What's the Difference Between Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism? Self-Diagnose and Eat Foods That Are Good for Your Thyroid!

 

Thyroid Diseases: A Common Concern for Women

Too much or too little—both can be problematic!
Thyroid disease, often called a "woman's disease," is influenced by hormonal changes caused by menstruation, pregnancy, and other factors that can affect thyroid hormone production.

The Thyroid: A Multifaceted Gland

The thyroid, shaped like a butterfly or shield, derives its name from the Greek word for "shield." it means "armor-shaped gland."

Located between the thyroid cartilage and various muscles, the thyroid is typically not visible or palpable under normal conditions. However, when enlarged due to disease, it becomes noticeable and easy to detect.

Despite its small size, the thyroid is a vital endocrine organ that regulates metabolism and energy in the body. Women are more prone to thyroid diseases, making it a critical health concern for them.

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What is the Thyroid?

The thyroid gland produces, stores, and releases thyroid hormones, which are essential for metabolism and energy regulation. Situated at the front of the neck below the jaw, it resembles a butterfly in shape, with each "wing" measuring about 2 cm wide and 5 cm tall. The gland weighs around 15–20 g in total.

In healthy individuals, the thyroid is not visible or palpable, but thyroid diseases can make it enlarged and noticeable. Even without a disease, in thin, long-necked women, the thyroid may appear prominent.

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Functions of Thyroid Hormones

The thyroid plays a crucial role in:

• Regulating body temperature
• Controlling heart and digestive functions
• Managing cholesterol and fat metabolism
• Supporting muscle strength and tone
• Influencing growth hormone secretion
• Maintaining emotional stability

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Hyperthyroidism vs. Hypothyroidism

Thyroid function disorders are broadly categorized as hyperthyroidism (excess hormone production) and hypothyroidism (insufficient hormone production). Blood tests can easily measure hormone levels for diagnosis.

Hyperthyroidism

When the thyroid produces too much hormone, it accelerates metabolism. Common symptoms include:

• Rapid heartbeat, sweating, and heat intolerance
• Tremors and palpitations
• Nervousness, fatigue, and sleep disturbances
• Irregular menstrual cycles

Cause: Often due to autoimmune conditions like Graves' disease, where the immune system attacks the thyroid, overstimulating hormone production.

Treatment: Includes anti-thyroid medications, radioactive iodine therapy, or surgery.

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Hypothyroidism

A sluggish thyroid slows down metabolism. Symptoms include:

• Fatigue and lethargy
• Sensitivity to cold
• Weight gain despite low appetite
• Dry skin, hair thinning, and swelling

Cause: Often linked to Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition where the immune system gradually destroys thyroid tissue.

Treatment: Hormone replacement therapy with medications to normalize hormone levels.

Self-Diagnosing Hyperthyroidism

You can self-diagnose hyperthyroidism by evaluating its main symptoms.

Follow these steps:

1. Assess each symptom in the list below.
2. Add up the points for all applicable symptoms to get a total score.
3. Check your self-diagnosis result based on your total score.

Main Symptoms (5 points each):

1. Weight loss despite a good appetite (e.g., losing more than 5 kg in the past few months).
2. A resting heart rate over 90 beats per minute.
3. Extreme heat intolerance and excessive sweating.
4. Recent hand tremors.
5. Temporary paralysis where you couldn’t move but remained mentally alert.

Secondary Symptoms (1 point each):

1. Irregular menstrual cycles.
2. Missed periods despite not being pregnant.
3. Frequent diarrhea.
4. A history of taking thyroid medication for over a month.
5. Swelling and pain in the neck.
6. Family history of thyroid disorders.
7. Heart palpitations.
8. Significant swelling in the finger joints.
9. Moist, smooth, and itchy skin recently.
10. Protruding eyes recently.
11. Thinning hair that doesn’t hold curls well.

Tertiary Symptoms (0.5 points each):

1. Constant fatigue.
2. Shortness of breath after minimal activity.
3. Increased bowel movements recently.
4. Female, aged between 20-40.
5. Increased irritability or nervousness recently.
6. Increased activity at work or home, unable to sit still.
7. Weakened muscle strength.
8. Erectile dysfunction.

Evaluation:

• 20 points or more: Clear hyperthyroidism. Blood tests and ultrasound examinations are recommended.
• 12-19 points: High likelihood of hyperthyroidism.
• 6-12 points: Possible hyperthyroidism but other conditions could also be the cause.
• 5 points or less: Unlikely to be thyroid-related; other conditions are more probable.

Self-Diagnosing Hypothyroidism

You can self-diagnose hypothyroidism by evaluating its main symptoms.

Follow these steps:

1. Assess each symptom in the list below.
2. Add up the points for all applicable symptoms to get a total score.
3. Check your self-diagnosis result based on your total score.

Main Symptoms (5 points each):

1. Easily fatigued and feeling lethargic.
2. Extreme sensitivity to cold compared to others.
3. Poor appetite, but noticeable weight gain (e.g., gaining more than 5 kg in the past few months).
4. Significant swelling or protrusion in the neck area recently.

Secondary Symptoms (1 point each):

1. Skin becoming dry, rough, or coarse recently.
2. Eyebrow hair loss.
3. Resting heart rate below 60 beats per minute.
4. Difficulty breathing.
5. Severe constipation recently.
6. Swelling in the face, arms, or legs recently.
7. Others have commented on slower speech or movements recently.
8. Feeling like your tongue is thickened or enlarged.
9. Hoarseness in your voice recently.
10. Female aged between 20-40 years.

Evaluation:

• 15 points or more: Clear hypothyroidism. Blood tests and ultrasound examinations are recommended.
• 6-14 points: Possible hypothyroidism.
• 5 points or less: Unlikely to be thyroid-related; other conditions are more probable.

Dietary Guidelines to Support Hyperthyroidism

Why is a Diet Plan Necessary?

Hyperthyroidism can lead to increased metabolism, resulting in weight loss, negative nitrogen balance, and muscle loss. To prevent these issues, adequate calorie and protein intake is essential.

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Dietary Guidelines

1. Consume sufficient calories and protein to maintain an appropriate body weight.
2. Stay hydrated to prevent dehydration caused by excessive sweating and diarrhea (3–4 liters/day).
3. If appetite is low, eat small meals frequently and include snacks.
4. If your meal portions are small, supplement with nutritional drinks.
5. Avoid stimulants like caffeine and alcohol.

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Recommended Foods

(The same as for hypothyroidism)

Grains and Starches

Rice, whole grains, mixed grain rice, noodles, rice cakes, bread, cereals, potatoes, sweet potatoes, chestnuts, etc.

Vegetables and Fruits

Vegetables, kimchi, seaweed, kelp, mushrooms, tomatoes, strawberries, juices, etc.

Meat, Fish, Eggs, and Legumes

Beef, pork, chicken, fish, eggs, tofu, beans, etc.

Dairy Products

Milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream.

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Foods to Avoid

• Caffeinated beverages and alcohol.
• Foods high in fat that are difficult to digest.

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Special Notes

• If blood sugar levels are poorly controlled, limit simple sugar intake and follow diabetic dietary guidelines.
• Do not restrict iodine intake during meals for hyperthyroidism.
• However, during radioactive iodine treatment, start a low-iodine diet two weeks before the treatment begins.

Dietary Guidelines to Support Hypothyroidism

What is a Low-Iodine Diet?

Source: Samsung Medical Center Nutrition Team

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A low-iodine diet limits daily iodine intake to 50 micrograms or less to maximize the effectiveness of radioactive iodine treatment. This diet involves restricting foods high in iodine.

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Foods to Avoid

1. Foods High in Iodine:

   • Seaweed (e.g., laver, kelp, sea mustard, green laver)
   • Saltwater fish (e.g., cutlassfish, mackerel, pollock)
   • Dairy products (e.g., milk, yogurt, ice cream, cheese)
   • Egg yolks and baked goods containing whole eggs

2. Foods Made with Unrefined Salt:

   • Unrefined sea salt contains high iodine levels. Avoid foods made with unrefined salt, such as kimchi, salted fish, and traditional fermented pastes.
   • However, commercially sold pastes (soy sauce, gochujang, doenjang) use refined salt and do not need to be restricted.

3. Foods Containing Artificial Red Dye (#3):

   • Red food dyes often contain iodine. Avoid foods like red-colored ham, imitation crab meat, and sausages.

4. Iodized Salt:

   • Avoid iodized salt, commonly labeled as ionized salt in foreign products.
   • Check the ingredient labels on imported foods to ensure they do not contain iodized salt.

5. Water with High Iodine Content:

   • Groundwater generally contains more iodine than tap water. Avoid drinking water from these sources during this period.

6. Supplements and Medications:

   • Avoid taking multivitamins, cold medicines (especially syrups), or any medications containing iodine.

7. Dining Out:

   • Refrain from eating out to control iodine intake effectively.

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Key Notes

• Follow these guidelines carefully during the prescribed period to enhance treatment outcomes.

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Why is Dietary Management Necessary?

Hypothyroidism reduces basal metabolic rate, leading to weight gain and symptoms like constipation, increased blood cholesterol levels, and iron-deficiency anemia. A balanced diet helps correct these symptoms and maintain a healthy weight.

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Dietary Guidelines

1. Eat balanced meals with a variety of nutrients at each meal.
2. Aim to maintain a normal, healthy weight.
3. For constipation, consume high-fiber foods (vegetables, fruits, seaweed, whole grains, legumes) and drink plenty of fluids.
4. If blood cholesterol levels are elevated, limit foods high in cholesterol (organ meats, squid, loach, eel, egg yolks) to once a week.
5. For iron-deficiency anemia, include iron-rich foods (liver, oysters, fish, meat, egg yolks) in your diet.

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Recommended Foods

The recommended foods are the same as those for hyperthyroidism:

1. Grains and Starches

   • White rice, whole grains, mixed-grain rice, noodles, rice cakes, bread, cereal, potatoes, sweet potatoes, chestnuts, etc.

2. Vegetables and Fruits

   • Vegetables, kimchi, seaweed, kelp, mushrooms, tomatoes, strawberries, juices, etc.

3. Meat, Fish, Eggs, and Legumes

   • Beef, pork, chicken, fish, eggs, tofu, beans, etc.

4. Dairy Products

   • Milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream

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Foods to Be Cautious About

• A balanced diet naturally provides enough iodine for your body’s needs. Avoid excessive iodine intake.
• For example, do not grind large amounts of kelp into powder or boil it into tea for frequent consumption.

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Important Notes

• Both iodine deficiency and excessive iodine intake can negatively affect thyroid function.
• The recommended daily iodine intake for adults is 150 µg.
• Iodine is found abundantly in seaweed, shellfish, and iodized salt.

Thyroid health significantly affects overall well-being. Regular check-ups and proper management are essential for maintaining hormonal balance and quality of life.

Your health buddy is here for you. Wishing you a healthy and happy day ahead. Stay well!💖

This content is for informational purposes only and does not hold any individual or entity legally responsible. For accurate diagnosis and treatment of symptoms, please visit a nearby medical institution. This does not represent my final medical opinion and may vary depending on specific circumstances and evolving medical perspectives.