Thyroid Health & Bioidentical Hormones - What You Need To Know

Thyroid Health & Bioidentical Hormones - What You Need To Know

By Jennifer Williams  |   Submitted On April 19, 2016 

http://ezinearticles.com/?Thyroid-Health-and-Bioidentical-Hormones---What-You-Need-To-Know&id=9389876

Thyroid Health www.massagemag.com

Symptoms of Underactive Thyroid
When the body does not produce adequate hormones and does not properly use them, this condition of the thyroid gland being underactive is called hypothyroidism. The condition is more common in women and in all people as they get older. Women can also be more likely to experience this condition after pregnancy and during menopause.

Symptoms are many and varied and can include fatigue, hair loss, dry hair, weight gain, depression, anxiety, moodiness, dry skin, brain fog, memory problems, low libido, difficulty sleeping, constipation, weak muscles, and joint pain.

Diagnosis and Testing
Typically health practitioners diagnose this medical condition through blood tests, including thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free T3, and free T4 tests. Some practitioners also test antibodies to assess whether an autoimmune condition is present.
Some practitioners, especially those who work in functional or integrative medicine, also evaluate a patient's symptoms in combination with laboratory blood tests to make a diagnosis.

Bioidentical Hormones
If a health practitioner diagnoses hypothyroidism based on blood test results and the patient's symptoms, he or she will typically prescribe medication. Several options exist, including bioidentical hormone pills to be taken every day. This type of medication replaces the hormones that the patient's own body is not making. Over time, it brings the body's hormone levels back into the normal and optimal range.
Bioidentical thyroid medication is typically derived from animal sources, namely porcine (pig). This is a molecular match for the thyroid hormones that a person's body would make, so that's why it's considered bioidentical hormone treatment.
Various bioidentical hormone therapy medication products exist, including Armour and Nature-Throid. There is also compounded hormone medication, which is made at a compounding pharmacy in an individualized way to meet the patient's needs, such as if the patient has sensitivities and cannot tolerate certain product fillers.

Results
Many patients find that they feel best and achieve the most optimal results from hormone replacement medication when they take bioidentical hormones, rather than opting for other medication choices. Many patients experience a complete resolution of symptoms along with a significantly improved energy level and quality of life.
Health practitioners continue to monitor patients to evaluate how their treatment is going. This includes periodic blood tests, office visits, physical examinations, and patient questionnaires. It is possible to lead a normal, active, and productive life even while dealing with chronic hormonal conditions.
Some patients need to take more than one hormone replacement medication, depending on which hormones are out of balance with their bodies. Hormonal imbalances of various types are typically more common as people age. Practitioners who specialize in managing and treating one type of hormone also often handle all types of hormonal imbalances.

Additional Health-Promoting Strategies
In addition to taking bioidentical hormone therapy for an underactive gland, it is also important that a patient lead a lifestyle that promotes glandular health. This includes nutrition that is geared toward health of the endocrine (hormonal) system and its glands, mild and gentle exercise, adequate sleep, and stress management. Self-care is definitely key when it comes to maximizing hormonal health and feeling as good as possible.

Functional medicine practitioners typically put together a customized lifestyle routine for each patient to match their personal needs. This combination of strategies can yield powerful results for endocrine system health.

Jennifer Williams is an avid health enthusiast and health writer for http://www.wellnesshca.com/ - Wellness & Hormone Centers of America, a Boca Raton, Florida health and hormone clinic.

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