An underactive thyroid

WHAT IS IT?

Foggy, sluggish and heavy. These are the words hypothyroid sufferers use to describe their day-to-day battle, as an underactive thyroid slows your entire system down.

Symptoms can spiral, too, with weight gain, constipation and low mood caused by a thyroid gland that’s simply not producing enough of the thyroid hormones.

The most common cause of hypothyroidism in Australia is Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune condition that causes your body to directly attack your thyroid gland.

“Luckily the diagnosis is made with a simple blood test,” est,” says Katherine. She suggests sts asking your GP to test your TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)) levels and if yours are above 4, it’st’s worth investigating further.

WHO SUFFERS FROM IT?

Victoria’s Secret model Gigi Hadid and actresses Zoe Saldana and Kim Cattrall all suffer from Hashimoto’s.

“I’d always had a lot of energy but it dropped and I knew something was off – and I had some hair loss, too,” explains Kim.

HOW TO TREAT IT

“The short answer is you need thyroid hormone replacement medication,” says Katherine. “It’s essentially the same thyroid hormone your body makes, but it’s obviously made in the lab.”

The other key is ensuring you have enough iodine in your diet. “Australia has one of the highesthi highest insufficiency levels in the e world,” she reveals.

“Fo “For r women and children, iodine e is especially important – low levels in pregnancy can lower r IQ in babies.” Good dietar dietaryry sources include fish, seawe seaweed eed and iodised salt.