You can’t prevent thyroid disease, but being aware of the risk factors helps in diagnosis and early treatment of the condition. Be it hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroid hormones in the body) or hyperthyroidism (high blood levels of thyroid hormones); here are some factors that increase your risk of the same.
Being a woman: Women are more prone to thyroid disease than men as they experience hormonal fluctuations at various stages of their life --menstruation, pregnancy, after delivery and menopause. This impacts the levels of thyroid hormones, thus increasing your risk of suffering from thyroid disease.
Insufficient/overconsumption of iodine: The daily recommended dose of iodine is 150 μg per day. Make sure you don’t overload your diet with iodine-rich foods or lower the intake of this mineral. Because low levels of iodine cause hypothyroidism, whereas excessive intake of iodine may lead to hyperthyroidism.
Being 50 years or older: As you age, you suffer from low immunity and several hormonal changes occur in your body. So once you reach 35, make sure you health check-up includes thyroid profile tests.
Family history of thyroid disease: If you have a family history of thyroid disease, then you are at an increased risk of suffering from this condition. So if anyone in your family suffered from thyroid, it is advisable to get tested for thyroid imbalance on an annual basis.
Certain medication as treatments: Not many people are aware of the fact that medication such as interferon and cancer treatments such as radiation therapy affects your thyroid gland functioning. So don't ignore your doctor's advice for thyroid tests even though you may be getting treated for other conditions.
Are suffering from autoimmune disease: In case of autoimmune diseases, your immune cells attack your own body cells making you susceptible to various diseases. Hence, if you suffer from any autoimmune disease like type 1 diabetes, it is wise to get tested every year to be on a safer side.
Leading a stressful life: Did you know your stress levels can also put you at risk of thyroid disease? Because the more you are stressed, the more your hormonal levels change and this in turn increase your risk. To deal with it, you should exercise and practice meditation and yoga at work and home.
Logout