Your thyroid gland is in your neck and produces hormones that control growth, body temperature, heart rate and metabolism. An overactive thyroid is a condition known as hyperthroidism, which means the gland produces too many hormones. It is recommended that you see a doctor for a full diagnosis and treatment plan, but certain home therapies can help relieve your symptoms.
Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism
According to Dr. Gill Jenkins and Dr. Rob Hicks on the BBC Health website, hyperthyroidism affects more women than men and usually arises between the ages of 20 and 50. It can occur when your immune system mistakenly identifies your own tissue as foreign and produces more hormones in order to attack it. A growth on your thyroid and, in rare cases, certain medications can also cause the condition. Your symptoms can include increased heart rate, hyperactivity, difficulty breathing, mood swings, sudden weight loss or gain, increased appetite, muscle weakness and fatigue, notes NHS Choices. You may also notice a swelling in your neck, muscle tremors and/or twitches, redness on the palms of your hands and your skin becoming warm, moist and itchy.
Medical Treatment
Blood tests and scans are usually required to diagnose hyperthyroidism and exactly what has caused it. Many cases of hyperthyroidism are mild and may resolve themselves without any treatment, according to NHS Choices. However, your doctor will need to check your thyroid function every month or so. If your condition progresses, treatment usually involves medication to slow down hormone production. Radioiodine treatment, a form of radiotherapy, may also be recommended by your doctor to shrink your thyroid gland. In serious cases, surgery to remove part of your thyroid gland may be required.
Dietary Changes
One way you can treat hyperthyroidism at home is to modify your diet. This condition can lead to significant weight loss, so you may need to increase your calorie intake, notes the Mayo Clinic. In particular, extra protein can help combat muscle wastage -- a common side effect of the condition. It’s also important to ensure that you get enough calcium and vitamin D to help prevent thinning bones. Adults between 19 and 50 years old should aim to get 1,000 milligrams of calcium a day. Women over 50 and men over 70 should increase their daily intake to 1,200 milligrams. The recommended daily dosage of vitamin D -- of which sunshine is a major source -- is 600 international units for adults between 19 to 70 and 800 IUs for anyone older than that.
Yoga
While yoga shouldn’t be used instead of medical treatment for hyperthyroidism, it can help relieve some of your symptoms, such as fatigue and insomnia. For example, the savasana pose -- lying on your back with all muscles relaxed -- can ease tension throughout your body, according to the Yoga Journal website. Child’s pose can also help by calming your brain and relieving stress and fatigue. This pose requires you to kneel on the floor, then sit back on your heels and bend your torso forward over your thighs, keeping your arms down by your sides and the hands pointing back behind you. Some poses can increase your heart rate and, therefore, exacerbate your symptoms, so talk to a qualified yoga instructor about the best yoga sequences for your condition.
