Dr. Suprakash Chaudhury, a psychiatry professor from Pune, has highlighted the complex relationship between stress and thyroid health. Stress can also impact the hypothalamus and pituitary glands, affecting thyroid hormone regulation.
Stress affects thyroid function in numerous ways. The butterfly-shaped neck gland controls body temperature, metabolism, and energy production. Misfunctioning causes stress. Stress can cause thyroid issues, but genetic, environmental, and lifestyle variables all play a role.
Dr. Suprakash Chaudhury, Professor & HOD, psychiatry department, DPU Private Super Specialty Hospital, Pimpri, Pune, lists further stress-thyroid factors:
Hormonal imbalance: All hormones are interconnected, so changes in one impair the synthesis of the other. These oscillations can also alter thyroid hormones.
Autoimmune Responses: Long-term stress increases the likelihood of autoimmune thyroid illnesses such Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, in which the immune system destroys the thyroid.
Stress might aggravate thyroid inflammation. Inflammation can alter thyroid hormone secretion and function.
The thyroid-regulating hypothalamus and pituitary glands are affected by stress. Stress can alter thyroid hormone production and regulation.
Which simple rules can prevent thyroid disease in sensitive people?
- Eat balanced.
- Stress management
- Regular exercise
- Avoid environmental toxins
- Regular thyroid exams
- Eat less goitrogenic
- Address root causes
The relationship between stress and thyroid function is complex and individual.
Conclusion
Stress affects thyroid health through hormonal imbalance, autoimmune reactions, thyroiditis, and the hypothalamus and pituitary glands. Unbalanced hormone production causes thyroid hormone changes. An autoimmune reaction increases the chance of Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Stress might also affect thyroiditis. Maintain a balanced diet, control stress, exercise frequently, avoid environmental contaminants, schedule thyroid checkups, limit goitrogenic foods, and treat underlying disorders to prevent thyroid difficulties.
