{"id":2343,"date":"2018-01-16T21:09:17","date_gmt":"2018-01-17T02:09:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=2343"},"modified":"2025-12-22T12:13:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T17:13:15","slug":"january-thyroid-awareness-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/january-thyroid-awareness-month\/","title":{"rendered":"Thyroid health 101: Common problems you should watch for"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re like most people, you probably don&#8217;t think about thyroid health very often. When your thyroid is working as it should, it&#8217;s easy to take it for granted. But healthcare professionals would like you to give some thought to thyroid health in January, which is Thyroid Awareness Month. It&#8217;s a subject worth being aware of because when your thyroid isn&#8217;t working the way it&#8217;s supposed to, it can lead to a number of health problems, some of them quite serious.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-common-is-thyroid-disease\">How common is thyroid disease?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Thyroid Association<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, more than 12% of Americans will develop a thyroid condition in their lifetime. Up to 60% of those people won&#8217;t even know they have a thyroid disease, even though the condition might be causing symptoms they don&#8217;t realize are linked to the thyroid. That&#8217;s why it&#8217;s important to consider your thyroid health\u2014not just in January but throughout the year. Here are some fast facts to illustrate the prevalence of thyroid problems in the U.S.:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">About 1 in 100 Americans aged 12 years and older have hyperthyroidism (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.niddk.nih.gov\/health-information\/endocrine-diseases\/hyperthyroidism\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2021).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">About 1 in 200 people are affected by Graves\u2019 disease\u2014the most common cause of hyperthyroidism (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.niddk.nih.gov\/health-information\/endocrine-diseases\/graves-disease\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2021).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">About 5 in 100 Americans aged 12 years and older have hypothyroidism (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.niddk.nih.gov\/health-information\/endocrine-diseases\/hypothyroidism\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2021).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">About 5 in 100 Americans are affected by Hashimoto\u2019s disease\u2014the most common cause of hypothyroidism (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.niddk.nih.gov\/health-information\/endocrine-diseases\/hashimotos-disease\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2021).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">About 5% of Americans are affected by goiter (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hopkinsmedicine.org\/health\/conditions-and-diseases\/goiter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Johns Hopkins Medicine<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New cases of thyroid cancer are estimated to reach 44,280 in 2021 and deaths from thyroid cancer are estimated to reach 2,200 in 2021 (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cancer.org\/cancer\/thyroid-cancer\/about\/key-statistics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Cancer Society<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2025).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"what-is-your-thyroid\">What is your thyroid?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The thyroid, or thyroid gland, is a butterfly-shaped gland located in your neck that is part of your body&#8217;s endocrine system. Endocrine glands are organs that make hormones, which go directly into the blood and out to other organs and tissue throughout the body to help control a host of body functions. Other endocrine glands include the pancreas, ovaries, testes, adrenal, and pituitary gland.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The thyroid produces two hormones called thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Most of the thyroid&#8217;s production\u2014about 95%\u2014is T4. The remaining 5% is T3. Thyroid hormones affects the following:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Metabolism<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Body temperature<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Muscle strength<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Breathing and heart rates<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Body weight<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cholesterol levels<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Menstrual cycles<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nervous system<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Energy level<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The thyroid has two lobes and sits just above the collarbone and below the larynx, or voice box. Each lobe wraps slightly around the windpipe, with the bulk of the thyroid sitting in front of it, so a malfunctioning thyroid can affect the quality of your voice in addition to the other health issues it can cause.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"common-thyroid-problems\">Common thyroid problems<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The thyroid can malfunction in one of two ways: It can either produce too many hormones\u2014a condition called overactive thyroid, or<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/hyperthyroidism.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hyperthyroidism<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014or it can produce too few hormones, which is known as underactive thyroid, or<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/conditions\/hypothyroidism-treatment-and-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hypothyroidism<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Women are more likely than men to develop thyroid problems, but doctors aren&#8217;t completely sure why that is the case.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;While there are several theories, there is no one explanation [for the prevalence in women] thus far,&#8221; according to<\/span> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.northjerseyendocrine.com\/physicians\/cheryl-rosenfeld.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cheryl R. Rosenfeld<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, DO, FACE, a spokesperson for the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE). &#8220;The most common thyroid diseases are autoimmune in nature, meaning when the immune system begins to attack a part of the body. Women are more likely to develop autoimmune disease [than men], so it makes sense that thyroid diseases are represented here.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/hypothyroidism-vs-hyperthyroidism\/\"><b>Hypothyroidism vs. hyperthyroidism<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"hyperthyroidism\">Hyperthyroidism<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hyperthyroidism, when the thyroid is producing too many hormones, is most often caused by an autoimmune disease called Graves&#8217; disease. When someone has Graves&#8217; disease, their immune system attacks the thyroid and causes it to increase hormone production.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hyperthyroidism can also be caused by consuming either too much iodine or thyroid medicine; overactive thyroid nodules (a condition called toxic nodular disease); thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid); viral infections, or, in rare cases, a noncancerous tumor of the pituitary gland.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If left untreated, hyperthyroidism can lead to an irregular heartbeat, heart disease, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/secondary-hypertension\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20350679\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">high blood pressure<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and other heart problems, eye pain and vision loss, thinning bones and osteoporosis, fertility problems in women, and complications during pregnancy. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Goiter<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nervousness, anxiety, irritability, or mood swings<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Muscle weakness and fatigue<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trouble tolerating heat or sleeping<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tremor, usually in your hands<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Frequent bowel movements or diarrhea<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weight loss\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"hypothyroidism\">Hypothyroidism<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hypothyroidism, when the thyroid produces too few hormones, is most commonly caused by an autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto&#8217;s disease, or Hashimoto&#8217;s thyroiditis. With Hashimoto&#8217;s disease, as with Graves&#8217; disease, the immune system attacks the thyroid, but in this case the thyroid responds by decreasing hormone production.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In some cases, hypothyroidism is present at birth. This is called congenital hypothyroidism. Other causes include thyroiditis, too little iodine in your diet, radiation treatments, certain medicines, and surgical removal of all or part of the thyroid.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If it goes untreated, hypothyroidism can contribute to high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and, in rare cases, lead to a condition called myxedema coma, in which the body&#8217;s functions can slow down to the point that the condition becomes life-threatening. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/hypothyroidism-and-pregnancy\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hypothyroidism during pregnancy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can lead to premature birth or miscarriage and slow a baby&#8217;s growth and development. Symptoms of hypothyroidism, which can develop slowly and take months or even years to appear, include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Goiter<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weight gain<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Joint and muscle pain<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Slowed heart rate<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Puffy face<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trouble tolerating cold<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Constipation<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dry skin<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hair loss<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heavy or irregular menstrual periods<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fertility problems in women<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Some symptoms overlap both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism,&#8221; Dr. Rosenfeld says, &#8220;so it is important to have a physician who has experience with thyroid disease to properly evaluate and treat a patient who has symptoms suggestive of thyroid disease.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"goiter\">Goiter<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can lead to an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. This condition, called a<\/span>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thyroid.org\/goiter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">goiter<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, is one of the most common symptoms of thyroid disease. A goiter can also occur when the thyroid is producing the right amount of hormones if there is another condition present that can cause the thyroid to grow abnormally.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both T4 and T3 contain iodine, an essential element found in shellfish and iodized salt. If a person isn&#8217;t getting enough iodine, the thyroid can&#8217;t make enough thyroid hormone. This can cause the pituitary gland in the brain to send a signal to the thyroid to produce more hormones. This signal, called thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), causes the thyroid to grow in an attempt to increase hormone production.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Iodine deficiency is an important cause of goiters worldwide, but not in the United States,&#8221; Dr. Rosenfeld explains. &#8220;The lower the iodine level, the more likely it is that a goiter will develop.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Goiters can also develop as a result of smoking, radiation, or genetic factors. &#8220;Smoking causes thyroid growth by preventing the thyroid from accumulating iodine, due to one of the chemicals found in cigarette smoke,&#8221; Dr. Rosenfeld says. &#8220;Exposure to radiation, usually through nuclear accidents or radiation treatments, may cause the thyroid to develop nodules and grow. Finally, and possibly the most important, is the contribution of genes to the development of thyroid nodules and goiter.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"thyroid-cancer\">Thyroid cancer<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In rare cases, most commonly in those who have a history of exposure to high doses of radiation, people can develop thyroid cancer. The American Thyroid Association estimates that in the United States about 64,000 people a year develop thyroid cancer and fewer than 2,000 die from thyroid cancer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To diagnose thyroid cancer, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and other thyroid disorders, an endocrinologist or other healthcare provider will conduct a physical exam and may do <a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/normal-thyroid-levels\/\">thyroid function tests<\/a> such <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/tsh-test\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TSH<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, total T3, free T4, and thyroid antibody blood tests. In some cases, imaging tests such as a thyroid scan, ultrasound, or radioactive iodine uptake test may be performed.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\t\t<div class=\"singlecare-dynamic-newsletter-wrapper sin-newsletter-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"heading\">Get our wellness newsletter<\/span>\n\t\t\t<form class=\"form-wrapper\" data-newsletter-form=\"1\" data-subsource=\"Wellness Newsletter\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"input-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"dynamic-email\">Email<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"email\" id=\"dynamic-email\" class=\"email\" required>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"input-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<input class=\"submit-form-btn\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Click to sign up\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/form>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"success-message\" aria-live=\"polite\"><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"3-things-you-can-do-to-improve-thyroid-health\">3 things you can do to improve thyroid health<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is no surefire way to prevent thyroid disease, but it is possible to do a &#8220;neck check&#8221; at home to help reveal a goiter or thyroid nodule. This is done by facing a mirror and observing the lower neck while sipping water. American Association of Clinical Endocrinology\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aace.com\/disease-and-conditions\/thyroid\/how-check-your-thyroid\">website<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you think you might have a goiter or thyroid nodule, make an appointment to see your doctor right away for a thyroid ultrasound and try the following measures to help improve your thyroid health.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"1-thyroid-medications\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Thyroid medications<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have been diagnosed with a thyroid problem, your doctor will most likely prescribe thyroid medications to help treat the condition and balance your thyroid hormone levels. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/tsh-test\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TSH normal values<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are 0.4 to 4 mIU\/L, according to the American Thyroid Association. Medications frequently prescribed for thyroid issues include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid, Unithroid, Tirosint (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/levothyroxine-sodium\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">levothyroxine<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cytomel, Triostat (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/liothyronine-sodium\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">liothyronine<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Armour Thyroid, Nature-Throid, Westhroid (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/thyroid\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">thyroid desiccated<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/propylthiouracil\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Propylthiouracil<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (PTU)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tapazole (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/methimazole\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">methimazole<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As with most medications, thyroid medicines can cause side effects. Some of the most common ones are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Appetite changes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heat sensitivity or sweating<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Headache<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weight loss or gain<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hyperactivity or sleeplessness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nervousness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leg cramps<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Joint or muscle pain<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diarrhea, vomiting, or upset stomach<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Skin rash<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Changes in menstrual cycle\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/synthroid-side-effects\/\"><b>Synthroid side effects<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/thyroid-medication-interactions\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You should avoid taking<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> antacids, PPIs (such as omeprazole, pantoprazole etc), iron supplements, aluminum, or calcium supplements within four hours of taking thyroid medication.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"2-the-thyroid-diet\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. The thyroid diet<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although there is no evidence supporting the idea that diet or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/hypothyroidism-and-exercise\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">exercise<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can alter thyroid health, many people claim that the following foods can support a healthy thyroid:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sea vegetables, like nori and edible seaweed<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maca supplements<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chlorophyll, found in plants like spinach and wheatgrass<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brazil nuts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cruciferous vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, kale, etc.)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adherents to the thyroid diet also claim you should avoid certain foods like cottonseed meal and walnuts. Going gluten free and avoiding soy protein isolate may also help improve thyroid function, as may avoiding foods that contain goitrogens, which are substances that can interfere with thyroid function when consumed in excess. However, there is no particular diet that is scientifically proven to improve or worsen thyroid functions.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A balanced diet with the right amount of iodine can help your body stay healthier in general, but it won&#8217;t necessarily help you avoid thyroid issues.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Despite what is often found on the internet, there is no food, supplement, or exercise that can improve thyroid health or prevent thyroid disease,&#8221; Dr. Rosenfeld says. &#8220;Beware of fad diets or supplements that are touted to improve thyroid health. At the very least, they are a waste of money, but they also have the potential to be harmful. Ingesting too much iodine, cruciferous vegetables, or certain supplements can adversely affect thyroid function.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>RELATED: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/hypothyroidism-diet\/\">Best diet for hypothyroidism<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/hyperthyroidism-diet\/\">Best diet for Graves\u2019 hyperthyroidism<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"3-get-informed-and-talk-to-your-healthcare-provider\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Get informed and talk to your healthcare provider<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Perhaps the best thing you can do to improve your thyroid health, as Thyroid Awareness Month reminds us, is to learn about the signs and symptoms of thyroid disease and take action if you suspect something is wrong with your thyroid.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Being an informed patient and working with your healthcare provider are both extremely important,\u201d says American Thyroid Association Secretary <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/csd.georgetown.edu\/jonklaas_j\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jacqueline Jonklaas, MD<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Ph.D., a professor in the endocrinology division at Georgetown University. Additional information for patients can be found at thyroid.org.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you&#8217;re like most people, you probably don&#8217;t think about thyroid health very often. When your thyroid is working as it should, it&#8217;s easy to take it for granted. But healthcare professionals would like you to give some thought to thyroid health in January, which is Thyroid Awareness Month. It&#8217;s a subject worth being aware [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":8374,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8029],"tags":[3896],"coauthors":[11174],"class_list":["post-2343","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-education","tag-thyroid","wpautop"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Thyroid health tips for Thyroid Awareness Month<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"60% of people with thyroid disease don\u2019t know something\u2019s wrong. 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