Essay On Menopause

“Have no fear of perfection - you 'll never reach it,” said famous Spanish painter, Salvador Dali. Dali seems to be implying that no matter the effort, perfection is unattainable and something that should not be feared by anyone. Famous Puritan authors Jonathan Edwards and Nathaniel Hawthorne in their works give the same impression as Dali, they both believe that the strive for perfection is both unrealistic and unattainable. In regard to the unattainably of perfection Hawthorne and Edwards’ opinions differ greatly, Edwards believes that even though perfection is unrealistic, one can and should still strive for it, while Hawthorne on the other hand believes that because perfection will never be reached, it would be unnecessary for one to strive for it.

Week 3 – LOM Assignment The thyroid is responsible for taking iodine and converting it into thyroid hormones which are released into the blood stream and transported throughout the body where they control metabolism.1 The thyroid is a vital part of the human body as every cell in the body depends on it for metabolic regulation. Too much or too little thyroid hormone secretion can result in hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is caused when the thyroid secretes too many thyroid hormones. Hyperthyroidism causes a rapid heart rate, elevated blood pressure and tremors. Other symptoms include increased nervousness, inability to concentrate, weakness, restlessness, difficulty sleeping, frequent bowel movements, weight loss and irregular

Graves ' disease is an immune system disorder that results in the overproduction of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism). The thyroid gland is an important organ of the endocrine system. The gland is located at the front of the neck above where the collarbones meet. This gland releases the hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which control body metabolism. Controlling metabolism is important for regulating mood, weight, and mental and physical energy levels. When the body makes too much thyroid hormone, the condition is called hyperthyroidism. Graves disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism and is most common in women over age 20. But the disorder can occur at any age and can affect men as well. Some of the symptoms of Graves diseases are

A sudden feeling of heat over your face, neck, and chest with reddening of the skin with chills afterwards is called a hot flash. Hot flashes can also cause a rapid heartbeat, and vary in intensity and length. Though there is no exact cause known, it is assumed they are due to hormonal shifts which affect our body’s thermostat.

Pathogenesis: both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can lead to amenorrhea, though most commonly it present as primary amenorrhea in patients with hypothyroidism. Low levels of thyroid hormones, T3 and T4, stimulate the hypothalamus to produce thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), which stimulates both thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and prolactin production in the anterior pituitary. High prolactin levels inhibit GnRH production in the hypothalamus, which is needed for LH and FSH activation in the anterior pituitary. Without LH and FSH, ovarian follicles cannot mature and menstruation does not occur.

A summary of the similarities and differences as noted above is as follow: Individuals with hypothyroidism, can experience fatigue, lack of energy, weight gain, hair thinning and loss, cold intolerance, and brittle nails (Lund et al., 2018). Adrenal insufficiency symptoms include fatigue, weakness, brittle nails, and weight loss (NIDDK, 2017). Menopause symptoms can include fatigue, mood changes, weight gain, hot flashes, hair thinning and loss (Lund et al., 2018).

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland. You would find it located in the lower neck, right below the Adam’s apple. The location is the same in both men and women. What the thyroid does is create and store thyroid hormone. It then releases the hormone in appropriate amounts to keep the body’s metabolism functioning at a normal level. If there is too much thyroid hormone, this is known as hyperthyroidism. In hyperthyroidism, the body’s metabolism increases. This condition can cause high blood pressure, high heart rate, nervousness, palpitations, and severe weight loss. Too little thyroid hormone, on the other hand, can cause tiredness, depression, memory loss, dry skin, brittle hair, and weight gain—among many other symptoms.

"Bluebeard's Egg" is Margaret Atwood's short fairy tale retelling of the Bluebeard tales. Atwood is a writer who reveals an awareness of women's identity. In her fairy tale, she introduces the theme of heroine's identity struggling in her relationships between her and Ed, Sally's husband. Sally is a woman who attends a college for taking night courses and to keep her busy, and she thinks her husband, Ed is dull and stupid. However, Ed is always in the center of her life, and so she is described to be insecure in her marriage. Later, in the main part of the story, Sally's identity becomes more uncertain after she witnessed an affair between Ed and her best friend, Marylynn. Unlike she used to think Ed as idiotic, the story seems to represent

Thyroid hormones are thermogenic which means that they tend to produce heat through metabolic stimulation. They interact with other hormones to modulate protein, carbohydrate and fat metabolism as well5. As mentioned earlier, one main symptom of Graves’ disease is heat intolerance which can cause excess sweating of the patient. Since thyroid hormones produce heat, if a patient has over stimulation of the hormone, that is what causes the excess heat production. In Graves’ disease, the body produces antibodies called thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI). They take the place of TSH attaching to the TSH receptors and activating them on the thyroid gland. Therefore, the negative feedback loop of over secretion of the thyroid gland is blocked and cannot be

There are many causes of hyperthyroidism, but the symptoms of hyperthyroidism are the same no matter what causes the over expression of thyroid hormones. The main symptoms of hyperthyroidism are fatigue, shortness of breath, weak muscles, anxiety, difficulty sleeping and heart palpitations. Interestingly, even with an increase in appetite the patient will have weight loss.

Cyanide (CN- anion) compounds and deviations of it (HCN, KCN) have been in use for many years as poisons in various settings. In Ancient Egypt plants containing trace concentrations of cyanide have been used as lethal poisons and in World War II HCN was employed with a base to mass exterminate millions of people in Nazi camps. Another historically used method of cyanide poisoning is through gas chambers created by addition of a cyanide salt into an acid to create HCN (g). Although many forms of cyanide exist, the most common is HCN, which naturally is released into the atmosphere from plants, volcanoes and bacteria/fungi. The primary source of cyanide poisoning in humans is through accidental ingestion of plants. More than 2,000 plant species contain cyanogenic glycosides that when ingested can be rapidly hydrolyzed into cyanide. This rapid hydrolysis occurs when cell structure of the plant is disturbed thus plant products that are incorrectly processed may lead to cyanide poisoning. Cyanogenic compounds are present in surprisingly large number of common foods such as sweet potatoes, cassava, bamboo and lima beans1. An area of growing concern is inhalation of tobacco smoke, which is another common source of cyanogenic compounds. Many idiopathic syndromes have been shown to be associated with failure in detoxification mechanisms specifically targeting cyanide compounds2.

TPO is an enzyme that plays a role in the production of thyroid hormones. However, over time, thyroiditis causes slow and chronic cell damage leading to the development of a goiter (enlarged thyroid) with gradual thyroid failure, and most patients will eventually develop symptoms of hypothyroidism. Hypothyroid symptoms may include fatigue, weight gain, constipation, increased sensitivity to cold, dry skin, depression, muscle aches and reduced exercise tolerance, and irregular or heavy menses. (American Thyroid Association 2017).

Up to twenty-five percent of American women suffer from slight thyroid slowdowns. But often the symptoms go untreated. Some of the symptoms are fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, dry skin, and thinning hair. We sometimes just think that as we get older things such as weight gain and fatigue get harder to combat so we don't even ask our doctor if their could be a medical cause. And when we do many doctors don't recognize the narrow range between normal thyroid function and clinical hypothyroidism, so borderline problems are often missed. This will not replace a doctors' diagnosis but you can do a simple test that ID a sluggish gland. Do this test in the morning. Take your underarm temperature before you get out of bed. Hold a mercury thermometer in place for ten minutes or a digital model for one minute. If it is lower than 97.8 Fahrenheit for three consecutive mornings, you thyroid may need a little revving. And there are some things that you can do to boost your thyroid. First a good one to try is steamed veggies. The thyroid depends on iodine to make the hormones that regulate energy and metabolism. But compounds called goitrogens in cruciferous veggies (such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and kale) can block the body's absorption of iodine. The solution: Enjoy these veggies steamed since heat deactivates goitrogens. To further safeguard iodine levels, season one dish per day with powdered kelp. This salty sprinkle delivers 485 mcg of organic iodine. which is better utilized by the thyroid than the iodine in table salt. Another thyroid booster is selenium. Even minor selenium shortfalls (which strike one in five women) can impede thyroid function. That's because the mineral helps the body convert thyroxine hormone into triiodothronine, the active form that governs body processes. Grains and seeds were once considered great selenium sources but modern

Another condition associated with both menopause and thyroid dysfunction is hair loss. The difference is that with menopause, it typically results with hair loss to the head and pubic areas, whereas both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause hair to thin out, as well as the possible loss of eyelash and eyebrow hair as well.

Hyperthyroidism is caused by an excess of thyroxine (T4) or triiodothyronine (T3), or both. This excess is a result of a malfunction of the thyroid gland as indicated by the picture below. There are many different symptoms of hyperthyroidism, some of the most common being major weight loss despite having a insatiable appetite, anxiety, heat intolerance, fatigue, weakness, hyperactivity, irritability, apathy, depression, and sweating. In addition, many experience shortness of breath, loss of balance, nausea, vomiting, osteoporosis, and diarrhea. However, those who undergo hyperthyroidism later in life may not experience most of these symptoms at all and instead only feel constantly fatigued and considerable weight loss. Nonetheless, neurological symptoms may occur in addition to the physical manifestations. These neurological symptoms include tremor, chorea (ticks), myopathy (muscle weakness), and temporary but periodic paralysis. There are a variety of ways to treat hyperthyroidism, depending on the age of the patient, the size of their thyroid gland, and their general health. The most common treatments include beta-blockers, which do not actually cure hyperthyroidism but mask some of the symptoms such as tremors, anxiety and so on. This, however, is not advised for those with heart or lung problems. Another possible treatment for this disease is radioactive iodine, or RAI. RAI therapy is the most common treatment for hyperthyroidism