Thyroid replacement therapy: your first step to live a healthy and wholesome life.
The thyroid is a crucial gland in the base of your neck that produces hormones controlling most of your body’s functions. However, due to thyroid diseases, you may face excess or low production of hormones. This hormonal imbalance level causes several concerning issues as well as hampering the quality of life.
However, don’t worry. Hormone Replacement Therapy, LA, can help you restore your hormones to optimum levels with thyroid replacement treatment making your life healthy. This article will explore thyroid replacement therapy and what thyroid replacement therapy does to your health.
What is Thyroid Hormone?
The thyroid gland is the hormones factory producing hormones that control almost all the functions in your body. It’s a small butterfly-shaped organ located in the front of your neck.
The pituitary gland, below your brain, is the supervisor, who controls and monitors the number of hormones in your body. When the pituitary notices excess or low levels of thyroid hormones, it releases TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) to inform the thyroid to take necessary actions to restore the hormonal balance in your body.
The thyroid releases two crucial hormones- T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine), that control your metabolism and direct the cells to use that energy. When your thyroid gland doesn’t produce the right amount of hormones, you encounter several thyroid diseases.
Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are two thyroid diseases you may face due to hormonal imbalance. When your body produces excess hormones, your body uses more energy that makes you tired, lose weight, and rapid heartbeat. It’s hyperthyroidism.
On the other hand, hypothyroidism is when your body produces too few hormones. Due to this condition, you gain weight, feel tired, and have a low tolerance to cold. To restore the thyroid hormonal balance in your body, the doctors prescribe thyroid hormones replacement therapy.
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What is Thyroid Replacement Therapy?
Thyroid hormone replacement therapy uses artificial thyroid hormones to restore the normal balance of hormones in your body.
During the therapy, you need to take thyroid hormone as a pill form. Usually, doctors prescribe thyroid hormone replacement therapy to treat underactive hormones in your body. Pure synthetic thyroxine (T4) is the usual medication doctors prescribe for the treatment.
Pure, synthetic T4 works the same way in your body as your natural thyroid hormone. Your provider will closely monitor you to determine the correct dose for you.
Who Needs Thyroid Replacement Therapy?
Imbalance levels of thyroid hormone may cause various health issues. On the other hand, many conditions cause low production of thyroid hormones in your body.
Usually, doctors prescribe thyroid hormone replacement therapy to treat hypothyroidism. You may not notice any symptoms in the early stage, as the symptoms are similar to the side effects of stress. However, you will see signs like weight gain and fatigue decreasing the quality of life over time and causing obesity, infertility, and joint pain.
The most common symptoms of hypothyroidism are-
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Constipation
- Cold intolerance
- Swelling in the face
- Dry skin and hair
- Hair Loss
- Fragile hair and nails
- Muscle pain and weakness
- Irregular menstrual periods
- Low sex drive
- Depression
However, you may ask- thyroid hormone replacement therapy is used to treat which of the following conditions? Other reasons include-
- To control goiter, the growth of the enlarged thyroid gland
- To treat nodules on the thyroid gland
- Treatment after thyroidectomy or the removal of the thyroid due to benign or malignant disease
- After radioactive iodine ablation for hypothyroidism
- Thyroid cancer
What Thyroid Replacement Therapy Do To Your Health?
Every individual is different, and their reaction to medication is similarly distinct. Therefore, your treatment method or plan will be exclusive and individualist.
The primary purpose of thyroid hormone replacement therapy is to restore your thyroid gland’s lack of hormone release. Usually, you will have to take a daily dose of T4 or a combination of T3 and T4 in pill form orally. Let’s explore how thyroid hormone replacement therapy helps your body with various thyroid conditions.
Hypothyroidism
If your body is not producing enough thyroid hormones, your doctor will prescribe treatment for hypothyroidism. It will increase your energy level, bring a more stable weight, and improve other symptoms as well that include-
- Improved sleeping
- Improved sex drive
- Reduce pain in your muscle and joint
- Improved mood
- Healthy skin, hair, and nails
- Regular menstrual cycle
Hyperthyroidism
As for hyperthyroidism or an overactive thyroid, you may encounter fatigue, rapid heart rate, excess weight loss, and many more. Hormone replacement therapy can relieve you of these symptoms, ensuring a better and healthy life.
Thyroid Cancer
After surgery for thyroid cancer, your doctor may suggest thyroid hormone replacement therapy to replace the function of the removed thyroid gland and keep any small or residual substances of thyroid cancer cells from growing. The benefit of inhibiting the growth of remaining thyroid cancer cells surpasses the risk of fast, unusual heartbeats, worsening chest pain, and decreased bone density.
Thyroid issues can affect your health and quality of life immensely. Hormone Replacement Therapy, LA, is a reliable place where the expert medical team is ready with their assistance to help you manage your thyroid problem.
Thyroid hormone Replacement Dosage
The correct dosage of thyroid hormone medication is crucial for you to maintain the proper hormonal balance. For this, your doctor will run careful blood testing to determine the suitable dose for your therapy.
The blood tests usually reveal thyroid hormonal levels and the amount of TSH released by the pituitary. An increased level of TSH indicates that you have an underactive thyroid, and thus your doctor will increase your replacement hormone. In addition, to determine the correct dose, the provider will check your age, weight, and medical history along with a physical examination.
The medication usually takes some time to adjust. Your doctor will check your blood levels in six months to determine if you need an increased dose. People with coronary artery disease initially have a smaller amount of medication, and gradually, the dosage increases. It will allow your heart to adjust to the increased metabolism.
Thyroid replacement medications like levothyroxine are readily available in the shops and inexpensive. However, if you need to change the brand or are unavailable, inform your doctor to ensure the correct dosage.
Taking Thyroid Replacement Medication
The best time to take thyroid medication is in the morning on an empty stomach. The reason being food in your gut may affect the absorption of thyroid hormone. If you can’t take your medication in the morning, take it at bedtime; however, at least 3 hours after your meal or taking any iron and calcium medicine. The most important thing is consistency. Make sure you take the medication at the same time and the same way every day.
Remember: do not stop your medication abruptly and without consulting your doctor. Most thyroid problems are permanent, and you may need to continue the replacement therapy for the rest of your life.
What if you skipped or missed your dose? In that case, take your pill the moment you remember. If the recalling moment is too close to your next dose, don’t take the missed pill. Instead, continue from your next medicine. You can also take two pills the next day, one in the morning and one in the evening. It’s a much safer way to handle a missed dose.
Remember, even if you are adjusted well with your medication and not noticing any side effects, you need to see your doctor periodically to check your thyroid hormone and TSH level in your body.
Thyroid Replacement Therapy Side Effects
Taking too much thyroid medication may cause several adverse effects on your body and overall health of life. For example, too much thyroid medication can cause low bone density. In addition, when your doctor determines the correct dose during the initial period, you may face some symptoms too.
However, the most common symptoms you may face due to over thyroid medication are-
- Fatigue
- Heat intolerance
- Excess sweating
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Difficulty sleeping
- Weight loss
- High blood pressure
- Anxiety, irritability, and depression
- Irregular menstrual in many women
- Heart palpitation
Final Thought
Thyroid issues are common in people that may cause several concerning health conditions. It affects the quality of your life too. However, thyroid replacement therapy can help you maintain the hormonal balance in your life and eliminate the symptoms.
Dr. David Nazarian at Hormone Replacement Therapy, LA, is an expert and efficient doctor near you who will determine the correct treatment for you to revive your healthy life. Contact Hormone Replacement Therapy, LA, for a consultation to know what thyroid replacement therapy does to your health and get the best treatment to resolve your concern.
