diagnoses you with thyroid problems, they will treat the underlying cause. This may include:
- Thyroid replacement therapy (TRT) replaces hormones your body isn’t producing on its own. TRT can be taken in pill form or through an IV drip.
- Medications to control thyroid hormone levels, such as levothyroxine (Levothroid) and liothyronine sodium (Cytomel). They’re also often used in conjunction with TRT to help manage symptoms like fatigue and weight gain caused by low levels of these hormones in the body.
- Lifestyle changes such as reducing stressors like caffeine consumption or exercising regularly can help improve symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism; meanwhile, avoiding cold temperatures helps minimize symptoms associated with hypothyroidism
Conclusion
The best way to treat thyroid problems is to find the underlying cause and treat it. If you have thyroid disease symptoms and would like a blood test, please contact one of our nurses; we would be happy to help.
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