When one thinks of metabolism, he/she generally thinks of how easily—and/or quickly—that his/her fat is able to burn. However, a more technical definition is listed as follows as “metabolism refers to all the chemical reactions taking place in the body to convert or use energy”. In turn, metabolism aims to break down the food that a person intakes, so that it can be turned into energy. But when one’s metabolism doesn’t function as it’s supposed to, this can be linked to a number of problems—and/or disorders—the most common revolving around his/her thyroid. Some of the most common metabolism problems involve hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and diabetes.
The thyroid gland is a part of the endocrine system which uses iodine from the foods one eats to make two main hormones being Triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxine (T4). These two hormones “regulate your body’s temperature, metabolism, and heart rate”. That’s why this gland can have such a great impact on a person’s health, but symptoms of thyroid problems, as well as severity, can differ greatly depending on the person. For, metabolism disorders “cause the body to have either too much or too little of the essential substances needed to stay healthy”.
First and foremost is hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. hypothyroidism stems from the underproduction of the hormones. Initial symptoms of such might include; “fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, memory problems, irritability and depression, higher cholesterol levels, slower heart rate, and constipation/sluggish bowel”. In contrast, hyperthyroidism is the overproduction of hormones which might include symptoms such as; “weight loss, heat intolerance, frequent bowel movements, tremors, nervousness and irritability, thyroid gland enlargement, sleep disturbances, and fatigue”.
Second is diabetes. For, “it’s not uncommon for one to have both thyroid disease and diabetes”. The reason behind such is because if someone has type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, or metabolic syndrome then his/her risk of developing thyroid disease is doubled. And thyroid disease increases one’s risk of developing metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes.
In conclusion, a metabolism disorder cannot be narrowed down to just one problem or disorder, because there are many. For, some may stem from nutrition deficiencies, some may result in diabetes, etc. That’s why it is beneficial that one seeks evaluation from that of a medical professional, so that he/she might be able to receive the necessary/needed treatment to get back to that of a healthy life.
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