Help For Men With Low Thyroid in Greenville SC
Women are far more likely to develop low thyroid than men, but that does not mean this condition is never a male problem. Men do struggle with symptoms of hypothyroidism, and they often have difficulty getting support from a healthcare provider that really makes a difference.
Men may experience the same symptoms as women who have low thyroid: exhaustion, difficulties losing weight, depression, muscle aches and pains and sleep problems. Men may also have symptoms that aren’t as common with women. A drop in sex drive, premature hair loss (balding, eyebrows and body hair), and a loss of muscle are typical. Difficulties with sexual function, including premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction, are additional potential low thyroid symptoms for men, and so are problems with fertility, as sperm production may drop.
Hypothyroidism may go undetected in both women and men, especially within the realm of standard medicine. Testing for low thyroid is typically limited. Patients complaining of thyroid symptoms often have their TSH, or thyroid stimulating hormone levels, checked. If they are too high in comparison to a ‘normal’ range, the cause is considered to be low thyroid. The patient may be put on medication to bring levels within a normal range, with the goal being symptom relief.
TSH tests are useful for evaluating TSH levels, but they do little in the way of assisting in the evaluation of people whose thyroid problems are causing symptoms even though TSH measures within ‘normal’ range. Like women, men are often told or assume their symptoms are a normal sign of aging. This is not the case however. It is not normal to feel exhausted, struggle with aches and pains or experience problems with sexual function or fertility. There is a reason for these health problems regardless of what TSH levels may be, and it is possible to get to the bottom of why they’re occurring.
There is an alternative type of health care that may help in cases where men (or women) feel that something’s been missed in their evaluation. Functional wellness care focuses on finding the root causes of chronic health conditions like low thyroid through very thorough evaluations that include comprehensive testing. Thyroid problems may involve many organs and systems throughout the body. Testing that is thorough will evaluate all possible causes and effects of low thyroid conditions and symptoms.
A practitioner who is trained in functional wellness care will dig deep to find the reasons why you feel the way you do. Then, any and all imbalances or dysfunctions throughout the body can be addressed. Symptoms will fade as your condition actually improves. Best of all, this can be accomplished through safe, natural therapeutic support—not medications. Your program of care will include education on your exact condition, including how best you can manage it yourself going forward. This way, the gains in your health and how you look and feel can be sustained long term.
