Most people suffering from an autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) are diagnosed with either Graves’ disease or Hashimoto’s disease. In both cases the body’s immune system identifies the thyroid as a threat and attacks it. The thyroid’s reaction is the primary differentiator between the two conditions. Hashimoto’s disease, which causes hypothyroidism, is the more common of the two.
What Are Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism?
From the most superficial standpoint hypothyroidism is when your thyroid is underactive. Hyperthyroidism is when your thyroid is overactive and overproducing thyroid hormones.
What Does an Overactive or Underactive Thyroid Mean?
Your thyroid is a gland that produces thyroid hormones. More specifically, it generates two hormones: triiodothyronine and thyroxine. In addition to producing those hormones, the thyroid also has a timed-release feature. It stores those hormones and releases them as needed.
Your thyroid is controlled by two additional glands in the brain: the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland.
Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism might result in the development of thyroid nodules, which are generally, but not always, benign. The nodules can be responsible for an increase in your thyroid’s size and the overproduction of thyroxine.
Graves’ Disease
People with hyperthyroidism, especially men between the ages of 30 and 50, frequently suffer from an overactive thyroid due to Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder in which a person’s thyroid is miscategorized as a foreign body and attacked by the body’s immune system.
The thyroid’s reaction is generally to increase in size and release extra hormones. One of the hallmark symptoms of Graves’ disease is swelling around the eyes and the appearance of bulging eyes.
Hashimoto’s Disease
Another autoimmune disease that can lead to thyroid imbalances – most frequently hypothyroidism – is Hashimoto’s disease. This is another condition in which your immune system attacks the thyroid. More specifically your body makes antibodies that go after the thyroid, leading to a buildup of white blood cells in the thyroid gland. This buildup results in damage and a decrease in thyroid hormone production.
What Happens When Your Body Makes Too Much Triiodothyronine and Thyroxine?
Hyperthyroidism is often due to thyroiditis, or irritation of your thyroid gland. Pregnant women might also experience temporary thyroiditis.
Hyperthyroidism is essentially the opposite of hypothyroidism. You likely won’t be visiting weight loss clinics if you experience hyperthyroidism because the symptoms include:
- Excess energy
- Weight loss
- Anxiety
- Depression
Just because you don’t need a weight loss clinic doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek medical attention right away. Hyperthyroidism is a serious issue, and you should speak with a doctor as soon as possible.
What Happens When Your Body Doesn’t Make Enough Triiodothyronine and Thyroxine?
People with hypothyroidism are more likely to visit Optimum Health Rehab for our weight loss services. Some of the symptoms of hypothyroidism include:
- Weight gain
- Fatigue
- Constipation
- Mild cognitive or memory problems
- Dry skin
At Optimum Health Rehab, we offer patients a thorough thyroid panel to determine whether their thyroid is working properly. If we determine your thyroid is either over or underactive, we can utilize a number of non-invasive and in many cases natural treatment strategies to help restore balance.
Checking for thyroid problems is one of the standard practices for patients who visit us for weight loss services. An underactive thyroid may be playing a detrimental role in your weight gain and your overall health.
Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism Symptoms in Men
For the most part the symptoms of hyperthyroidism are the same for both men and women. The most notable exceptions are in the areas of sexual health. Men suffering from hyperthyroidism frequently experience a low sperm count in addition to other symptoms.
Studies have linked the proper functioning of Leydig cells, which are partially responsible for both the production and secretion of testosterone, to thyroid hormones. Either an excess of or a decrease in thyroid hormones can interfere with testosterone production.
There’s also a suspected link between hyperthyroidism and reduced sperm motility and density. While either condition can contribute to several sexual health problems, hypothyroidism is more frequently associated with erectile dysfunction (ED).
If you’re a man struggling with infertility, it may be in your best interest to undergo a thyroid panel at Optimum Health Rehab.
Do You Suspect You Are Suffering From Thyroid Issues?
People in Georgia who believe they are experiencing symptoms of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism should schedule an appointment with Optimum Health Rehab as soon as possible. We use high-quality panels paired with expert analysis to accurately identify the issues at the root of our patients’ symptoms. Then we develop a holistic treatment plan that not only helps restore thyroid balance but also reduces the risk of future thyroid issues.
Call us at 1-877-704-1761 to schedule an appointment at an office near you.
Hormone Imbalances