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Fatigue, weight gain, irritability:what if it was the thyroid?

What is the thyroid for? This small gland located at the base of the neck is the queen of our emotions! It also regulates body temperature, weight or heart rate.

We worry... If we notice persistent fatigue, palpitations, sudden weight gain or if we are irritable... for no reason.

Who does it concern? Women are seven times more affected. Thyroid imbalances often occur during pregnancy or postpartum. But stress, pollution, smoking or a deficiency in vitamins and trace elements can also play a role...

So what to do? Iodine intake should be increased during pregnancy and postpartum. If in doubt, we perform a dosage of thyroid hormones (T3, T4 and TSH) to check if we are hypo or hyperthyroid. In the 1st case, the doctor prescribes synthetic thyroid hormones, in the 2nd, antithyroid drugs or even plants (hawthorn, viburnum, etc.). K.J.

Thanks to Dr. Jean-Pierre Willem:" The pathologies of the thyroid " (Ed. du Dauphin).