An underactive thyroid can have a significant impact on your life, no matter how old you are. It can affect you physical health, as well as emotional well-being and mental health. However, if you are a woman who is going through the menopause, things can be even more difficult to manage. The most important thing to remember is that you should seek a qualified medical advice from your GP to make sure you are on the right track to a healthier and better life.

Complications

Having an underactive thyroid can mean one significant outcome. If you are going through the menopause, you could find that a thyroid issue could lead to serious complications that are centered around the menopause itself.

One of the most common issues that can come with the menopause is a loss of bone density, which is known as osteoporosis. This can be a very difficult condition to manage. Inside a healthy bone there are a number of small spaces. If you imagine a honeycomb and what that looks like, this is an accurate image of the inside of a healthy bone.

Osteoporosis makes the size of the spaces inside a bone bigger, which then causes the bone to lose density and strength. The outside of a bone can also be affected by osteoporosis. With osteoporosis, bones become thinner and more prone to serious issues around bone integrity.

That could lead to bones becoming more prone to fractures and potential breaks. These issues can happen even through routine and low-level movement.

The big problem with this is that an underactive thyroid can lead to a reduction in bone density. This issue, coupled with the fact that osteoporosis is a possible complication of the menopause, could prove to be a major and potentially devastating concern.

Other complications come with cardiovascular issues. Here, a woman who has undergone the menopause could face issues around heart health. Unfortunately, this can lead to cardiovascular disease. At the same time, low thyroid performance can lead to cardiovascular disorders.

If this happens

If you are experiencing menopause and you also suspect you are suffering from an underactive thyroid, it is vital that you see your doctor. It is most likely that, if both things occur at once, that your doctor will be able to diagnose both and create a tailor-made treatment for you. However, it is important that you have the knowledge about what to do if the situation arises and that you are not worried about it. If you are doing some research online already and are looking for additional supplements you could take a look at a site like https://eastleighcarehomes.co.uk/locations/care-homes-north-devon/.

When visiting and discussing the issues with your doctor, make sure you have the following information to hand, so you can easily answer questions that speed up the diagnosis if necessary:

• A full list of any symptoms that you think are important. Whatever you are experiencing, it’s important to make sure that you explain what is going on to the doctor in detail and may be useful to keep a record in your diary.
• What are your eating patterns like, which will allow the doctor to get a full picture of any problems in this area
• The duration of the symptoms you have been experiencing, so the doctor can get an idea of how long things have been going on (this is a big factor in diagnosis). Also, the severity of the symptoms are important.

Thyroid issues and the menopause could be very problematic. If you have symptoms, then talk to a doctor as soon as possible.