Hypothyroidism is a common problem in the United States. Population-based studies show that about 5% of the population is affected by hypothyroidism. It can be found in all ages and tends to affect females more than males.
Managing hypothyroidism requires an integrative treatment approach, with a combination of traditional medication and lifestyle changes tailored to your specific case.
This guide will explore treatment options, lifestyle adjustments, and patient assistance programs that help you manage your condition and live a healthier life.
All You Need to Know About Hypothyroidism
An underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism happens when your thyroid gland fails to make enough thyroid hormones for your body’s needs.
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-like gland in the front of your neck. It’s responsible for making hormones that control the body’s energy use.
Many important bodily functions and organs are affected by the hormone created by the thyroid. Thus, an underactive thyroid leads to problems in different domains. These include breathing, heart activity, weight, digestion, and mood management.
Without enough thyroid hormones, your body may tend to slow down, and symptoms like weight gain, cold intolerance, fatigue, and frequent depressive episodes may begin to surface. Thus, it is important for a patient dealing with hypothyroidism to focus on symptoms and incorporate the right medical and lifestyle treatment plans.
Curating the Right Treatment Plan
It’s important to approach treating hypothyroidism with a combination of medical and lifestyle-altering treatment plans to yield effective and long-lasting results.
Minor Changes Go Big
Day-to-day habits make a huge difference in how you feel and how your body functions. When medication is paired with a healthy lifestyle, it can improve the way your immune system functions. An improved immune system helps ease the symptoms of Hypothyroidism.
To manage symptoms and feel more connected and in control of yourself, here are four things you should be doing.
- Lock in 8 hours of sleep: The importance of sleep and its impact on one’s health can’t be understated. Try getting at least 8 hours of sleep every night and have a fixed routine. This will help beat those fatigue hours.
- Stress isn’t the best:Stress is a no-go zone for those dealing with hypothyroidism. Unproductive stress not only impacts the immune system; it also makes you feel anxious and burnt out. Best stay away from unnecessarily stressful situations.
- Feel-good Workouts: It is important to incorporate movement in your life; aim for strength training and cardio that not only makes you feel good but also helps you combat weight gain that may worsen symptoms.
- You are what you eat: Incorporating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains can help manage symptoms. Avoid excessive consumption of goitrogens—substances that can interfere with thyroid function—found in foods like soy and cruciferous vegetables.
Let’s talk Medicine
Hypothyroidism is manageable through medication. In most cases, it is treated by replacing the amount of hormone your thyroid fails to deliver with medication. One medication that is commonly used is Levothyroxine. This medicine helps balance out the levels of thyroid that your body needs.
It’s important to follow your healthcare provider’s instructions regarding dosage and administration. You may need hypothyroid medication for the long term; this may be a rather costly process. This is where medication assistance programs come in.
Manage Hypothyroidism with The Rx Helper
While prescription medication can be expensive, The Rx Helper offers various prescription assistance programs and coupons for the uninsured to help manage these costs. Focussed on hypothyroid patients, the Rx Helper assists patients with Synthroid coupons that help them get access to medication they wouldn’t be able to otherwise.
With the Rx Helper’s various prescription assistance programs, patients have the free will to check for eligibility and choose the one that fits them best.
For more information on our prescription assistance programs, visit our website and let us help you navigate your journey to living a better life with hypothyroidism.
