Glossary On Living with Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism may initially throw your life out of gear but it is not an impossible task to get things back on track. In fact, with proper medication and certain diet and lifestyle changes, it may well be possible to get the symptoms under control so that you may lead a healthier and more fulfilling life.

Here are certain things that have helped a lot many of our patients to cope better with their hyperthyroidism:

• For people who have lost a lot of weight or have wasting of muscles, a diet high in calories and proteins is suggested. However, this must be properly planned with a professional dietician so as to get the best results.
• The dietician will also suggest a diet that is rich in calcium (e.g. milk, yogurt, cheese, okra, spinach, tofu, etc.) since hyperthyroidism causes thinning down of the bone tissue and this too needs to be addressed properly.
• It is very important to be educated about the disease in detail as well about the foods that contain high levels of iodine thereby worsening hyperthyroidism. It is always better to keep the intake of the following foods at the minimal since they interfere with thyroid functioning:
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Kale
• Brussels sprouts
• Turnips
• Soybeans
• Peanuts
• Linseed
• Pine nuts
• Millet
• Cassava
• Mustard greens
• It is also advisable to limit the intake of refined foods like white bread, pastas and sugar; red meat, processed meat, etc.
• The diet should be rich in antioxidant foods especially fruits (like blueberries, cherries, tomatoes, etc.) and vegetables (like squash, bell pepper, etc.)
• Incorporating stress reduction techniques can be very helpful especially yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, acupuncture, etc.
• In cases where the eyes have been affected, warm and cold compresses should be used to alleviate the pain and swelling. Also minimize salt intake to prevent edema around eyes.
• Eye drops may be used in cases of dry eyes
• Use of a good conditioner can help in preventing dryness of hair and thereby minimize hair loss due to breakage. This is especially useful for people who experience excessive hair loss due to hyperthyroidism.