Thyroid patients be on guard as mercury rises
WATCH OUT Doctors say soaking up sunlight daily will help
NEW DELHI: People with hypothyroidism need to change the dosage of medicine as the weather gets warmer. Since the butterfly-shaped thyroid gland in the neck is just below the skin’s surface, it is sensitive to changes in weather, making people with thyroid disorders lethargic in the winter months.
“The thyroid and the pituitary glands work together as a heater and a thermostat respectively,” explained Dr BR Das, president research and innovation, molecular pathology and clinical research service, SRL Diagnostics.
“When the thyroid gland shuts off and the body gets cold, the pituitary - the thermostatproduces more of thyroid stimulating hormone, or TSH. As long as the thyroid is functioning properly, it will respond to the pituitary’s release of TSH and produce more of its own hormones, known as T4, to heat up the body,” he adds.
There is a joint effect of thyroid and cold as far as the human body is concerned. “It is primarily due to non-compliance, not taking medicines properly, lack of physical activity and eating unhealthy food,” added Dr Anoop Misra, director and head, department of diabetes and metabolic diseases, Fortis Group of Hospitals.
TSH tends to rise in cold weather and one may require increase in the medicine dosage. High TSH levels indicate hypothyroidism and low TSH levels indicate hyperthyroidism.
If a person is diagnosed with thyroid problem, it is important to follow the doctor’s instructions thoroughly. If left untreated, thyroid problems can lead to stroke, heart disease, infertility, Alzheimer’s and even death.
“People with thyroid disorders should work at having a healthy weight. And since the WARNING SIGNS OF A SLUGGISH THYROID
Fatigue Unexplained weight gain
Dry skin Puffy face Hoarseness
body requires lower levels of the hormone in the summer months, they should get their hormone levels checked at least once during the summer and winter months,” says Misra.
The normal TSH range is 0.3 to 4.5 mIU/L. Levels below or above this range require more in-depth tests and evaluation of symptoms.
After the age of 35, one should ideally get screened for thyroid dysfunction once every five years. If you exhibit any of the symptoms or risk factors mentioned above, then you should get yourself screened more often.
Among the things that help are exercise and soaking up the sun for half an hour every day. There’s evidence that exposure to sunlight affects both the brain’s chemistry and the endocrine system, which regulate hormones. Even if you don’t suffer from a seasonal
Constipation Sensitivity to cold
affective disorder, 20 to 30 minutes a day of direct sunlight exposure helps ward off fatigue and depression.
What also works is a diet rich in iodine and low in sugar. Eating foods rich in nutrients — like iodine found in iodised salt, green-leafy vegetables, garlic and sesame — is highly recommended. Food items like fish, meat, mushrooms, sunflower seeds and soybeans can fulfill your selenium requirement.
Also get enough sleep. A typical adult without thyroid problem needs seven hours of sleep. A number of thyroid patients need more. During winters, they may need a little more than the standard resting time, while in summer, less sleep may be needed to feel rested.
Lastly, protect yourself from the flu and other infections, as these may aggravate the condition.