Effects of thyroid on other body systems

You may not give much thought to your thyroid gland. But this tiny gland is a vital part of your health and well-being. Sadly, it usually isn’t noticed until it malfunctions and causes diseases. Thyroid disease affects every part of the body. But the thyroid doesn’t work alone. It requires help from other body parts to perform the critical task of metabolism and promoting healthy growth.

If something goes wrong with your thyroid gland, it impairs the functioning of other glands too. The following is an overview of its effects on other body systems -

Cardiovascular System

The health of your cardiovascular system can be affected by changes in thyroid hormones. In cases where there is too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism), you may notice a faster heart rate, higher blood pressure, and lower exercise performance. In cases where there is too little thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism), there is often a slower heart rate and lower blood pressure. With hypothyroidism, there is also a higher risk of atherosclerosis as well as a heart attack.

Digestive System

Another common symptom of hypothyroidism is constipation, while the opposite is true for hyperthyroidism. When dealing with thyroid disease, your metabolism is altered, which is one of the reasons your digestive system is affected. In cases of hypothyroidism, stomach acid production may be halted as hypothyroidism commonly affects the hormone gastrin. When there’s not sufficient gastrin being produced, there’s not enough stomach acid, which can lead to symptoms like heartburn.

Malabsorption can also result from thyroid disease. Malabsorption occurs when the small intestine does not absorb the vitamins and minerals from the foods we eat. Malabsorption of vitamin B12, which can ultimately lead to anemia, is an example.

Also Read: Symptoms indicating you might have thyroid

Another common issue with the thyroid and digestive connection is food allergies and sensitivities. If you are consuming inflammatory or reactive foods, you could be doing daily harm to your overall health. Addressing all of this at its root i.e. by correcting your thyroid disorder is a huge step in getting onto a path of recovery.

Nervous System

The central nervous system can be affected by either too little or too much thyroid hormone. A common symptom of hypothyroidism is brain fog – the feeling of being slightly disconnected or unable to think clearly. This is due to the lack of thyroid hormones circulating that in turn affects the central nervous system. Depression is also a common symptom of hypothyroidism. Too much thyroid hormone also affects the central nervous system, typically in the form of anxiety or excessive irritability.

The central nervous system is impacted so significantly by our thyroid hormones that recent studies have come out stating that hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s disease are linked to the development of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease. This just proves the effect thyroid hormones play in every aspect of our health, including our brain.

Reproductive System

Many women who suffer from thyroid problems also suffer from reproductive tissues. Hypothyroidism is often linked with heavy periods and even infertility. One of the reasons for this is that hypothyroidism can cause a reduction in progesterone. Not having enough progesterone affects the menstrual cycle.

Adrenal Glands

Adrenal health and thyroid health are truly intertwined. The adrenal glands produce and secrete numerous hormones. Stress plays an important role in the health of our adrenal glands and can throw our hormones out of whack. With chronic stress, the body can eventually get to the point where the adrenal glands are not producing enough hormones, which is called adrenal fatigue.

Adrenal fatigue occurs in different stages. You may start out dealing with a stressor, such as a job interview. Your body makes the hormones that it needs in order to properly respond to this stress – cortisol and epinephrine, which you likely know as adrenaline. The next stage is when this stress doesn’t go away – you get the job, but your boss is difficult, the commute is long, and you have many new responsibilities. As the stress continues, your body continues to react to it.

Your adrenal glands will start to become stressed if you are not dealing with all the new stressors in a healthy way. You may begin to notice symptoms, like feeling wired at certain points of the day, and then exhausted at others. The next stage is when adrenal-produced hormones like DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) start to drop. You may notice you feel tired and are getting sick more often. This stage can occur for a long time, and in some people it lasts for years. Finally is the phase where your body stops effectively producing hormones. Not only is cortisol low, but other sex hormones are at an all-time low as well. This is when adrenal fatigue kicks in and you may notice irritability, anxiety, weight loss, and chronic fatigue.

So how are the adrenal linked to thyroid health? Having adrenal fatigue puts you at a greater risk of losing sensitivity to thyroid hormones. Having adrenal fatigue can also cause your body to decrease the conversion of T4 to T3 in usable form, can disrupt the immune system barriers in the body, and can even prevent the thyroid hormones from being absorbed into the cells of the body.

Guess we have given you enough reasons to keep your thyroid in good health! Click on this link to know 5 tips to maintain a healthy thyroid.

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