The thyroid is a gland in your neck that secretes hormones into your bloodstream, and is partly responsible for controlling your overall metabolism. When your thyroid activity becomes low and your body fails to produce the amount of hormones it needs, your metabolism will be affected and you can begin to experience fatigue, dry and thinning hair and skin, weight gain, and even depression.
Low thyroid activity is also known as hypothyroidism, and generally affects older adults and women over the age of 60 who have started to experience fluctuations in their hormone levels.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism
In most cases, the symptoms of hypothyroidism are subtle, and can go undetected for many months or years. Over time, symptoms will become more obvious as hypothyroidism worsens, and can lead to an increased risk for heart attack, stroke, a slower heart rate, and life-threatening coma.
Here are the most common symptoms associated with hypothyroidism:
- Weight gain
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Dry, brittle hair and skin
- Excessive sleepiness
- Low tolerance of cold temperatures
- Constipation
- Muscle cramps
- High cholesterol
- Swelling of the legs
- Decreased concentration
- Vague aches and pains throughout the body
- Memory problems
- Heavy or irregular menstrual periods
Hypothyroidism can be detected through routine blood testing, and is conventionally treated using medications that most patients are prescribed indefinitely for the rest of their lives. However, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) has been proven one of the safest methods used for treating hypothyroidism because it boosts and regulates hormones naturally. Some medications prescribed for hypothyroidism often serve as band-aids that play no role in balancing the body’s hormone levels.
Rock Creek Wellness currently offers BioTE hormone pellet therapy — a BHRT treatment that uses hormones derived from natural plant sources to replicate the body’s normal hormonal levels. Request a free consultation today to learn more about how BHRT can enhance your life and slow down the aging process.
