Feeling particularly sluggish lately? Losing hair unexpectedly or dealing with sudden weight gain? If so, you may be wondering what’s going on. These could be signs that your thyroid isn’t working properly. The thyroid plays an important role in our growth and our body’s metabolism. If you suspect that you might be dealing with thyroid problems an osteopath may be able to help you.
Common thyroid disorders include:
- Hyperthyroidism: an overactive thyroid that produces too many hormones
- Hypothyroidism: an underactive thyroid that doesn’t produce enough hormones
- Hashimoto’s disease: an autoimmune disorder that attacks the thyroid gland and its ability to produce hormones
- Graves’ disease: an autoimmune disorder that causes the thyroid gland to produce too much hormone (a common type of hyperthyroidism)
Warning Signs of Thyroid Dysfunction
The symptoms that a person experiences will differ depending on the type of thyroid disorder they are dealing with. Those with some form of hyperthyroidism may experience:
- Rapid heart rate
- Anxiety
- Nervousness
- Irritability
- Increased sweating
- Sleep problems
- Weight loss
- Thin skin
- Shaking
- Brittle hair or nails
Those with hypothyroidism may experience:
- Brain fog
- Fatigue
- Sensitivity or intolerance to cold
- Unexplained weight gain
- Depression
- Constipation
- Weakness
Seeing an Osteopath
If you suspect that you may be dealing with thyroid problems it’s important that you see someone right away. A simple blood panel can be performed to check thyroid hormone levels. While there are different kinds of doctors that can diagnosis and treat thyroid problems many people turn to an osteopath as well as a regular doctor for more comprehensive and even alternative treatment options. An osteopath provides complementary therapies such as manual manipulation and other techniques that can ease physical symptoms associated with acute and chronic disorders.
During your consultation an osteopath will ask you questions about the symptoms you are experiencing. If thyroid dysfunction is suspected, a thyroid panel blood test will be performed to check T4, T3, and TSH (the common hormones produced by the thyroid).
Based on the levels of these hormones your doctor can determine the type of thyroid dysfunction you have and from there create a treatment plan that will include a combination of medications, lifestyle changes, and alternative and complementary therapies for a comprehensive and well-rounded treatment plan.
An osteopath is focused on treating the body as a whole to ensure that everything functions optimally rather than just focusing on specific areas of the body or certain symptoms. If you are experiencing symptoms of thyroid dysfunction it’s time to turn to an osteopath for care.