Greenville SC Thyroid Doctor Explains How Stress Can Affect Your Thyroid
Stress is an everyday part of life, whether it’s related to your job, your family life, your dating life, or all of the above and everything in between. In most cases, it’s possible to overcome this by relaxing at the end of the day or taking some time to do something you enjoy. However, when it comes to chronic stress, finding a way to relax and let go of the weight on your shoulders can be more difficult. Unfortunately, this can negatively impact your overall health and leave you feeling unlike your normal self. In fact, chronic stress can even play role in your thyroid health and cause problems with how it functions.
The Impact of Stress on the Thyroid
These two might seem unrelated, but the truth is, the negative effects of stress can work their way into almost every aspect of your health. With the thyroid, in particular, it begins with the adrenal glands. While these glands were designed to deal with acute stress, chronic stress can wear them down and put the body into a state of emergency. When this happens, your systems slow down, and that includes the thyroid.
Higher levels of stress hormones secreted during stressful situations can also interrupt the balance of thyroid hormones within the body. In turn, this can lead to hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism symptoms that range from mild to severe. If you’re dealing with chronic stress on a daily basis, then these symptoms can quickly worsen and interrupt your ability to live a normal life.
How to Reduce Stress
In order to help regulate your stress hormones and help keep your adrenal system balanced, it’s important to try and reduce stress as much as possible. A few tips for doing so include:
– Meditating
– Taking 15 minute breaks to relax
– Spending time alone
– Trying a new hobby
– Yoga or pilates
– Walking/jogging
– Cooking
– Going to bed earlier
– Avoid stressful situations
– Learn coping mechanisms for everyday stress
– Therapy/counseling
Your internal health is also important to consider, as most health issues can wreak havoc on the systems in your body, including your thyroid. To avoid or address these problems, the tips below can help.
– Work with a wellness practitioner
– Eat healthy
– Address symptoms with your care provider
– Don’t ignore symptoms
When you work with a functional wellness practitioner, you’ll find that your health is as much of a concern to them as it is to you. They’ll provide you with extensive testing to get a full picture of your health and the role stress is playing with your thyroid’s ability to function. With professionals such as these ready and able to help, there’s no reason to wonder what’s going on with your thyroid. Partner with them to learn what’s wrong and what you can do to address those issues the right way.
