| Energy is the backbone of life. All systems in your | | | | underlying thyroid weakness. Pregnancy is always a |
| body need energy to function properly. How you | | | | major test of the thyroid, as one's thyroid is called upon |
| produce and distribute energy is complex; thyroid | | | | to do metabolic work for two bodies. This is why |
| hormone function has a major impact on all of your | | | | thyroid issues often flare up during or following |
| energy systems. However, not all fatigue or tiredness | | | | pregnancy. |
| is due to thyroid malfunction. How do you tell the | | | | Thyroid hormone is synergistic with growth hormone in |
| difference? | | | | muscles. When these two are working properly |
| Thyroid hormone governs the basal metabolic rate, | | | | together the muscles feel fit. Exercise conditions |
| which is like the idling speed of a car engine. Even | | | | thyroid hormone to work properly to assist general |
| when you are sitting in a chair or sleeping, 100 trillion | | | | energy production while a lack of exercise contributes |
| cells keep making energy. This type of energy | | | | to poor thyroid function. The more fit your muscles |
| production is the foundation for all other energy and | | | | feel, the less likely thyroid-related fatigue will be an |
| hormonal systems. If it is not up to par, no other | | | | issue for you. If you have poor thyroid function you |
| system in your body works as well as it should. | | | | frequently feel like you don't have the energy to |
| When you step on the gas pedal during the day, this is | | | | exercise and usually don't on a consistent basis. |
| not thyroid hormone that goes into action. Increased | | | | Muscle weakness is a classic hypothyroid symptom. |
| activity of any kind is controlled by adrenaline, muscle | | | | One of the key symptoms of thyroid fatigue is a |
| activity, increased calorie burning, and an increased | | | | heavy or tired head, especially in the afternoon. Thyroid |
| speed at which your cells make energy. If you have a | | | | hormone activity is regulated differently in the brain |
| sluggish thyroid you may still be able to make yourself | | | | than anywhere else in the body, as brain cells |
| have the energy to do things based on | | | | themselves convert T4 to T3 (active thyroid hormone). |
| adrenaline-driven necessity. You may also notice that | | | | Your head is a very sensitive indicator of thyroid |
| you have too much reliance on stimulants such as | | | | hormone status. This is different than low blood sugar |
| caffeine, sugar, or cigarettes. | | | | symptoms from not having eaten for a while. The |
| A demanding day may deplete muscles of fuel and | | | | head just feels sluggish or tired, lacking clarity or |
| induce enough wear and tear so that natural tiredness | | | | sharpness. When this head tiredness occurs too many |
| follows. Such fatigue is normal and why we need to | | | | hours in the day then you will feel like you want to |
| sleep. Even pushing it day after day and cutting sleep | | | | sleep all the time and you will feel depressed, signs of |
| short may not be a thyroid problem. However, such a | | | | more advanced thyroid-related fatigue. |
| poor lifestyle is pushing your system and you may | | | | Another key sign of thyroid fatigue is conking out as |
| eventually develop a thyroid problem as a result. | | | | soon as you sit down and don't actually have to do |
| Getting less than seven hours of sleep per night is | | | | something (there is no necessity making you have to |
| asking for trouble. | | | | do something). In this case it feels like your body is a |
| Thyroid-related fatigue starts to show up when you | | | | car idling too slowly at a stop sign that just stalls and |
| cannot sustain energy long enough, especially when | | | | goes to sleep. This is a clear sign of thyroid fatigue. |
| compared to a past level of fitness or ability. If the | | | | You either do or don't have the symptoms of |
| thyroid foundation is weak, sustaining energy output is | | | | thyroid-related fatigue. If you wake up energized, |
| difficult. You will notice you just don't seem to have the | | | | maintain decent energy throughout the day, are able to |
| energy to do the things you used to be able to do. | | | | maintain mental alertness/sharpness, have energy as |
| The menstrual cycle, pregnancy, exercise, stress, and | | | | needed to meet demands, and your muscles feel fit, |
| physical demands are all examples of increased | | | | you do not have thyroid-related fatigue. The more you |
| energy demands requiring increased energy output. | | | | don't feel this way, the greater the problem. No lab test |
| Thus, PMS is almost always a thyroid problem to a | | | | is needed. In many cases thyroid lab tests may still be |
| degree. The increased energy demands of the | | | | normal, even though you clearly are not. The |
| menstrual cycle are simply too much, partly due to an | | | | symptoms tell the story and they never lie. |