Blame it on your hormones: underactive thyroid

Hypothyroidism: what's going on?

The thyroid gland is responsible for producing thyroxine, the hormone that controls your metabolism and energy. When the body needs energy, the pituitary gland (in the brain) sends a message in the form of thyroid-stimulating hormone to the thyroid to get it to create more thyroxine. If too little is produced, due to hypothyroidism, many of the body's functions slow down.

Symptoms and moods

Thyroid symptoms mimic many of those of the perimenopause, which is why it's hard to diagnose. Classic symptoms include a puffy face (fluid retention), intense fatigue, dry skin, constipation, aches, cold hands and feet, loss of sex drive, memory loss and, sometimes, weight gain. Depression is also a key symptom.

"Severe depression is a major symptom of hypothyroidism," says Harley Street hormone specialist Dr Cecilia Tregear. "Some patients come to me who are on two or three different anti-depressants, and their doctors haven't even suspected a thyroid problem because they're not overweight. But it's a fallacy that weight gain is the primary symptom. Because hormone gland function is interlinked, a sluggish thyroid also means adrenal problems may ensue as a knock-on effect." Dr Tregear adds, "So not coping well with stress - a sign of low cortisol levels - can actually indicate a thyroid problem as well as adrenal gland dysfunction."

What's the solution?

Synthetic thyroxine T4 is the prescription for hypothyroidism. But you can also help your thyroid function by taking care of your adrenal glands. That means good stress management, healthy nutrition, appropriate supplements, plenty of sleep and exercise. Yinka Thomas  says it's also a good idea to avoid excessive caffeine, sugar and  e alcohol, as well as refined foods, as these all put pressure on the adrenal glands. Making these changes to your lifestyle will reduce adrenal fatigue and thereby help treat hypothyroidism.

Alternative therapy

If you have a very stressful lifestyle, Shabir Daya recommends Biochem Thyro-Max Support (£13.95 for 60 tablets; www.victoriahealth.com), which contains vitamins B1 and B2, manganese, iodine and potassium to help boost thyroid function

For more on the health problems caused by hormones, click on the links below

How to handle PMS

How to handle the perimenopause