It essentially makes hormones and helps regulate metabolism. The thyroid is also involved in assisting the functions of a number of organ systems throughout the body. These systems consist of the heart, bones, and gastrointestinal tract; the central nervous system, and the autonomic nervous system.

However, a few health concerns can occur if your thyroid does not function properly. For example, an overactive thyroid, or hyperthyroidism, can cause rapid weight loss, an unusually fast heartbeat, and anxiety. The opposite— hypothyroidism , an underactive thyroid—can trigger constipation, weight gain , and extreme fatigue.

Other thyroid conditions include goiter thyroid enlargement , thyroid cancer, thyroid nodules lumps on the gland , and thyroiditis thyroid swelling. Therefore, it is important to keep your thyroid as healthy as possible. Making a few dietary and lifestyle adjustments can potentially be beneficial for the health of your thyroid.

One of the most important things you can do to maintain a healthy thyroid is to eat a well-balanced diet. Studies show that this plays a role in the development of thyroid disease. To help keep inflammation in check, Dr. Gupta recommended following a Mediterranean diet.

This diet typically includes:. Gupta suggested aiming for four to five servings of vegetables and three to four servings of fruit daily, along with plenty of lean proteins and fatty fish, such as salmon, herring, anchovies, and mackerel. Gupta recommended extra-virgin olive oil, expeller-pressed organic canola oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil , coconut oil, nuts, nut butters, and avocados for healthy fats.

While consuming the foods above, you'll want to avoid processed foods packed with sugar and preservatives, dyes, or fat- and sugar-free substitutes. Cruciferous veggies such as cauliflower, cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, watercress , Bok choy , and Brussels sprouts.

They may be packed with good-for-you nutrients like vitamin C and folate, but eating them raw in high doses could mess with your thyroid. However, if you love these types of vegetables, there's good news: "The goitrogens in these foods are inactivated by cooking, or even by light steaming, so you can still consume them for their valuable antioxidant and cancer-protective effects," added Dr.

You've probably heard that there's a connection between thyroid health and iodine, which is essential for the synthesis of thyroid hormones. In other words, you're probably already getting enough iodine in your diet as is. Too much iodine can trigger hyperthyroidism in susceptible individuals.

Thus, Dr. Gupta didn't recommend taking iodine pills without consulting a healthcare provider. On the other hand, if you suspect your thyroid may need a boost, speak to a healthcare provider about taking selenium or vitamin D , both of which have been linked to improved thyroid health.

As for vitamin D, some research suggests it could be important in aiding the immune system. Gupta also recommended taking probiotics , which offer a whole host of health benefits.

Gupta said. Gupta suggested looking for over-the-counter blends that contain the active cultures Saccharomyces boulardii and Lactobacillus acidophilus or eating natural sources like yogurt and kefir. Dietary supplements are minimally regulated by the FDA and may or may not be suitable for you.

The effects of supplements vary from person to person and depend on many variables, including type, dosage, frequency of use, and interactions with current medications. Please speak with your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting any supplements.

Long-term exposure to endocrine disruptors — chemicals that interfere with your body's endocrine system — may trigger endocrine problems in humans. A few to be aware of are perfluorinated chemicals PFCs. PFCs are synthetic chemicals that repel both water and oil.

These chemicals can be found in things such as:. PFCs have been linked to thyroid disease in previous studies from PLOS ONE. Researchers have also found that exposure to phthalates found in fragranced products and soft plastics and bisphenol-A found in some hard plastics and canned food linings, although many manufacturers are removing them could cause disruptions in thyroid hormone levels.

Gupta also recommended avoiding antibacterial soaps that contain triclosan. Triclosan is an ingredient that has altered hormone regulation in studies of animals human studies are still ongoing.

Although it would be impossible to avoid these completely, the key is to reduce your exposure as much as you can, especially if you're pregnant or have little ones in the house — developing fetuses, infants, and children are more vulnerable to any effects of environmental chemicals.

Following some general guidelines can go a long way. To avoid exposure to toxins, you can also choose more fresh or frozen foods over canned, store food in porcelain or glass rather than plastics, and keep your home well-ventilated. Call your doctor or nurse advice line now or seek immediate medical care if:.

Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse advice line if:. Enter L in the search box to learn more about "Hyperthyroidism: Care Instructions". Author: Healthwise Staff. Care instructions adapted under license by your healthcare professional.

If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

ca Network. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Main Content Alberta Content Related to Conditions Hyperthyroidism More Alberta Content. Important Phone Numbers. Topic Contents Your Care Instructions How can you care for yourself at home?

When should you call for help? Where can you learn more? Top of the page. Your Care Instructions Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone.

How can you care for yourself at home? Take your medicines exactly as prescribed. You need to take the thyroid medicine at the same time each day. Call your doctor or nurse advice line if you think you are having a problem with your medicine.

Graves' disease can make your eyes sore. Use artificial tears, eye drops, and sunglasses to protect your eyes from dryness, wind, and sun.

Raise your head with pillows at night to prevent your eyes from swelling. In some cases, taping your eyelids shut at night will keep your eyes from being dry in the morning. Make sure you get enough calcium. Foods that are rich in calcium include milk, yogurt, cheese, and dark green vegetables.

If you need to gain weight, ask your doctor about special diets. Do not eat kelp. Kelp is high in iodine, which can make hyperthyroidism worse. Kelp is commonly used in sushi and other Japanese foods. You can use iodized salt and eat bread and seafood. Try to eat a balanced diet.

Do not use caffeine and other stimulants. These can make symptoms worse, such as a fast heartbeat, nervousness, and problems focusing. Do not smoke. Smoking can make your condition worse and may lead to more serious eye problems.

If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about stop-smoking programs and medicines. These can increase your chances of quitting for good.

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Mayo Clinic; American Thyroid Association. Accessed Nov. Loscalzo J, et al. In: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine.

McGraw Hill; National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Ross DS. Diagnosis of and screening for hypothyroidism in nonpregnant adults. Surks MI. Clinical manifestations of hypothyroidism. Congenital hypothyroidism child. Hyperthyroidism in infants and children. Merck Manual Professional Version.

Hypothyroidism during pregnancy: Clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment. Brito Campana JP. expert opinion. Mayo Clinic. Related Coconut oil: Can it cure hypothyroidism?

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About Mayo Clinic. About this Site. Contact Us. Health Information Policy. Media Requests. News Network. There are self-limited thyroid disorders, such as post-partum thyroiditis and subacute thyroiditis, where no therapy is necessary after the disorder runs its course see Thyroiditis brochure.

However, post-partum thyroiditis frequently recurs with subsequent pregnancies. Once diagnosed with thyroid disease, all patients need lifelong medical follow up to ensure that their thyroid function remains in the best range.

Medical Disclaimer The information contained in or made available through the American Thyroid Association Website is not intended to replace the services of a trained health professional or to be a substitute for medical advice of physicians. The user should consult a physician in all matters relating to his or her health, and particularly in respect to any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention.

N Engl J Med. Carr D, McLeod DT, Parry G, Thornes HM. Fine adjustment of thyroxine replacement dosage: comparison of the thyrotrophin releasing hormone test using a sensitive thyrotrophin assay with measurement of free thyroid hormones and clinical assessment.

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Wallace K, Hoffman MT. Thyroid dysfunction: how to manage overt and subclinical disease in older patients. Pines A, Dotan I, Tabori U, Villa Y, Mijatovic V, Leno Y, et al.

l-Thyroxine prevents the bone-conserving effect of HRT in postmenopausal women with subclinical hypothyroidism. Gynecol Endocrinol. Hanna FW, Pettit RJ, Ammari F, Evans WD, Sandeman D, Lazarus JH. Effect of replacement doses of thyroxine on bone mineral density.

Hussein WI, Green R, Jacobsen DW, Fairman C. Normalization of hyperhomocysteinemia with l-Thyroxine in hypothyroidism. Green R, Chong YY, Jacobsen DW, Robinson K, Gupta M. Serum homocysteine is high in hypothyroidism: a possible link with coronary artery disease.

Presented at the International Conference on Homocysteine Metabolism, from Basic Science to Clinical Medicine. Ireland, July 2—5, Ir J Med Sci. Refetoff S, Weiss RE, Usala SJ. The syndromes of resistance to thyroid hormone. Endocr Rev.

Guide to clinical and preventive services: report of the U. Preventive Services Task Force. Helfand M, Redfern CC. Clinical guideline, part 2. Screening for thyroid disease: an update. American College of Physicians. This content is owned by the AAFP. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may use that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference.

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WILLIAM J. HUESTON, M. He received his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, and completed a family practice residency at Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.

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All Rights Reserved. Infiltrative diseases e. A small number of people who are allergic to these medicines may develop skin rashes, hives, fever or joint pain.

They also can raise the risk of infection. This is surgery to remove part of or all of the thyroid gland. It is not used often to treat hyperthyroidism. But it may be an option for people who are pregnant.

It also may be a choice for those who can't take anti-thyroid medicine and don't want to or can't take radioiodine therapy. Risks of this surgery include damage to the vocal cords and parathyroid glands.

The parathyroid glands are four tiny glands on the back of the thyroid. They help control the level of calcium in the blood. People who have a thyroidectomy or radioiodine therapy need lifelong treatment with the medicine levothyroxine Levoxyl, Synthroid, others.

It supplies the body with thyroid hormones. If the parathyroid glands are removed during surgery, medicine also is needed to keep blood calcium in a healthy range. If you have thyroid eye disease, you may be able to manage mild symptoms with self-care steps, such as artificial tear drops and lubricating eye gels.

Avoiding wind and bright lights can help too. More-severe symptoms may need treatment with medicine called corticosteroids, such as methylprednisolone or prednisone. They can lessen swelling behind the eyeballs. The medicine teprotumumab Tepezza also may be used to control moderate to severe symptoms.

If those medicines don't ease symptoms, other medicines are sometimes used to treat thyroid eye disease. They include, tocilizumab Actemra , rituximab Rituxan and mycophenolate mofetil Cellcept. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health.

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You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Once you begin treatment, symptoms of hyperthyroidism likely will get better. Along with your treatment, your health care provider might suggest that you reduce iodine in your diet.

It can make hyperthyroidism worse. Kelp, dulse and other types of seaweed contain a lot of iodine. Cough syrup and multivitamins also may contain iodine.

If you have Graves' disease that causes eye or skin problems, taking the following steps may help ease symptoms:. If you've been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, it's important that you get the medical care you need.

After you and your health care provider have decided on a treatment plan, there also are some things you can do to cope with the condition and help your body heal. You'll likely start by seeing your primary care provider. But you may be referred directly to a specialist in hormone disorders, called an endocrinologist.

If you have eye problems, you may be referred to an eye doctor, also called an ophthalmologist. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment and to know what to expect from your health care provider. Writing a list of questions will help you make the most of your time with your health care provider.

For hyperthyroidism, some questions to ask include:. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press.

This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Excessive sugar can lead to inflammation, which can worsen the symptoms of an underactive thyroid. Limit your intake of cruciferous vegetables. Vegetables such as cabbage and broccoli can interfere with thyroid hormone production.

Find ways to reduce your stress. Exercise three to five times a week. Increasing your muscle mass can boost your metabolism and help to avoid weight gain or lethargy. Maintain a healthy body weight. The higher your body weight, the more thyroid hormone your body will require.

When to get your thyroid checked Dr. Zohrabian encourages anyone who experiences the following symptoms to have their thyroid function checked by their primary care provider: You notice a lump in your thyroid gland or have a swollen neck. You experience significant changes in your weight despite a stable diet and exercise regimen.

You have labile moods of anxiety or depression.