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Your Thyroid Up in Smoke |
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Cigarette Smoking's Little Known Links to Thyroid Disease
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"...there are over 3000 toxins in cigarette smoke which are toxic to the thyroid gland.. . "
DIANN3
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by Mary J. Shomon
We all know that cigarette smoking is bad for us, but did you know that
there are significant connections between smoking and the development or
worsening of various thyroid conditions, including hypothyroidism, Graves'
disease, and thyroid eye disease?
What are some of the connections?
Studies show that smokers are more likely to have thyroid enlargement, and
it is possible that mild thyroid enlargement in smokers could be a sign of
subtle thyroid disturbance.
There are also some specific relationships between thyroid disease and
smoking that are important to recognize:
- The longer and more you've smoked, the more risk of thyroid disease you
face.
- Smoking increases the risk of Graves' Disease, particularly those with
autoimmune thyroid disease.
- Smokers were more likely to progress to more serious thyroid eye disease
than nonsmokers, and four times more effective in dealing with the eye
symptoms for nonsmokers than smokers.
- Smoking increases the risk and severity of hypothyroidism in patients
with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
What should I know about quitting?
There is anecdotal evidence that there is a masking relationship between
smoking and thyroid disease -- smoking may mask many symptoms of
hypothyroid disease by increasing metabolism and suppressing appetite.
If you have thyroid disease, you should quit smoking now!! Smoking can and
often will worsen your existing thyroid problem, and if you have Graves'
Disease or Thyroid Eye Disease, you absolutely must quit smoking to help
prevent further progression of problems or worsening of your eye
problems.
There are many effective ways to quit, and you can find out about them all at Smoking Cessation guide Christine Rowley's excellent Website here at About.
For my own story, read how I personally quit smoking in July of 1995, after smoking for 15 years.
For more information about the connection between smoking and thyroid
disease, as well as links to research and stop-smoking resources, read Smoking and Thyroid Disease Connections
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