The other side of thyroid disorders

Recently singer Neha Kakkar disclosed her struggles with a thyroid disorder which she said was causing her anxiety especially during live performances when her heart rate shoots up While thyroid disorders are most commonly associated with fluctuations in body weight what many people donrsquot realise is that an underactive or hyperactive thyroid gland can bring about a gamut of symptoms that come together to significantly affect the suffererrsquos quality of lifeAmrita SarafldquoThe thyroid gland is situated in your neck and produces hormones that regulate several bodily processes including your metabolism breathing heart rate temperature regulation and the functioning of the nervous system Disruptions in the functioning of the thyroid gland can effectively either slow down your bodyrsquos functioning or put your body in a constant state of lsquooverdriversquordquo explains Dr Samdurika Patil a clinical endocrinologist at Vedicure Healthcare and Wellness Samudrika PatilMindbody connectIn patients with an overactive thyroid gland their rapid heartbeat could lead to anxiety and other related symptoms explains Dr Sagar Mundada a psychiatrist at Health Springs ldquoThey tend to be hyperactive anxious and irritable while also experiencing palpitations tremors and frequent mood swings On the other hand at least half of all patients who are diagnosed with hypothyroidism also have psychiatric problems their hypothyroidism can either present through feelings of irritability lethargy and listlessness that accompany sudden weight gain or they could experience isolation detachment sleeplessness and even clinical depression as the condition progressesrdquo he adds This is because their body and brain are functioning at a suboptimal capacityAnkita AryaIn many cases treating hypothyroidism alone remedies the mental health symptoms In others psychiatric medication is prescribed in addition to thyroid medication In fact many mental health professionals will prescribe a thyroid test before administering psychiatric medication especially in cases where the individual is close to the age of 40 female and overweight says Dr Altamash Shaikh an endocrinologist at Masina HospitalSagar MundadaA lifelong afflictionIn addition to mood disorders hypothyroidism can lead to constipation feelings of exhaustion at any time of the day reduced libido dry skin and hair hoarseness of the voice and muscle cramps says Dr Patil She mentions that in young children especially hypothyroidism could make it harder for them to focus on and retain lessons thereby affecting their learning Ankita Arya a 28yearold marketing professional says that her hypothyroidism caused irregularities in her periods with delays of up to four months between cycles and made it difficult for her to focus at school It is also common for otherwise healthy women to experience thyroid disorders during pregnancy says Dr Vaishali Joshi an obstetrician and gynaecologist at Kokilaben Ambani Hospital ldquoThis has an adverse effect on the mother and the developing baby especially during the babyrsquos first trimester The thyroid hormone affects the babyrsquos IQ development and general growth Thyroid disorders can cause anxiety or excessive vomiting in expecting mothers While hyperthyroidism increases the chances of a miscarriage or premature labour hypothyroidism can lead to slow labour and bleeding after delivery It is therefore important for pregnant women to actively check for any thyroid disorders during pregnancyrdquo she cautionsKarishma ChawlaManagement and careEarly detection and medication play a crucial role experts say Regular exercise a nutritious diet and supplementation to treat the various associated symptoms biotin for hair fall and zinc for dry skin can help ldquoConsult a mental health professional for your emotional and sexual wellbeing Practice mindfulness exercises to control your stress and engage in some physical activity every dayrdquo says Dr Mundada Amrita Sharma Saraf a 33yearold event management professional shares ldquoAlthough I was taking medicines regularly I had a very hectic schedule I took up yoga and made sure to get eight hours of sleeprdquo she says adding that these measures ensured no complications in her pregnancy despite her severe hypothyroidismAltamash SheikhEating rightNutritionist Karishma Chawla suggests eating moregtgt Good fats such as avocados nuts and seedsgtgt Brazil nuts for seleniumgtgt Complex and whole carbohydrates such as whole grains and highfibre fruits and vegetablesgtgt Omega 3 fats such as walnuts chia flax and fatty fishgtgt Cooked not raw cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli cabbage and cauliflower in moderation