Should People With Hypothyroidism Avoid Alchohol Completely?

Hypothyroidism is a condition characterized by an underactive thyroid gland, which can cause a person to experience symptoms like fatigue, cold intolerance, and weight gain. Other potential symptoms of hypothyroidism include hair loss, muscle cramps, constipation or diarrhea, memory problems and more. And alcohol is already known to have negative effects on the body for those who drink too much – liver damage being one of the main culprits in addition to dehydration and more.

What is hypothyroidism?

An underactive thyroid is termed hypothyroidism and can cause symptoms like fatigue, cold intolerance, and weight gain.

Is hypothyroidism harmful?

Hypothyroidism is considered harmless unless it goes untreated for an extended period of time. If undiagnosed and left untreated, the side effects of alcohol and hypothyroidism can be severe. They include increased weight gain, fatigue, cold intolerance and others. For instance, toxic levels of iron in the blood may occur due to blood loss from loose stools associated with iron-deficiency anemia. In such conditions, it is important that a person gets regular checkups to ensure that their thyroid hormone level is optimal.

What are some symptoms of hypothyroidism?

Symptoms of hypothyroidism may include fatigue and weakness, unexplained weight gain or loss, muscle cramps and spasms, restless sleep or insomnia, cold intolerance, dry skin, hair loss, dry eyes and others. In addition to these symptoms, people may also experience depression or irritability.

How is hypothyroidism treated?

Treating hypothyroidism is challenging because the hormone that’s produced by the thyroid gland is not as effective as it used to be in the past. Doctors usually prescribe thyroid hormone replacement therapy for patients who have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Hormone replacement therapy is usually administered either by estrogen or a synthetic form of the hormone thyroxine.

Does hypothyroidism cause weight loss?

Hypothyroidism is a condition characterized by an underactive thyroid gland, which can cause a person to experience symptoms like fatigue, cold intolerance, and weight gain. In addition to these symptoms, people may also experience depression or irritability if they do not get enough thyroid hormone in their bloodstream. So also thyroid hormone replacement therapy can be prescribed which helps in regulating the level of this vital hormone in the bloodstream.

Why do people with hypothyroidism gain weight?

An underactive thyroid gland has its own effects on the body, including weight gain. Taking supplemental vitamins, eating a healthy diet and getting enough exercise are some of the natural ways to help prevent gaining weight does alcohol affect hypothyroidism.

Can alcohol aggravate hypothyroidism?

It is not clear if alcohol can exacerbate or worsen hypothyroidism symptoms, but it is best to avoid excessive alcohol consumption while dealing with this condition. Information regarding the link between drinking and thyroid problems is also conflicting; some sources state that alcohol consumption may interfere with the absorption of levothyroxine, a synthetic form of thyroid hormone.

How much alcohol can I have when I have hypothyroidism?

To minimize the effects of alcohol on your body, it is recommended to avoid having more than 2 drinks a day or at least 2 days a week if you drink more than that. But there are still some suggestions that you don’t drink at all while taking your medications for the disorder. You should also expect that alcohol may not be in your system even after 8 hours because of the medication.