The importance of treating hearing loss is to understand how entire body and all its symptoms are linked together. If we are not able to exercise regularly this can affect so many aspects of our physical and mental health. Much is the same for hearing loss. Understanding the connections and educating ourself on the ailments can help us to prevent a hearing loss and so much more. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause hearing loss, and different thyroid conditions can affect not only hearing loss but also tinnitus, and balance disorders.

The two most common problems in thyroid dysfunction are hormone overproduction (hyperthyroidism) and hormone underproduction (hypothyroidism).

Hyperthyroidism is rare, affecting about 1% of the population. It results in the quickening of metabolic processes. Symptoms include nervousness, irritability, weight loss, shaky hands, panic disorder, racing heart and tinnitus. The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves’ disease, an autoimmune response that over-stimulates the thyroid. The tinnitus caused by hyperthyroidism is usually associated with heart rate.

Hypothyroidism, also called under active thyroid disease, is a common disorder. With hypothyroidism, our thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. The thyroid gland is located in the front lower part of the neck. Hormones released by the gland travel through our bloodstream and affect nearly every part of our body, from our heart and brain, to our muscles and skin.

Also Read: Hypothyroidism- commonest problem faced by women! 

The thyroid controls how our body’s cells use energy from food, a process called metabolism. Among other things, our metabolism affects our body’s temperature, our heartbeat, and how well we burn calories. If a person doesn’t have enough thyroid hormone, his/her body processes slow down. That means his body makes less energy, and our metabolism becomes sluggish.

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) are conditions frequently associated with hypothyroidism. Studies suggest that up to 15% of people diagnosed with thyroid problems will end up with fibromyalgia.

Relation between hearing Loss and hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is the result of the thyroid not producing enough of the hormone thyroxine. This can cause depression, fatigue, forgetfulness, and weight gain. Thyroxine is also needed for normal development of the auditory system. In fact, about half of the people with low thyroid function have hearing losses.

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism published a study linking hearing loss and hypothyroidism. The research study looked at how untreated hypothyroidism is known to impair hearing. The study found :
Patients were 3 times more likely to self-declare hearing loss than that for the reference population.

17% of affected patients required hearing support in early adulthood. Hearing loss was associated with the type of congenital hypothyroidism with disease severity. Hearing loss was mostly bilateral (90%), mild to moderate (96%), of the sensorineural type (76%), and compromised higher frequencies.

Treatment

Standard treatment for hypothyroidism involves daily use of the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine (Levo-T, Synthroid, others). This oral medication restores adequate hormone levels, reversing the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism. We will likely start to feel better soon after you start treatment. The medication gradually lowers cholesterol levels elevated by the disease and may reverse any weight gain. Treatment with levothyroxine will likely be life long, but because the dosage you need may change, our doctor is likely to check our TSH level every year.

Hearing test

Hearing loss is typically not one of the first symptoms for either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. It is therefore possible to diagnose and treat thyroid issues before they impact your hearing. Common symptoms for hypothyroidism can include depression, fatigue, forgetfulness, and weight gain. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include irritability, nervousness, muscle weakness, unexplained weight loss, sleep disturbances, vision problems, and eye irritation.

Our hearing and health are connected in more ways that we realize. Identifying changes to our hearing may help to identify other issues that we are unaware of. This is why we at Hearing Consultants cannot stress enough, the importance of annual hearing check-ups to ensure that our valuable hearing doesn’t slip away. The sooner you catch a hearing loss the sooner we can help you get back on track and maintain the hearing we still have.

Conclusion: Studies have revealed that abnormal changes in serum thyroid hormone levels, such as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, can cause both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause hearing loss, and different thyroid conditions can affect not only hearing loss, but also tinnitus, and balance too. Hearing loss in hypothyroidism was found remediable and even reversible after proper replacement therapy. In a study by Di Lorenzo et al. a significant improvement in the hearing condition was reported in hypothyroid patients, after 6–12 months of L- thyroxine replacement therapy.

Prof. (Dr) Vivek Kumar Jha

Principal

Department of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology

Sumandeep Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University)

Vadodara, Gujarat

Mob.No : 95602 76840

Email ID: jhavivek98@yahoo.com

The post Hypothyroidism and hearing loss appeared first on Health Vision.

New Delhi, 27^th February 2021: The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India ASSOCHAM, one of the apex trade associations of the country successfully organized another edition of the webinar series on ‘Illness to Wellness’ campaign, themed around “Thyroid & Related Disorders–Impact on Health”.

ASSOCHAM organized this webinar with an objective to cascade mass awareness and disseminate knowledge & wisdom for prevention and treatment of thyroid. The ASSOCHAM’s campaign , aims at promoting healthy living with a keen focus on wellness and preventive health through healthy habits, diet, exercise, and holistic health. The virtual event was graced by a team of eminent Gastroenterologists, hepatologist who shared their valuable inputs on causes, trends and recent advancements in the treatment of thyroid.

Sharing his perspective, Prof. (Dr) Shashank Joshi, Department of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai said, “Thyroid disorder occurs when thyroid gland does not work properly either permanently or temporarily. However, the disease is treatable, and one needs to consult endocrinologists once in three months and in some cases only once in a year.” Dr Joshi also emphasized on following healthy lifestyle, balanced diet and follow regular exercise regime.

Addressing the ASSOCHAM webinar, Dr Sudhir Tripathi, Senior Consultant, Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, talked about the various thyroid disorders in detail. He said, the commonest thyroid disorder is Hypothyroidism, followed by Hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism can affect the entire life span of a human from congenital hypothyroidism at birth, to juvenile hypothyroidism, adult onset hypothyroidism and even in the elderly age group. The treatment of hypothyroidism is generally lifelong, but it is easy to begin and continue and is without side effects.

Dr Dheeraj Kapoor, Head, Endocrinology, ARTEMIS Hospital, in his address also explained Thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland in the neck which weighs about 18 grams it is not a disease.  The under functioning glands leads to hypothyroidism and the over functioning gland leads to hyperthyroidism.

On behalf of the chamber, Mr Anil Rajput, chairperson, ASSOCHAM CSR Council  said that following a regular exercise regime, maintaining healthy weight together with low fat, low sugar, low rice and high fibre diet can go a long way for everyone to keep such ailments at bay and avoid unnecessary complications.

He added, “In India over 42 million people suffer from Thyroid ailments and 1 in 10 adults suffer from hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland doesn’t produce the required hormones to meet the needs of the body. Hypothyroidism can also cause serious complications during pregnancy. In addition, other grave diseases can adversely impact the thyroid and then there are Thyroid nodules, Goitre, etc which can negatively impact thyroid health.”

The session was moderated by Dr Rajesh Kesari, founder and director, Total Care Control who also shed some light on the gravitas of the topic and highlighted the need to stay healthy and eat right, as he successfully summarized the discussion with expert inputs of the esteemed panel.

The post Thyroid a lifelong disease – proper medication can help keep a check on the disorder appeared first on Health Vision.

The Thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck, secreting thyroid hormones. The hormones produced by this gland have two primary functions: they enhance protein synthesis and oxygen utilisation. These physiologic activities, in turn, influence the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) or the processes by which the body uses energy. The level of Thyroid hormone production is determined by levels of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) released from the pituitary gland. The Thyroid produces a hormone called Tri-iodothyronine, known as T3. It also produces a hormone called Thyroxine known as T4. Together, these hormones regulate our body’s temperature, metabolism, and heart rate.

When hormones are not secreted properly, the two conditions may occur – Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism.

In Hyperthyroidism, the Thyroid gland produces too much Thyroxine or Tri-iodothyronine and speeds up the body’s metabolism. It is also known as overactive Thyroid gland.

Symptoms for Hyperthyroid are: insomnia, fatigue, anxiety, weight loss, menstrual problems, sweating, poor memory etc.

Hyperthyroidism is diagnosed when TSH is suppressed and FT4 or FT3 levels are higher than the normal reference range. Subclinical Hyperthyroidism is diagnosed when TSH is suppressed but FT4 and FT3 levels are within the normal reference range. Clinical symptoms and signs are typically absent, mild, or non-specific in people with subclinical Hyperthyroidism.

Hypothyroidism or under active Thyroid occurs as a consequence of deficient secretion by the Thyroid gland.

Symptoms for hypothyroidism:

Symptoms for hypothyroidism are depression, goiter, dry hair, dry skin, weight gain, brittle nails, fatigue, constipation etc. Hypothyroidism is diagnosed by a serum Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration above the normal reference range and a serum free Thyroxine (FT4) concentration below the reference range. Subclinical Hypothyroidism is diagnosed by a TSH concentration above the reference range with an FT4 concentration within the reference range. In both the cases patient may or may not experience the symptoms.

Acupuncture for hypothyroidism:

Acupuncture Treatment has a holistic perspective in the development of diagnostic impressions and treatment procedures for every patient. The purpose of treatment is to awaken the natural ability of the body to heal itself. Acupuncture treatment seeks the root cause within the patterns of imbalance, which determines to be a deficiency of Kidney and Spleen energy.

There are 8 acupuncture networks which are directly or indirectly linked with the thyroid gland round the neck. These are the Stomach, Kidney, Gall Bladder, Liver, Bladder, Spleen, San Jiao and Small Intestine channels.

Acupuncture approach to hypothyroidism is Yang Deficiency in which the function of the body to warm, motivate and transform is insufficient. The primary organ systems that are included are the Spleen and Kidney, also the Heart organ system becomes more involved in the advanced stage.

According to Acupuncture, Hyperthyroidism is a combination of Qi (energy) and Yin inadequacy, Liver fire uprising and phlegm stagnation. Qi and Yin inadequacy is the fundamental cause, while the symptoms and signs show Liver fire and phlegm stagnation.

1. Eating fresh vegetables and fruits will help you maintain thyroid and overall health. You should also eat vegetables and fruits high in antioxidants, such as onion, ginger tea, cherries, tomatoes, capsicum etc.

2. However, when you are working toward thyroid health, you need to know which kind of thyroid issue you suffer from because some vegetables can be more harmful than helpful. For example, if you are suffering from hypothyroidism, you should avoid anything in the cabbage family, spinach, broccoli, soy beans etc. These foods interfere with thyroid function.

3. It is good to avoid eating and drinking frozen and very cold items straight from the refrigerator. It’s good to bring them to room temperature before eating. Avoid consuming salads and raw food during winter.

4. Every spoonful of yogurt (Curd) acts as a protective shield for your thyroid. That’s because yogurt is naturally rich in Vitamin D, and not getting enough of the nutrient puts you at a higher risk of obesity and thyroid diseases. (Taking curd at night may lead to mucus formation and phlegm stagnation). Adding table salt to our daily diet is advisable, as it is the primary source of Iodine, required by our body.

Lifestyle and exercise suggestions for hypothyroidism:

1. People who experience these symptoms are better suited to being in warm and sunny environments.

2. Avoid living in damp and cold environments.

2. It is best to choose warm colors to decorate your home such as red or orange.

3. Get plenty of sunshine, at least 30 minutes a day.

4. Slightly vigorous exercise is suitable, but ensure that the exercise you do is suitable for your body’s energy levels.

5. If your body feels very tired the next day, this is a sign you did too much exercise the previous day.

Hyperthyroidism:

1. Diet suggestions – Avoid eating spicy and hot flavored foods such as ginger, chili, onion, pepper, garlic etc. Eat more cooling foods such as cucumber, watermelon, pear, green vegetables, fish, green tea, peppermint tea.

2. Lifestyle and exercise – It is most suitable for people with overactive thyroid symptoms to stay and live in cool environments. Especially exercising in cool and green environments such as gardens, parks and forests.
You can decorate your living area with green, blue and white colors. (Preferably light colors)

Note:

1. Yin and Yang are two major aspects of vital energy. We can also call it as two polarities of same objects / substance / energy / nature / human etc… These are said to be opposite but interdependent, where one cannot exist without the other.

2. If the patient is accompanied with any other health conditions along with Thyroid, then we suggest consulting his/her doctor before following any of the above guidance.

For any clarifications or questions, you can contact RISHI ACUPUNCTURE CLINIC, Mathikere, Bangalore. Also whatsapp on 98442 65625, 9986073931 with your personal details.

DR. GOWRI B. N.        DR. VENKATESH PRASAD K. N.

No.2, 1st Cross, 7th Main Mathikere, Near Canara Bank, Bangalore – 560 054.

Contact : 9844265625 / 9986073931
E-mail : rishiremedies@gmail.com    website : www.rishiacupuncture.com

The post Thyroidism -a hormonal problem appeared first on Health Vision.