Medical App & Medical Advice with Hello Doctor

Is your thyroid making you tired?

Can’t keep your eyes open? Feeling heavy-headed? Energy completely zapped? Your thyroid may be the problem.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck, just under your voice box. It produces hormones that impact just about every organ, tissue and cell in your body, and controls many vital functions. These include the regulation of your body temperature, metabolism, growth and development, and muscle, brain and nervous system function.

When your thyroid isn’t working properly, your body will tell you – and bone-numbing fatigue is the most common sign.

Thyroid-related fatigue shows up when you can’t sustain energy for long enough, compared to a past level of fitness. It can develop gradually or suddenly.

Main symptoms include:

  • Feeling like you don’t have the energy to do things you were once able to do.
  • Feeling completely exhausted, no matter how much you sleep.
  • Difficulty getting up in the morning.
  • Falling asleep during the day.
  • Feeling as if you can’t get through the day without a nap.
  • A heavy or tired head.

If you’re experiencing these symptoms, chances are you have an underactive thyroid.

An under-active thyroid (hypothyroidism) happens when your thyroid produces too little thyroid hormone. It’s often caused by an autoimmune condition, in which the immune system sees the thyroid gland as an “intruder”. The body makes antibodies that attack the thyroid gland, causing it to become underactive.

As the thyroid hormone controls the way your body uses energy, a drop in this essential hormone could lower your energy levels. Many of the body’s functions slow down, and you feel weak and tired.

If untreated, hypothyroidism can raise your cholesterol levels and increase your risk for heart disease, heart attack and stroke. It can also lead to infertility and osteoporosis.

Treatment
Fortunately, hypothyroidism (and the fatigue that comes with it) is easy to treat. Your doctor may prescribe thyroid replacement medication to restore the missing thyroid hormone in your body. These medications work fairly quickly, but you’ll probably need to take them for the rest of your life. After a few weeks, you should notice:

  • Increased energy levels.
  • Improved mood and mental function.
  • Better pumping action of the heart.
  • Improved digestive tract function.
  • Lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Energy boosters
No improvements after treatment? Still tired beyond measure? The problem may simply be sleep deprivation. Sleep easy and fight fatigue with these tips:

  • Aim for at least eight hours of sleep every night.
  • Keep your bedroom as dark, quiet and cool as possible.
  • Invest in a comfortable mattress and pillows.
  • Keep “sleep thieves” (TVs, tablets and computers) out of the bedroom.
  • Set consistent sleep and wake schedules, even over weekends.
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Stay hydrated.
  • Have your last meal at least three hours before bedtime.
  • Avoid caffeine or alcohol before bedtime.
  • Take control of stress.

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