Chronic Fatigue, Anxiety, Mood Changes & Can’t Lose Weight? It Could Be Your Thyroid
Free Online Articles Directory
Why Submit Articles?
Top Authors
Top Articles
FAQ
ABAnswers
0 && $.browser.msie ) {
var ie_version = parseInt($.browser.version);
if(ie_version Login
Register
Hello
My Home
Sign Out
Email
Password
Remember me?
Lost Password?
Home Page > Health > Women’s Health > Chronic Fatigue, Anxiety, Mood Changes & Can’t Lose Weight? It Could Be Your Thyroid
Chronic Fatigue, Anxiety, Mood Changes & Can’t Lose Weight? It Could Be Your Thyroid
Posted: Apr 02, 2010 |Comments: 0
|
]]>
Chronic Fatigue, tiredness, mood changes and weight gain can be caused by hormones. If your hormones are not ‘in balance’ then you can find yourself experiencing symptoms such depression, headaches, insomnia, chronic fatigue, weight gain and you may struggle to lose weight naturally. Thyroid disease is one of the most common hormonal disorders, after insulin resistance and diabetes. The majority of women with thyroid imbalance have hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid). A small minority has hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). The problem is that symptoms of low thyroid function are often mistaken for depression, signs of ageing, or are not identified as in the case with Carolyn, Bev and Val. Click Here to read their journey with fatigue.
Common thyroid Condition linked to chronic fatigue:
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
Post partum Thyroiditis
Thyroid Nodules & Cysts
What does your thyroid do and how does it cause chronic fatigue?
Your thyroid – a small butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of your neck – controls the functioning of every cell, organ and gland in your body. In addition, your thyroid regulates these functions:
The use of oxygen in all tissues,
The rate of repair of damaged of diseased tissues,
Your blood sugar levels by controlling the release of glucose (sugar) from the liver to the bloodstream,
Electrolyte and water balance in the cells and body,
Your circulatory system,
The energy and strength of the muscles,
The speed of the impulse going to nerves
Your libido
Your fat metabolism
Weight loss
Four main hormones produced by your thyroid gland directly affect your metabolism and body fat. They are thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine/levo-thyroxin (T4), and calcitonin (used in calcium metabolism).
Although your thyroid gland secretes and regulates these hormones, about 80% of the body’s T3 is produced outside the thyroid gland, in the liver, by chemical modification of thyroxine or T4.
Hypothyroid women gain weight and find it difficult to lose weight because (i) their T4 is not being converted by the liver to the metabolically active form of T3 or (ii) the converted T3 hormones is not getting to the cellular level of the body – meaning that they are producing it, but their body can’t use it.
Although most conventional practitioners only test for the inactive T4 hormone level, it is important to remember that active T3 thyroid hormone works inside every cell of the body – not only in the blood. If T3 isn’t available at the cellular level, then those cells can’t function properly. The T4 blood test does not test for this, but taking your body temperature does! I personally believe that your body temperature is the single best test of your thyroid function.
Symptoms of low thyroid function causing chronic fatigue
Every cell and tissue in your body is affected by hypothyroidism and deficient levels of the active T3 thyroid hormone can produce one or more of the following symptoms: weight gain, chronic fatigue, weakness, constipation, shortness of breath, depression, irritability, poor memory, difficulty concentrating, intolerance to cold, low body temperature, dry coarse hair/dry skin, hair loss, muscle or joint pain and stiffness, headaches, decreased libido, slow weight loss and elevated cholesterol or triglycerides.
Sadly, many hypothyroid symptoms are frequently dismissed by physicians as being a normal part of ageing, psychological problem, overwork, or some other condition. As a result, thyroid tests are never performed and the patient never receives the proper medical treatment they require.
What interferes with thyroid function causing chronic fatigue?
Insulin resistance/metabolic syndrome
Chronic stress/adrenal depletion – there is a strong interplay between the thyroid and the adrenals. One is usually weak first and then weakens the other.
Prescription drugs including Dilantin, Lithium, beta blockers, Premarin, birth control pills and some anti-depressants.
Frequent X-rays – from dental or medical exams or radiation treatment to the head, neck or chest
Thyroid inhibiting foods – Over-consumption of soy and raw thyroid-inhibiting foods, such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and kale.
Environmental, synthetic and genetically engineered hormones (oestrogen and other hormones) in meat, dairy, poultry and eggs. Also conditions such as poly cystic ovarian disorder, fibroids, IVF treatment and menopause.
Exercise – The receptors for the thyroid hormones are found deep within the cells, and exercise stimulates the thyroid by increasing oxygen to the cells. When you exercise and breathe more oxygen into your body, you speed up your metabolism and the heat in your body rises. So, to pump up your metabolism, you need to pump some iron to heat up your cell’s ‘fat burners’ by giving them more oxygen.
Dieting – During a restrictive diet that is either too low calorie or deficient in essential nutrients, the body produces less of the liver enzymes, thus converting less T4 and producing less T3. Perhaps the biggest problem with diets is that most leave you with less muscle and more fat than when you started. Researchers have found that low calorie and low carbohydrate diets eventually suppress T3 hormone levels in the body by providing insufficient fuel for the thyroid and body to function properly.
Heavy metal exposure – mercury is a toxic heavy metal, which comprises over 50% of ‘silver’ dental fillings and is found in cigarettes. Mercury interferes with the liver’s production of 5-deodinase, an enzyme that is critical in converting thyroid hormones.
Chlorine – added to most municipal water supplies as a disinfectant.
Fluoride – primary sources include toothpaste, dental products, municipal water supplies, pesticide, and residues on commercially grown foods.
Tests for thyroid function linked with chronic fatigue
If you are doing everything right and still felling unwell and suffering from chronic fatigue, there is definitely something going on that needs to be addressed. Perhaps you are suffering from hypothyroidism (an under-active thyroid) or sub-clinical hypothyroidism (you have symptoms but the blood tests are normal).
Let’s assume you are overweight and think you have hypothyroidism. You’ve been to the doctor with complaints of weight gain, slow weight loss, chronic fatigue, cold hands and feet, and ‘brain fog’. The doctor examines you and performs some blood tests, including thyroid tests, and all the tests come back normal. However you are sure you must have an under-active thyroid as you have all the symptoms, including a low body temperature, but the doctor decides to not prescribe any treatment. You go home, sentenced to a life of weight gain, chronic fatigue and feeling plain unwell. This scenario is played out again and again until one day you finally fall below the ‘reference’ ranges.
The Barnes temperature test for thyroid function and chronic fatigue
If you feel that your thyroid is sluggish and you think you may be hypothyroid, testing your thyroid is important. You can take the do-it-yourself Barnes Thyroid Temperature Test, as an inexpensive, yet surprisingly accurate, initial test for chronic fatigue. Before the advent of the blood test, the Barnes basal temperature test and patients symptoms were all physicians had available to them to test thyroid function.
Doing the Barnes self temperature test will give you a starting point to determine if you may have hypothyroidism and need to have further confirmatory tests to establish why you are suffering from chronic fatigue.
How to test your thyroid and find out why you are chronically fatigued.
Place a thermometer (preferably digital) within easy reach on the bedside table. Place the thermometer in your armpit for five minutes. Try to move as little as possible because movement will raise your body temperature.
Record your temperature each morning for five days. (For women, additional consideration is needed during ovulation, since ovulation somewhat elevates temperature. Because of this, women who menstruate should start recording their temperature on the second or third day of menstruation.)
A reading of 36.4 degrees or lower may indicate low thyroid function and be a cause of your chronic fatigue.
Serum (blood) test for hypothyroidism
If your temperature is low, you may want to request further testing. If you want to go the conventional medical test route you need to request that your physician perform the T3, free T3, sensitive TSH, reverse T3, and anti-thyroid antibody tests. Remember that the standard T4 blood test for thyroid function only measures T4 (the inactive form of the hormone) function and is rarely sensitive enough to determine hypothyroidism. That is why I recommend that you ask your doctor to perform the other blood tests to get to the cause of your chronic fatigue.
In my clinical experience, most thyroid blood tests will come back within a ‘normal range’, but the patient still shows signs of (sub-clinical) hypothyroidism such as a low body (basal) temperature, etc. There is research indicating that the reference ranges are too broad and do not cater for the individual – I guess we are not all the same after all!
The good news is that new and more accurate salivary and urine thyroid tests have become available.
The salivary thyroid test
Salivary and urine thyroid testing to the rescue! That’s right. Your saliva and urine now hold the key to determining whether or not you have an under-active thyroid causing your chronic fatigue. This brand new technology promised to change the lives of the millions of individuals suffering with an undiagnosed under-active thyroid. Because it tests thyroid function at the cellular level, the salivary/and or urine thyroid panel has been found to be more accurate than the blood tests in identifying an under-active thyroid. Urine thyroid tests are available from my online dispensary.
The thyroid salivary test measures T3, T4 and free TSH. The salivary or urine thyroid test also measures antibodies against thyroperoxidase, an important enzyme involved in the production of thyroid hormone. Positive antibodies are a sign of an autoimmune process (the immune system attacking the body’s own thyroid tissue).
Reviving your thyroid and stopping chronic fatigue in its tracks.
If your thyroid gland is found to be sluggish and the cause of your chronic fatigue, through any of the various tests, you may first try the natural non-drug approach to reviving your thyroid.
Identify what is causing it to be sluggish – e.g. stress, chemical exposure, etc.
Check your basal body temperature.
Consult your GP if necessary and request specific blood tests and discuss any possible need for medication changes.
Change your diet – different foods do interfere with thyroid function. You may wish to consult a naturopath for help with this.
Consult a herbalist – herbs such as withania, coleus, rehmania, kelp, etc. , are helpful if used in the correct dosages.
Improve your liver function.
Avoiding the toxins I mentioned earlier and increasing your intake of iodine-rich foods such as seafood, asparagus, sea vegetables (kelp), garlic, lima beans, sesame seeds, spinach, Swiss chard and sea salt can be helpful.
The bottom line is most of the above symptoms may sound familiar – it’s not unusual for a 30, 40, or 50 something woman to feel tired, burnt out, and a little bit overweight and this makes hypothyroidism that much harder to diagnose. However there are few things more frustrating than feeling chronically fatigued and unwell. It can take a while to get the right diagnosis. Remember though, if you are feeling unwell – there is most likely something triggering it. Ignoring the problem won’t make it go away.
Getting a correct diagnosis is crucial when you realise that being treated can be a life-affirming event. So explore your options and strive for a better, healthy life!
Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/womens-health-articles/chronic-fatigue-anxiety-mood-changes-amp-can039t-lose-weight-it-could-be-your-thyroid-2088744.html”
(ArticlesBase SC #2088744)
Watch your traffic increase just by submitting articles with us, click here to get started.
Liked this article? Click here to publish it on your website or blog, it’s free and easy!
Narelle Stegehuis -
About the Author:
Narelle Stegehuis, CEO of MassAttack, and BumpFertility is a Naturopath specializing in the treatment of PCOS, Fibroids, Endometriosis & Thyroid imbalance. Uniquely her services are offered online. She is both an accomplished writer and recent recipient of the Australian Naturopathic Excellence Award. www.massattack.com.au
]]>
Questions and Answers
Ask our experts your Women’s Health related questions here…
200 Characters left
How is chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosed ?
I have an extreme mood change 3-5 days before my period, sometimes resembling psychosis. The doctor has put me on a birth control pill with progestin. Is this known to help?
How many calories to lose weight without exercise ?
Rate this Article
vote(s)
0 vote(s)
Feedback
RSS
Print
Email
Re-Publish
Article Tags:
chronic fatigue, anxiety, mood changes, cant lose weight, thyroid massattack
Latest Women’s Health Articles
More from Narelle Stegehuis
How a Thyroid Problem Affects Weight Gain
In this health video you will learn how a thyroid problem can affect weight gain. (05:09)
Gaining Weight Post Thyroid Removed
Dr. Terris explains if a woman will gain weight if her thyroid is removed. (00:44)
Learn How Thyroid Problems Interfere with Weight Loss. Hosted by Dr. George Best. (08:58)
Chronic Fatigue and Low Thyroid
In this health video you will learn chronic fatigue connects with having a low thyroid. (04:35)
How to Get a Sexy Body with Music
Learn how to get a sexy body listening to music while you workout. Here are Sarah’s Best Workout Songs, plus does music make weight loss easy? http://tinyurl.com/5t9kee Losing weight listening to music is as easy as it sounds! Music makes you feel less fatigued during your workout while listening to songs with fast beats. Here are some of Sarah’s favorite workout songs that keep her working going.
Whitney Houston – How Will I know Remix
Morningwood – Jetsetter
Pussycat Dolls – When I Grow Up (01:00)
Fatigue And Depression After Birth – Is Your Thyroid The Cause?
Fatigue and depression getting you down? Do you remember how you used to feel? You were happy and well, with steady energy and emotions. You slept soundly and woke up feeling rested. Your recovery from illness was fast. You maintained a healthy weight without dieting. Now you are fatigued, your energy lags during the day, you feel depressed, emotionally unbalanced and you sleep poorly. You can’t lose excess weight even while dieting. You use caffeine or carbohydrates as pick-me-ups.
By:
Narelle Stegehuisl
Health>
Women’s Healthl
Apr 02, 2010
lViews: 212
Overcoming Chronic Stress and Adrenal Fatigue
Fatigue is different from tiredness. In general, tiredness is feeling the need to sleep, while fatigue is a lack of energy and motivation. However tiredness can be a symptom that goes along with fatigue. Fatigue can be a normal response to exercise, stress, boredom, or insomnia. Fatigue can also be a symptom of a more serious health condition that slows your metabolism such as hormonal imbalance. When fatigue is not relieved by sleep, improved nutrition. Read more …
By:
Narelle Stegehuisl
Health>
Women’s Healthl
Aug 02, 2010
lViews: 139
The menstrual cycle – Process for reproduction
The menstrual cycle is a process which occurs to women. It is a problem which purifies the blood in female’s body. You can notice that there is a blood flow from the vagina which starts from the first day and last up to several days. This happens due because it starts the procedure of reproduction in the women’s body which later ends after the year of 45 ages. You can keep the record of your periods in menstrual cycle chart.
By:
DelfinAshleyl
Health>
Women’s Healthl
Mar 12, 2011
Painful Breast Surgeries: Is there a Better Alternative?
Today, there are about two million American women who have had some type of surgical procedure to cosmetically enhance their breasts. Incredibly, many of them will also have to have their implants removed in the next four to six years. These removal or replacement surgeries are not uncommon and are, in fact, often the norm. A major reason for these second surgeries occurs when calcification begins to form around the implants as a way for the body to protect itself from the “foreign” object.
By:
John Ortonl
Health>
Women’s Healthl
Mar 11, 2011
Increase Your Breast Naturally – Without Signing a Death Release Form
If signing a death release form gives you second thoughts about getting a cosmetic procedure like breast augmentation, than you better think again. As inherent with any surgical procedure, elective or necessary, you will need to sign a “death release” form and often times, a power of attorney form as well. This will free the surgeon from any responsibility in case of your unfortunate death.
By:
John Ortonl
Health>
Women’s Healthl
Mar 11, 2011
Female Health and Sleep Patterns
The monthly menstrual cycle of women can adversely affect sleep patterns, moods and reaction to stress. Although younger women generally have fewer problems sleeping, many women have premenstrual sleep disturbances due to hormonal changes.
By:
David Floresl
Health>
Women’s Healthl
Mar 11, 2011
How to Avoid Depression and Grow Old Gracefully
It would appear that as we become older we tend to become more depressed and I guess that is to be expected. Lets face it getting old is nothing to be too cheerful about is it? except for the fact that the alternative is hardly anything to get that excited about either is it?
By:
Maxine Greenel
Health>
Women’s Healthl
Mar 11, 2011
The Types and Classifications of Vaginism
Vaginismus, sometimes incorrectly referred to as Vaginism, is of two major types and is classified into five different degrees. Here, we are going to layout a detailed description of the different types and the different degrees of Vaginismus.
By:
Sarah Matthewsl
Health>
Women’s Healthl
Mar 11, 2011
How to Get Feminine Odor Relief Today Using Home Remedies
For feminine odor problems, there are tons of home remedies that you can start using today that will give you some relief. You can make prescription medicine a thing of the past and you can start to feel better. Homeopathic remedies can be your end all solution as long as you are using the right ones.
By:
Michelle Jacobsl
Health>
Women’s Healthl
Mar 11, 2011
Bacterial Vaginosis Treatments – Finding Natural Cures for Bacterial Vaginosis and The Vaginal Odor
Bacterial vaginosis treatments come in various options. When battling the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis and the vaginal odor especially, increasing numbers of women are turning to natural cures which not only offer relief from the symptoms, but they also help to cure this infection for good. In addition to the various conventional treatment options, this article also discusses finding natural cures for bacterial vaginosis.
By:
Terry Robbinsl
Health>
Women’s Healthl
Mar 11, 2011
What Causes Painful Ovulation?
Many women experience cramping, headaches, bloating, and constipation or diarrhea that coincides with their period every month. However for some women mid-cycle ovulation pain is also an issue. Painful ovulation or mid-cycle pain affects about twenty percent of women. Although the pain may feel like something serious is wrong, painful ovulation or is rarely serious but it can be a sign that your hormones are out of balance or an underlying condition such as … read more
By:
Narelle Stegehuisl
Health>
Women’s Healthl
Aug 07, 2010
lViews: 220
For many women painful ovulation is a warning sign that something is not right. Unfortunately ignoring the signs and symptoms of nausea, light menstrual spotting and ovulation pain may mean a more serious condition such as Endometriosis, Poly Cystic Ovarian Disorder or Ovarian Cysts, may be overlooked. Read more …
By:
Narelle Stegehuisl
Health>
Women’s Healthl
Aug 07, 2010
lViews: 187
If you have PCOS or think you do, take heart in realizing there are many things you can do naturally, without drugs. Like any condition related to hormone imbalance, improving your lifestyle and with the right dietary changes; you can restore your health and successfully kick start your metabolism to lose weight. It is possible to treat PCOS without surgery or drugs. So what’s the secret to losing weight with PCOS … balancing your hormones naturally!
By:
Narelle Stegehuisl
Health>
Women’s Healthl
Aug 03, 2010
The Link Between Stress, Hormones and Weight gain
Stress and anxiety affects your metabolism, causes weight gain especially around the tummy and sabotages your weight loss efforts. This is something that researchers are well aware of. It is something that many women have experienced after a traumatic time in their life – the sudden weight loss, and then the subsequent steady weight gain. But for many women it’s the everyday stress, anxiety and burnout that contributes to the constant weight gain and sabotages their weight loss efforts.
By:
Narelle Stegehuisl
Health>
Medicinel
Aug 02, 2010
lViews: 138
Overcoming Chronic Stress and Adrenal Fatigue
Fatigue is different from tiredness. In general, tiredness is feeling the need to sleep, while fatigue is a lack of energy and motivation. However tiredness can be a symptom that goes along with fatigue. Fatigue can be a normal response to exercise, stress, boredom, or insomnia. Fatigue can also be a symptom of a more serious health condition that slows your metabolism such as hormonal imbalance. When fatigue is not relieved by sleep, improved nutrition. Read more …
By:
Narelle Stegehuisl
Health>
Women’s Healthl
Aug 02, 2010
lViews: 139
Adrenal Brunout – What is adrenal burnout and how do you know if you have it?
Adrenal Burnout is experienced by many women. If you are constantly tired with no drive and can’t seem to get your energy back, then you may have adrenal burnout. This is often the case if you have been working long hours, suffered from recent trauma or your immune system is depleted. There are many things you can do to help adrenal burnout and get your energy back. Read on.
By:
Narelle Stegehuisl
Health>
Women’s Healthl
Aug 02, 2010
lViews: 136
Suffering from belly fat that won’t budge. Conventional dieting and exercise not working? Read on to learn why you have belly fat and how you can get rid of it once and for all.
By:
Narelle Stegehuisl
Health>
Women’s Healthl
Jul 25, 2010
Acne is a frustrating and distressing condition for many women. But is there a actual acne cure that works? In amongst the multi million acne cure industry, surely one pill, potion or treatment can deliver results that means you are cured of your acne forever.
By:
Narelle Stegehuisl
Add new Comment
Your Name: *
Your Email:
Comment Body: *
Verification code:*
* Required fields
Submit
Your Articles Here
It’s Free and easy
Sign Up Today
Author Navigation
My Home
Publish Article
View/Edit Articles
View/Edit Q&A
Edit your Account
Manage Authors
Statistics Page
Personal RSS Builder
My Home
Edit your Account
Update Profile
View/Edit Q&A
Publish Article
Author Box
Narelle Stegehuis has 24 articles online
Articles Categories
All Categories
Advertising
Arts & Entertainment
Automotive
Beauty
Business
Careers
Computers
Education
Finance
Food and Beverage
Health
Hobbies
Home and Family
Home Improvement
Internet
Law
Marketing
News and Society
Relationships
Self Improvement
Shopping
Spirituality
Sports and Fitness
Technology
Travel
Writing
Acne
Allergies
Alternative Medicine
Anti Aging
Cancer
Dental Care
Disabilities
Diseases and Conditions
Hair Loss
Hearing
Medical Tourism
Medicine
Men’s Health
Mental Health
Nutrition
Plastic Surgeries
Quit Smoking
Sleep
Supplements & Vitamins
Vision
Wellness
Women’s Health
]]>
Need Help?
Contact Us
FAQ
Submit Articles
Editorial Guidelines
Blog
Site Links
Recent Articles
Top Authors
Top Articles
Find Articles
Site Map
Mobile Version
Webmasters
RSS Builder
RSS
Link to Us
Business Info
Advertising
Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy | User published content is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Copyright © 2005-2011 Free Articles by ArticlesBase.com, All rights reserved.
Narelle Stegehuis, CEO of MassAttack, and BumpFertility is a Naturopath specializing in the treatment of PCOS, Fibroids, Endometriosis & Thyroid imbalance.? Uniquely her services are offered online. She is both an accomplished writer and recent recipient of the Australian Naturopathic Excellence Award. www.massattack.com.au
