| While the thyroid is but a small butterfly-shaped gland, it | | | | misdiagnose them entirely! Other doctors brush them |
| produces several hormones, some of which help | | | | aside as part of growing older, or tell patients that it's |
| oxygen get into your cells. It is also the master gland of | | | | "all in their heads." |
| metabolism. | | | | What causes thyroid imbalance? Radiation is one of |
| Because of the number and variety of hormones | | | | the primary factors. So are drugs such as lithium and |
| produced, the thyroid can control a large variety of | | | | cordarone. Over-consumption of isoflavone-intensive |
| conditions in your body. These include energy level, | | | | soy products, and/or of uncooked "goitrogenic" foods |
| weight, blood pressure, and mental alertness, among | | | | can also bring on the disease. These goitrogenic foods |
| others. | | | | include brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, |
| When out of balance, the thyroid can cause sufferers | | | | and kale. |
| to experience a wide variety of unpleasant symptoms, | | | | In addition, some people have a higher risk, either |
| many of which a doctor cannot explain. Sometimes | | | | genetically or through environmental or pharmaceutical |
| because they don't think to test, and sometimes | | | | exposures. Women, and both men and women over |
| because thyroid tests don't always reveal the | | | | 60 are at higher risk, as are smokers. |
| imbalance. When the imbalance is tiny, it is known as | | | | What should you do if you experience ongoing health |
| "thyroid shadow syndrome, and it often goes | | | | problems that your doctor can't diagnose? |
| undiagnosed. Nevertheless, it can cause you problems. | | | | Insist on a thyroid test, if you haven't had one. If you |
| In fact, of the estimated 27 million Americans who | | | | have, and if the test is negative, consider that you may |
| have thyroid disease, more than half go undiagnosed. | | | | have "shadow syndrome" and discuss possible |
| You can experience nagging health problems for | | | | treatment with your doctor. |
| years without your doctor even guessing that your | | | | Perhaps you can find a doctor who believes in natural |
| thyroid may be the root cause. | | | | medicine, and can re-balance your thyroid with herbs |
| Women are the primary victims - with a 7 times | | | | rather than pharmaceutical drugs. |
| greater likelihood of thyroid problems than men. In fact, | | | | Interestingly, when researching this problem with regard |
| every woman faces a 20% chance of getting this | | | | to dogs, I found the same information: Thyroid |
| disease at some point in her life. Often, the symptoms | | | | disorders are often either overlooked or misdiagnosed. |
| mimic those of other diseases and thus doctors | | | | |