Hypothyroidism and Fatigue: Know About How to Deal with It

Suhana Siddika
Suhana SiddikaFebruary 7, 2022

Are you tired of feeling tired?

Well, that is something you need to pay attention to! Crushing exhaustion, intense lethargy, and a vague sense of being drained 24X7 - these all are the classic signs of an underactive thyroid gland. Those who have felt it before are very well aware that this is not any ordinary tiredness that many people experience after spending the entire night awake or during their stressful time. Thyroid Fatigue

Extreme fatigue often interrupts your daily activities. It is very common for you to feel the constant urge to nap one or two hours every afternoon or wake up groggy even after a full night's sound sleep. Adjusting your thyroid medication dose, changing your sleeping patterns, and tackling other aspects that may aggravate the problem can help you manage this common symptom of hypothyroidism.

In this article, the experts of Jeevam Health will uncover the link between hypothyroidism and fatigue along with the functional medicine approach to treat it.

Fatigue – What causes it?

Fatigue is a very common symptom of hypothyroidism that affects practically everyone. Due to the constant dropping levels of thyroid hormone production, this health condition starts getting aggravated on its own.

One of the most visible signs of your thyroid levels not being properly maintained is bone-numbing tiredness. The weariness can develop gradually or unexpectedly, leaving you unable to get out of bed in the mornings. It becomes impossible for you to process throughout the day. It is because; our energy levels are dependent on the thyroid production in the body. If there is a drop in the hormone release, then it eventually causes tiredness and lethargy. Join Thyroid Community/

Treatment

So, if your fatigue has got to do anything with your thyroid disease, then it is high time that you start getting yourself treated for the same. However, to get rid of such hormonal conditions, it is crucial to eliminate them from the root. Hence, consuming the prescribed medicines and monthly follow-ups will not help you in the long run.

And that is where functional medicine comes to your rescue! At Jeevam Health, we adopt a holistic approach to treating hypothyroidism and the associated fatigue that takes nutrition, lifestyle habits, and other factors into account and integrates them with the evidence-based approach of functional medicine to help patients feel better.

  1. Pay Attention to What You Eat

    Although there is no special "hypothyroidism" diet, we still have a few things for you to adhere to.

    Firstly, foods that interfere with thyroid production have to be avoided or restricted. The list will include processed food, gluten, sugar, GMO food like Soy, sugars, etc. since these add to fatigue.

    Patients suffering from hypothyroidism generally feel better when consuming a balanced diet that provides their bodies with the necessary nutrients to function correctly. Their diet should include fruits, veggies, lean proteins, and whole grains.

    It is important to avoid meals that deplete your energy if you suffer from hypothyroidism and experience fatigue. However, while food alone will not treat hypothyroidism, the appropriate combination of nutrients might make you feel better and reduce the severity of your symptoms.

    Consider the below remedies that can be added to your treatment plan.

    • Vitamin B complex Hypothyroidism might lower your body's vitamin B-12 levels. Consuming a vitamin B-12 supplement may help restore hypothyroidism-related damage.
    • Selenium As per the National Institutes of Health, selenium is an essential and natural component involved in the metabolism of thyroid hormones in the body. Many foods contain selenium, such as Brazil nuts, mushrooms, oatmeal, spinach, yogurt, lentils, cashews, bananas, brown rice, sunflower seeds, etc.
    • Omega-3 fatty acid Omega 3 fatty acids such as flaxseed oil, salmon, cod liver oil, etc are essential for the proper functioning of our thyroid hormones. So, including omega-3 fatty acid-rich food in your diet can do wonders in treating your thyroid problems.
  2. Lifestyle Changes

    Based on the intensity of your symptoms, your therapist at Jeevam Health may propose that you make a change in your lifestyle. Because of a malfunctioning immune system, most hypothyroidism symptoms are experienced. It is unintentionally assaulted by the weak immune system, which results in the thyroid not releasing adequate amounts of the hormone.

    Incorporating minor adjustments into your daily routine can have a significant impact on the functioning of your immune system. A few practical efforts to enhance your health, such as creating a suitable sleep schedule to ensure that you go to bed on time each night, get adequate sleep, and engage in fatigue-related activities, can greatly impact how you feel. Besides, waking up early and taking a daily dose of sunshine has positive effects on your health. So, try making these lifestyle changes for a healthier life.

  3. Restrict Caffeine and Alcohol

    To combat hypothyroidism-induced fatigue, it's easy to get into a pattern of drinking many caffeinated beverages and then having a couple of beers to help you get back down.

    Even though caffeine can provide a short-term boost, like making you feel more alert in the morning, it will not help you deal with long-term exhaustion. And to make matters even worst, this vicious cycle of using caffeine to wake up and drinking alcohol to wind down may be depleting your energy further. When it comes to falling asleep and waking up, both alcohol and coffee might impair your capacity to have a deep sleep. Limit the consumption of caffeinated beverages to one or two cups before midday and alcoholic beverages to one or two before bedtime.

  4. Sleep Patterns Matters

    It has been shown that getting proper sleep of 7-8 hours every night can help you fight against daytime lethargy caused by hypothyroidism. It is important to be in an environment that makes your body feel relaxed while you sleep. We would recommend sleeping in a dark, cool, and quiet room.

    Set a regular bedtime and wake-up time to help your body enter the proper sleep cycle for your holidays and weekends. Keep your phone and other electronic devices in another room. Don't give up if you've already followed these methods to enhance your sleep time but are still feeling tired during the day.

  5. Quit Tobacco

    As a stimulant, nicotine has a lot of damage to your system. Smoking, while it may appear to be a calming routine for many, it has the effect of impairing your sleep quality and, as a result, raising your level of exhaustion.

    Tobacco usage is suspected to increase the hormonal changes in your body and possibly activate autoimmune activity in some people – all of which could make it more difficult to adhere to your hypothyroidism management regimen. Our experts at Jeevam Health help you find out the best way to quit smoking, get proper sleep and gain more energy.

  6. Stress Management

    It is important to understand how to control your stress levels. Although stress is inevitable, you can reduce it by adopting healthier habits such as:

    • minimizing exposure to people who are stressed and toxic
    • avoiding multitasking whenever possible
    • manage the activities that tense you Consider adding breathwork, meditation, yoga, etc., to your schedule. These will help maintain the stress hormones, reduce heart rate, and normalize blood pressure.

Conclusion

Fatigue might not be a serious concern for you at the moment, however, if you leave it untreated it can lead to serious consequences. It can make it hard for yourself to keep your thyroid levels in check. Remember, prevention is always better than cure. So, if you feel dizzy these days, it’s high time you reach out to a thyroid specialist and get your levels checked. We, at Jeevam Health, have a group of experts who can help you out with it. Reach out to us today!

Related Articles

BlogCard_title__QxUXi
How to cure thyroid disease forever
BlogCard_title__QxUXi
What Is Congenital Hypothyroidism?
BlogCard_title__QxUXi
Brain Fog Due to Thyroid: What is the Cure?
Get a better idea of how we at Jeevam Health can help you.