Doctors on Yoga for Thyroid Disease
Thyroid disease is the result of a thyroid gland that does not produce the correct amount of T4 and T3 hormones. Producing too much causes hyperthyroidism and producing too little causes hypothyroidism. These hormones affect the metabolism of the body, which is the rate the cells work. The thyroid is the shape of a butterfly and is located in the lower front of the neck. The pituitary gland affects the activity of the thyroid and is located in the base of the brain.
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Features
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The symptoms of thyroid disease are often misdiagnosed. The most common treatment is radioactive iodine which destroys the thyroid. The patients then take a synthetic replacement hormone the rest of their lives, which does the work of the thyroid.
Significance
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Thyroid disease is found in all ages and races, but found in women 5 to 8 times more often than men.
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Support treatments
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Yoga is recommended by doctors for people with thyroid disease because slow, deep breathing and slow, deliberate stretching movements relax the nervous system and also stimulate circulation which helps the organs to function properly. Specific yoga poses affect the activity of the thyroid. The shoulder stand, the plow and the fish practiced together in that order will massage, squeeze and stretch the thyroid gland. The inverted postures send blood straight from the heart to the head which stimulates both the thyroid and the pituitary. Dr. Arem states in his book, The Thyroid Solution, that stress is the major trigger of Graves Disease, an autoimmune disease that attacks the thyroid gland. Yoga is recommended for these patients because the practice of yoga reduces stress.
Considerations
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Treatment decisions are determined by the patient. The age of the patient and the severity of the symptoms are considerations for choosing treatments. A patient who might be pregnant at the time of diagnosis would require less invasive treatment than radioactive iodine.
Warning
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Thyroid disease is life threatening in older patients with heart problems. Immediate treatment to destroy the thyroid is necessary for these patients.
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