Do you have a thyroid problem?
Your thyroid gland is responsible for growth and mental alertness. It should continue to work throughout your life, providing the thyroid hormones that keep you physically and mentally active. But because it is a hormonal gland, it can often produce a bit too much or too little thyroid hormone. Depending on the degree of this over or under production of the thyroid hormone, you will sense a number of symptoms. These symptoms are common to many complaints. So it’s important to know which group of symptoms could suggest what kind of a thyroid problem.
Thyroid Symptoms Group One
Feeling nervous, irritable or emotional, shaking, sleeping poorly, being intolerant of heat and sweating more than usual, losing weight despite increased appetite, feeling tired and having weak muscles, increased heart rate or palpitations, loss of hair, swelling of the thyroid gland in the neck - a goitre, eyes that are pushed forwards and look more prominent. All of these are symptoms of thyroid problem.
If you recognise two or more of the above symptoms in yourself, go and see your doctor, and check out what else you can do to improve your hormonal balance. It is possible that you have a form of thyroid problem called hyperthyroidism, which means that your body is over-producing the thyroid chemical. Hyperthyroidism can cause many different symptoms and the overall pattern can vary for different people, depending on age and the amount of excess hormone being released. But in general, the symptoms relate to a “speeding up” of the body’s metabolism.
Thyroid Symptoms Group Two
Fatigue, lethargy, intolerance to cold, constipation, weight gain, depression, excessive menstruation, dry skin, hair loss, and hoarseness are all symptoms of a group two thyroid problem.
If you have two or more of the above symptoms, you need medical advice as you may have hypothyroidism. This can be summed up as a underproduction of the thyroid chemical leading to a slower metabolism.
What’s your next step with a thyroid problem?
As you can see, symptoms of a thyroid problem are determined by whether your thyroid glands are over or under producing the thyroid chemical. Over production will lead to a speeded up metabolism making you agitated whereas under production will slow down your metabolism making you lethargic. Apart from thyroid hormone adjustment treatment, there are natural courses of action you can take if you have been diagnosed with having a thyroid problem. If you have an enlarged thyroid, it may be caused by an iodine deficiency, by eating foods that contain goiter-causing substances, or by other disorders that interfere with thyroid hormone production. Some foods such as the following vegetables - cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower - contain natural goitrogens. By cutting out foods that stimulate or interfere with thyroid hormone production, you can reduce your problem naturally. Certain seaweeds and Chinese herbs can also help. Take stock of your thyroid problem by looking into all the possible forms of treatment, not just the chemical replacement option.
Symptoms and Treatments for Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is one of the few cancers that don't exhibit symptoms until the cancer reaches the late stage of development and it is at this point that many cases become incurable. It also has non-specific symptoms and thousands of cases each year are misdiagnosed as other, less severe respiratory conditions. Simply put, mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the thin layer of protective tissue around the major organs, most noticeably the lungs, heart and stomach and recently it has been positively linked to the mineral asbestos. This thin layer of tissue, the mesothelium, allows inhaled asbestos fibres to embed themselves, and it is here that they can lay dormant for up to 50 years before becoming cancerous.
The symptoms that are associated with mesothelioma depend on which of the body's organs are affected.
Pleural mesothelioma. This type of cancer affects the lungs and causes a number of symptoms including:
� Persistent cough that doesn't improve with medication
� Breathing difficulties
� Shortness of breath
� Fever
� Difficulty swallowing
� Chest pain
� Weight loss
Pericardial mesothelioma. This second type of mesothelioma affects the heart tissue and includes the following symptoms:
� Breathing difficulties
� Chesty cough
� Palpitations
Peritoneal mesothelioma. The third type of mesothelioma affects the stomach and causes the following symptoms:
� Nausea and vomiting
� Abdominal pain
� Weight loss
� Bloating of the stomach
� Bowel obstruction
� Fever
Obviously all of these symptoms can also be due to a number of other conditions however anyone who experiences them should consult a doctor, especially those who have been exposed to asbestos in the past.
Unfortunately for mesothelioma victims, the symptoms only present themselves late in the cancer's development and so in many cases treatment is palliative rather than curative. There are a number of possible types of treatment that can be used against mesothelioma and the course of treatment that is prescribed will depend to a large extent on how developed the cancer is and how far it has spread around the body. This information can be determined using x-rays, CT scans and MRI scans because these imaging techniques can provide a detailed view of the cancer's progression and how many areas of the body are affected. The possible forms of treatment include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and palliative care and either a single form or a combination will be used.
Surgery. Surgery can be used in cases where there is an obvious large tumour however it will only become an option if the tumour is causing chronic pain or if it is causing an obstruction e.g. in one or both of the lungs. Because mesothelioma can take between 30 and 50 years to develop many sufferers are elderly when they are diagnosed and so the option of surgery will also depend on age and general state of health. Occasionally it is considered safer to live with the tumour than to risk the rigors of surgery.
Radiotherapy. Radiotherapy is most effective when the mesothelioma is confined to a single site, such as the lungs. It can and often is used in conjunction with chemotherapy as an extra defence against any small pockets of cancerous cells that might survive drug therapy. Radiotherapy can produce some side effects however they are easily treated and rarely cause problems.
Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy for mesothelioma will more often than not involve a stay in hospital while a specific drug concoction is introduced to the body intravenously. Chemotherapy is used when the cancer has spread to other areas and so the treatment needs to attack multiple sites.
Palliative care. Palliative care can include any of the above treatments however they will be aimed at improving and extending the quality of life rather than providing a cure. Palliative care will also include pain relief as in many cases the mesothelioma is well advanced and causing chronic chest and abdominal discomfort.
Mesothelioma is considered a rare form of cancer however in the last decade the number of cases diagnosed each year has steadily risen. Since becoming associated with asbestos many victims have successfully sued their former employers and many more are starting proceedings each and every year. Today workers have to wear protective clothing and breathing apparatus while working with asbestos and so it may be that the presence of mesothelioma dies along with the current generation.
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Andrew Daigle is the owner, creator and author of many successful websites including CancerAbout, a Cancer Information Resource site and a Mesothelioma Lawyer Resource site.
Does Tanning Combat Vitamin D Deficiency?
"You probably know that you need Vitamin D to have a healthy body. Almost everyone has seen milk that is fortified with Vitamin D and you have to assume that’s something that your body needs since “milk does your body right”. But did you know that milk alone is not able to give you the significant amount of Vitamin D that your body needs? More importantly, did you know that sun tanning can actually help to combat a Vitamin D deficiency?
It’s true. You see, Vitamin D is sometimes called “the sunshine vitamin” because it is stimulated in our bodies when we are out in the sunshine. More specifically, the UV rays that are emanated by the sun help to give our bodies the Vitamin D that we need. But the reality of our lives these days is that we often aren’t in the sun enough. We’re indoors, in climate controlled environments, primarily sitting at our computers. We go outside only briefly and often stay at the office until long after the sun has gone down. And while that’s great for the productivity of our society, it’s not so great for our bodies. By not getting the sunshine that we need, we deprive our bodies of the right amount of Vitamin D.
Without the Vitamin D that we need, we can suffer a number of problems. Vitamin D helps to regulate cholesterol which in turn helps to make the heart healthier and more efficient. Vitamin D is also critical to calcium density and bone growth. Vitamin D also helps with mood disorders, specifically combating depression. And Vitamin D has been shown to help with other things ranging from weight loss to cancer prevention. So it’s obviously important that we’re getting enough of it, and taking our vitamins isn’t enough. If you aren’t out in the sun on a regular basis, you need to go those UV rays from somewhere else.
Tanning, whether out in the sun or indoors, can give you the UV rays you need to combat a Vitamin D deficiency. According to The Indoor Tanning Association, the average person needs approximately 1000 IU/day of Vitamin D. This amount can be obtained through moderate UV exposure in a tanning salon. Alternatively, of course, you can tan outdoors to get the rays directly from the sun. In either case, you should be sure to use the right tanning lotions and get the right amount of exposure to avoid burning the skin and causing problems to your health. After all, you’re trying to get healthier, not harm yourself!
Tanning is one of the best ways of combating a Vitamin D deficiency but to get the best effects, you should tan in addition to take other measures to improve your Vitamin D levels. Vitamin supplements, milk, and salmon can all be added to the diet to improve Vitamin D. Additionally, taking care of your skin with lotions, exfoliants and moisturizers will help to maximize the effects of exposure to sun rays. And finally, maintaining overall good health and exercise habits will help you to get the most out of your Vitamin D absorption. "