By Taivan Acer
The basic purpose of the thyroid gland is to maintain the metabolism of the human body. It is responsible for production of two hormones – triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). These hormones, when out of balance, can trigger health issues, including headaches. This kind of headache is known as a thyroid headache. In this post, we are discussing more on the gland, hypothyroid and headache.
Understanding the basics
Proper thyroid function is more than critical for anyone. If there is any compromise on the functioning of the thyroid gland, it can lead to a headache, and in some cases, can trigger a migraine headache. If you suffer frequent headaches, you may want to get your thyroid function tested. This not only helps in understanding if the thyroid gland is the cause of such headaches, but also helps in finding the best possible treatment plan. There are clinics that specialize in headache treatments, and they can help you figure out how to manage such headaches.
Knowing thyroid function
The thyroid gland is located in your neck and resembles a butterfly. It takes instructions from the hypothalamus gland, which is responsible for secreting “thyrotropin-releasing hormone”. Thyroid-stimulating hormone or TSH is secreted by the pituitary gland, when the hypothalamus gland releases TRH. TSH stimulates the thyroid gland in producing the two hormones that we discussed earlier, which are responsible for maintaining body metabolism.Hypothyroidism is a condition where the thyroid gland is not performing as expected. Hypothyroidism has been linked to headaches, among other symptoms.
Signs of Hypothyroidism
Unfortunately, you cannot really know about the function of thyroid gland, unless a blood test is done. However, there are a few signs and symptoms of Hypothyroidism, such as weight gain, fatigue, mood swings, hair loss, and thyroid headache. People often end up ignoring hypothyroid conditions because the symptoms are often similar to other diseases.
Managing thyroid headaches
There are treatments available for frequent headaches, so don’t forget to get yourself tested for TSH, T3 and T4. Keep in mind that just taking a painkiller doesn’t really resolve the problem of frequenting thyroid headaches. Also, you may want to talk to a doctor to know, if there are other causes that are making your headaches worse than expected.
The good news is treatment can help in managing thyroid headaches, and more importantly, as you take thyroid medication, the frequency of such headaches will reduce with time.
