Being diagnosed with a thyroid issue can be distressing. It is essential to understand the best ways to manage your condition and the symptoms that may arise from it. Your first port of call should always be your doctor. It may help to discuss your thyroid issue with a specialist doctor to ensure you get the best possible advice.
There are many lifestyle changes that you can make to help you manage a thyroid issue. Here are some of the best ways to ensure that your condition has a minimal impact on your quality of life.
Wear Plenty Of Layers
Thyroid issues can often lead to an inability to regulate your internal temperature. As a result, you may often feel much colder than those around you. This can be a challenging issue to live with, and one of the best ways to ensure your comfort is to wear plenty of layers. This will help you stay warm and comfortable. Some great ways to layer up include wearing cardigans, base layers, or thermal underclothes.
Moisturize Regularly
Thyroid issues can lead to dry, painful skin. One excellent way to reduce the impact on your skin is to moisturize regularly. This can help alleviate any pain caused by dry skin and keep your skin looking and feeling great. It may help to ask your doctor or pharmacist for recommendations for moisturizer.
Eat Well
Eating a healthy balanced diet is crucial to help you maintain your health. You should ensure that you get plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet. It may help to discuss your needs with a dietician or nutritionist to help ensure you get all the things you need in your diet. You could ask your doctor to refer you.
Have Regular Naps
Fatigue is a common issue for those with thyroid issues. It can be beneficial to ensure you take regular naps to help combat any fatigue you experience. This can be a fantastic way to keep yourself alert and active throughout the day. You could consider having a nap after lunchtime, before dinner or in preparation for any potentially tiring activity in your day.
Take Your Medication Properly
It is important to take your medication as prescribed by your doctor. While missing one pill occasionally will not usually have an adverse effect, frequently taking your medication incorrectly can cause issues. For more information, take a look at the Ruscio Institute’s article on how long can you go without thyroid medication.
Talk To A Therapist
Managing a chronic illness like a thyroid issue can have a detrimental impact on our mental health. It is a good idea to talk to a licensed therapist who can help you work through your feelings about your condition. They may also be able to provide you with tools and advice to help you manage stress.
Try Meditation
Meditation can be an excellent way to manage and improve your mental health. It can also be a great way to help you destress and relax at the end of the day. High levels of stress can exacerbate the symptoms of a thyroid issue, so finding any way possible to manage your stress can be invaluable.
Get Plenty Of Exercise
Exercise can be tricky when you have a thyroid issue, but it is still crucial to incorporate exercise into your daily life. You may need to find ways to modify your exercises to suit your abilities. An excellent choice could be things like chair yoga, which are aimed towards people that may have mobility or health issues.
Improve Your Sleep Quality
Getting good rest is vital to help you stay healthy and manage your thyroid issue. It can help to get into a good bedtime routine. Ensure that you go to bed and wake up at the same time each day to help your body get into a good habit. It is also a good idea to avoid using phones or computers in the hours before you go to sleep. The blue light from screens can have a detrimental impact on your quality of sleep.
It can also help to ensure you update your mattress and bedding regularly. Mattresses should be replaced roughly every eight years, or sooner if you notice that it is no longer providing the best support. Pillows should be replaced every two years to prevent dust build-up.
Conclusion
Thyroid issues can have a broad range of issues on your health. It is important to modify your lifestyle to help you manage your condition as best you can. You should look at all elements of your life and make any changes that may help improve your quality of life. If you are concerned about any new symptoms or struggle to manage existing symptoms, you should talk to your doctor to get their help and advice.