Relation Between Thyroid and Menopause

First, we need to understand the role of hormones in our body. Hormones are what keep the systems in our body function properly. Any deficiency or excess in the number of hormones in the body will affect our health. That is why it needs to be balanced at all times. The thyroid is a gland located inside the neck that produces hormones needed for the body. It helps regulate the metabolism and other systems in the body. If there is a problem with the thyroid glands, it can result to several signs and symptoms. These symptoms are actually similar with menopausal indications. This is why most women who are starting with their menopausal stage often mistakes thyroid problems with normal menopausal problems. We need to know the difference in the relation between thyroid and menopause in order to know how to cure it.


When women reach the age of 50 an up, they will eventually enter their menopausal stage. During this phase, they will end up their ovarian cycle as well as their menstruation. This will create a huge imbalance in the body because of the hormones that the ovaries produce will end. Along with this, women will develop a lot of health problems which are typically normal. They will often feel irritated, dizzy; have sleeping problems, hot flashes, cold sweats and palpitations. These symptoms are actually the same with the indications of thyroidal disease.
That is why some women are not aware that they are actually beginning to ignore their thyroidal problems. If you mistake thyroid problems with menopause symptoms, it can be very risky to your health. For you to know more about this, listed below are the relation between thyroid and menopause:

1. Menopausal symptoms are almost the same with thyroid symptoms. This actually confuses women. In some point, it is not easily determined whether you have problems with the thyroid during the menopausal stage because you feel the same indications. The doctor might also say that what you are having is just a normal phenomenon.

2. For women, thyroid problems actually occur during their older years. That is why menopause and thyroid will always be related. This is if you are a woman.

3. For women who already have thyroidal problems earlier even before they have their menopause, it will eventually get worse when they reach this stage.

4. You can determine their differences in some other cases. For example, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, and night sweats can occur during menopause but not with thyroid disease. That will be your indication whether you have one of each.

5. Also, with the thyroid you will experience weight change, neck pain, visual disturbances, and an uncontrollable change in lifestyle. These are not commonly associated with menopause. So if you are having these problems that mean you have a thyroidal disease.

6. If women are younger than 35, then it is obviously not menopause yet. That feeling of weakness, fatigue, depression and other health changes will possibly due to a problem with the thyroid.

7. Another relation between thyroid and menopause is the loss of hormones. This however can be considered in two ways. Thyroid problems are of two kinds: one is the hyperthyroid and the other is hypothyroid. With the hyperthyroid, there is an excessive production of hormones in the glands. This will trigger the health of our body because there are too much hormones activating the system. On the other hand, the hypothyroidism is when the gland is not producing enough hormones. This will weaken the whole body.

8. The two thyroid problems have almost the same symptoms as well. But we can determine that if we consult our doctor about it.

If you are having health problems, consult your doctor right away. Especially if you are entering menopause, there will be a drastic change in your entire health well being. Knowing the relation between thyroid and menopause is very important for you to understand your health situation.


Article by: Ryan English

More on Magnesium

In 1618, a farmer on Epsom Common noticed that his cows refused to drink from a certain well, even when the weather was hot and dry. The water had a bitter taste, but the farmer found that it helped to heal the scratches on his skin. ‘Taking the water’ from this source soon became fashionable and Epsom thrived as a popular spa town. Soon it was discovered that Epsom Salt is simply magnesium sulphate and has a variety of therapeutic benefits for both plant and animal life.

Magnesium is one of the most abundant minerals in the body and of crucial importance for the production and transfer of energy, for the transmission of nerve and muscle impulses, protein formation, blood clotting and sugar regulation. The body also uses magnesium as a co-factor in numerous chemical reactions and it’s essential for the absorption of calcium into bones and teeth. Magnesium is named after the district of Magnesia in Thessaly, Greece, where large deposits of magnesium carbonate were first discovered.

Magnesium is part of the chlorophyll molecule in plants and found in green vegetables, nuts, seeds and whole grains, but it only occurs in small amounts. Our intake over the last century has declined sharply due to the over-refining and processing of food. Refined wheat, sugar and fat contain almost no magnesium. Losses during cooking and the consumption of fizzy drinks also contribute to a deficiency. Other magnesium robbers are alcohol, prescribed diuretics and excess calcium.

It comes as no great surprise to hear that 70% of women and over 40% of men are deficient in this vital mineral. In teenagers and the elderly population, these statistics are even more alarming, 89% fall short of the recommended amounts. Symptoms of deficiency include depression, irritability and nervousness, PMS and menstrual cramps, constipation, muscle tremors and rapid heartbeat. The list goes on. As magnesium works on so many different levels, some of its effects can be difficult to diagnose. Magnesium deficiency has been linked to chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, chronic fatigue and muscle pain, insomnia and hyperactivity.

Adults should take at least 300 mg and children 170 mg per day, although individual requirements may be affected by a variety of factors. Some doctors believe that taking multivitamin and mineral supplements is unnecessary. However, this is an increasingly old-fashioned view because few of us are able to obtain sufficient nutrients from our diet. Magnesium is completely safe, although excessive amounts of the mineral may lead to diarrhea (milk of magnesia is commonly used as a laxative).

Excerpt from "The Bottom Line"

How To Think Yourself Thin

If we could think ourselves thin, the weight loss industry would be out of business, right? Maybe, maybe not. While it's true that losing weight takes more than the power of positive thought, there are several ways you can use your brain to enhance your results.

Here are four theories that have been applied - successfully - to weight loss:

The Law of Attraction

Also known as "The Secret", has been applied to everything from financial success to finding true love. It's not surprising, then, that many dieters have taken this theory and applied it to their weight loss efforts.  The concept is simple: the more you believe in something, the more it will manifest in your life. If you believe that you are taking good care of yourself and getting fit, then you will start to lose weight and enjoy better health.

Think about it: if you spend most of your time thinking about how you'll never lose weight, chances are good that you never will. Our beliefs become a self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts.  Instead of beating yourself up about where you are now, visualize the person you want to become. Is that person active? Muscular? Thin? Do they take their health seriously and make nutrition and exercise top priorities in their life?

The Law of Attraction says that you can meet your goals by willing them into existence. Start living like the person you want to be, and before long, you will be that person.

Mindful Eating

Sometimes called "gentle eating", urges the dieter to sit back, relax, and be mindful of their food and their hunger. By taking their time and eating only what they truly hunger for, these dieters are able to get in touch with their bodies.  Many forms of yoga emphasize a mindful approach to life and food. The philosophy is that if you can get in touch with your body, you will respect it and nourish it without the need for gluttony or starvation. 

You can start practicing mindful eating today. When you feel hunger, ask yourself if you are truly hungry, or if you are eating to soothe your emotions. If your hunger is actually boredom or sadness, take steps to alleviate the underlying causes.  If your hunger is genuine, feed your body slowly with healthy foods. Don't read a book, watch television, or surf the Internet while you eat.

Focus all of your attention on your food, its flavor and texture. Pause after each forkful and decide if you are hungry enough to continue eating.  Dieters who practice mindful eating are often surprised by how little food it takes to satisfy them. They also tend to enjoy their meals more and experience less stress at mealtime.

The Logical Approach

Some people remove emotions from the weight loss equation by taking a completely logical approach to losing weight. If this sounds more your style, a healthy dose of logic could be just the thing to get you closer to your goal.  Instead of struggling with themselves when they don't feel like eating smart or working out, logical dieters use an "IF/THEN" approach. "If I want to lose weight, then I must work out today." "If I gorge myself at dinner, then I will gain weight."  It might sound overly simplistic, but some dieters enjoy doing away with the guilt and emotional turmoil that often comes with new weight loss regimens. They simply do what they have to do to reach their goal, and they don't stress out about it.

Behavior Analysis

Sometimes it pays to take a good, hard look at the behaviors that keep us from meeting our weight loss goals. Bad habits and emotional triggers can sabotage our efforts, especially if we overeat in response to feelings, stress, or boredom.  By tracking your food intake, you will have a visible record of times when you overindulged. Then you can ask yourself why the binge occurred.

Maybe you were feeling rebellious after following a too-strict diet for weeks. Maybe it was a special occasion, and your celebrating got a little out of hand. Or maybe you were eating for the rush of endorphins that accompanies comfort-food binges.  By analyzing your behavior, you can learn to detect patterns and get at the root causes of overeating. That will help you anticipate future binges and head them off before they happen.

As you can see, there are many ways to think yourself thin. Combine them with a healthy diet and exercise, and you'll be sprinting toward your goal in no time!

By Adam Weisgerber