Rapper Missy Elliott Reveals Graves' Disease Thyroid Diagnosis

Rapper Melissa Arnette Elliott, 39, who is known to hip-hop music fans as Missy Elliott, recently announced that she was diagnosed with Graves' disease in 2008.

Elliott's news became public, due to her discussion of her thyroid condition in a VH1 'Behind the Music' episode featuring the rapper that was first aired on June 29, 2011, as well as an interview she did with the magazine People.

Elliott told People that since her diagnosis, she received radiation treatment -- radioactive iodine (RAI) -- which has helped resolve some of her symptoms, which included bulging eyes, hair loss, rapid heart rate, a lump in her throat, dizziness, and mood changes, among others.

She also said that since the radiation treatment, she gained weight, but was able to lose it with a combination of diet and exercise. In her 'Behind the Music' special, Elliott said: 'I'm 30 pounds lighter because I've been exercising.'

In an official statement from Missy Elliott released on June 24, 2011, she said:

There have been some inaccuracies reported in regards to my diagnosis with Grave's Disease, so I wanted to clear things up. I was diagnosed with Grave's (sic) Disease about three years ago but it really hasn't slowed me down at all. I rocked my performance on VH1 Hip Hop Honors' tribute to Timbaland last year. I've written and produced a bunch of Grammy-nominated, #1 hits for artists like Keyshia Cole, Monica and Jasmine Sullivan. I toured the UK, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. And on top of all that, I'm working on my new album. I feel great. Under my doctor's supervision, I've been off medication for about a year and I'm completely managing the condition through diet and exercise.

Other Celebrities With Thyroid Disease

Missy Elliott joins a growing list of celebrities -- including 'Modern Family's Sofia Vergara, fitness expert Jillian Michaels, and daytime diva Oprah Winfrey -- who have gone public with their diagnoses of thyroid disease. (Find out about other Celebrity Thyroid Patients.)

What is Graves' Disease?

Graves' disease is a condition in which the immune system creates antibodies that can attack the thyroid gland, and make it overactive. (You can read more about it in this brief overview of Graves' Disease and hyperthyroidism.

Graves' disease, which is considered one of the family of autoimmune diseases, usually results in hyperthyroidism, and too much thyroid hormone is produced.

Typical symptoms of Graves' disease and hyperthyroidism include weight loss, high heart rate, anxiety, insomnia, muscle weakness, and goiter (enlarged thyroid gland). (Take a quiz: Could You Be Hyperthyroid? to find out more about risk factors and symptoms of Graves' disease and hyperthyroidism.)

For More Information on Missy Elliott's Announcement

• VH1 Behind the Music: Missy Elliott View the episode online
  
  
• People Magazine on Missy Elliott
  

More About Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism

• 
  All About Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism
  
  
• 
  What is Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism
  
  
• 
  Quiz: Could You Be Hyperthyroid?
  
  
• Risks and Symptoms of Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism: Risk Factors, Triggers, Causes, Signs and Symptoms
  
  
• 
  Diagnosis of Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism
  
  
• 
  Treatment of Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism
  
  
• 
  Coping with Graves Disease/Hyperthyroidism
  

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"Rapper Missy Elliott Reveals Graves' Disease Thyroid Diagnosis: "

Thyroid Disorders In Children

Thyroidism can be of two different types known as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Both of them if not diagnosed early at the time of birth and not treated at proper time can in turn lead to various other disorders. Amongst the, hypothyroidism is most commonly found in children during their birth or after that, which can lead to the deficiency of thyroid hormones in the body in the sufficient amount. Along with low energy levels and stamina, it can affect the physical and mental condition of children. Cretinism is a type of hypothyroidism that can be seen in children and can cause physical and mental retardation in them. Children can also experience fatigue and are normally inactive and quiet. Infants or newborns with hypothyroidism are often seen to sleep for long hours and have poor appetite. Delayed puberty is found in teenagers and some other symptoms include vision problems, galactorrhea, white discharge from the breasts etc.

Another hypothyroid condition found in children at birth is known as Congenital Hypothyroidism. This disease can affect the mental growth and IQ in children. This condition can be treated at it’s earlier with L-thyroxin treatment. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is another disorder found in children and teenagers that is a temporary condition and can be controlled effectively with a L-thyroxin treatment. Another rare condition is an autoimmune disorder called Graves' disease that include symptoms like sleeping difficulties, palpitations, nervousness, abnormal growth, poor IQ etc. A kind of thyroid cancer called papillary cancer can also be seen in children that if developed and left untreated can be life threatening. It can be treated with surgery.
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Top Organic Herbs As Natural Remedies For Thyroid Disorder

o Herbs
o Homeopathy thyroid medicines
o Dietary supplements

While homeopathy thyroid treatments and dietary supplements are the foremost commercially available corrections for thyroid disorders, their effectiveness are being continuously tested and, worst, questioned.

In terms of availability, being safe and time-proven effectiveness, herbs have been primarily recommended as one of the best options in terms of natural remedies for thyroid disorder.

Some of the top and best organic herbs that are used to treat thyroid disorders include bugleweed and balm.

Bugleweed. Also known as Lycopus europea, Bugleweed is one of the most effective natural remedies for thyroid disorder. Bugleweed is basically used to lower the overproduction of thyroid hormones and, therefore, very effective in the prevention of the possible worsening of hyperthyroidism. In administrating Bugleweed as a treatment for thyroid, health experts recommend purchasing this herb in tincture form.

Lemon balm. One of the foremost herbs that is used for the treatment of hyperthyroidism is Lemon balm, also known as Melissa officinalis. With years of research, Lemon balm had been proven to reduce the overproduction of thyroid hormone. It is also used as active ingredient to block the effect of thyroid to block the antibodies that are actually found in Grave's disease. While it may be best to administer Lemon balm in extracts, herbalists also recommend making both morning and afternoon tea with buglewood and lemon balm.
There are more organic herbs that could help you with treating thyroid disorders. To know more about natural and effective remedies for thyroid disorders, visit www.natural-remdies-for-thyroid.com

Thyroid Disease And Menopause

There is also a similarity in the symptoms of these two conditions. Some of the similar symptoms include poor memory, exhaustion, depression as well as mood swings. Other similar symptoms include sleep problems, increased anxiety level and hair loss.

This similarity in symptoms makes it difficult to distinguish between the two conditions. It may also be difficult to diagnose on whether a person is suffering from a thyroid disease or menopause.

If you are experiencing conditions such as hair loss especially loss of hair from the eyebrows and the eyelashes, pain in the neck region as well as swelling in the hands and legs, it is likely that you may be suffering from a thyroid disorder. On the other hand, menopausal symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats and dryness in the vaginal tract. A thyroid disorder may go undetected in some women especially those aged over 40 because the symptoms may be similar to menopausal symptoms.
Mercy Maranga Reports on Health and Fitness issues. Visit Her Site here for more information on menopause and how to effectively go through it. Menopause

Licorice - Active Ingredient Of Natural Remedies For Thyroid Disorder

Alongside the existence of cure and a number of natural remedies for thyroid disorder, one of the many positive sides of having to develop this disease is that treating and getting cured from it is relatively easy. The primary and foremost prescribed remedy by most physicians is to actually strive to harmonize and balance the body's hormonal growth. This could be easily corrected by a number of safe and effective home remedies for thyroid designed to promote thyroid functioning.

Some of the most common home remedies for thyroid contain Licorice, the same substance that is used to make some of the things that we love: ice cream and jelly beans. Licorice, when manipulated to be used as a treatment for thyroid, can maintain the balance between our glands and our body's energy expenditure. As one of the most effective home remedies for thyroid, Licorice is known to help increase the production of energy in order to keep a person healthy and active.

Alongside being the primary and active ingredient for most home remedies for thyroid, Licorice is also known to treat other conditions and as an effective component to prevent throat inflammation.
Licorice is one of the most active ingredients used in most home remedies to help treat thyroid disorders. To know more about safe and effective thyroid treatments, visit www.natural-remedies-for-thyroid.com

5 Big Reasons To Relieve And Prevent Thyroid Disorder

The thyroid regulates the rate of energy production in the body’s cells. Thyroid disorder reduces the body’s metabolism and makes you feel sluggish.

Reason 2

Thyroid disorder also increases your risk of degenerative diseases such as heart disease, cancer and arthritis and your risk of widespread infection. In severe cases, the energy level in the body’s cells cannot even sustain a basic level of metabolism, creating a life-threatening situation.

Reason 3

One major problem with thyroid disorder is that it’s often missed in diagnostic tests. Even if tests show that you do not have a thyroid disorder, you might still be at risk. If your body is highly acidic, your risk of thyroid disorder increases.

Reason 4

Thus, even if you haven’t been diagnosed with thyroid disorder, it’s important to check your body’s overall pH level and take dietary and other steps to reduce the acid level in your body.

Reason 5

You will not only reduce your chances of developing thyroid disorder or making an existing thyroid disorder even worse. You will improve your health overall and reduce your vulnerability to degenerative disease.

THE RISK

Accumulation of acids in your body, due to insufficient digestion of food, food allergies and consumption of acid-forming substances, can cause thyroid disorder. Acid-related causes of thyroid disorder also include exposure to heavy metals and toxic chemicals in the water supply and in highly processed food. When your body’s acid level rises too high, your thyroid function will be depressed and your metabolism will slow.

Lack of digestive enzymes, also caused by over-consumption of processed foods, further causes your thyroid disorder. Your body’s ability to neutralize acids is further reduced. As you get older, the more toxins you're exposed to, the more likely you will develop a thyroid disorder if you haven't already.

THE DAMAGE

With a thyroid disorder, your body’s cells and organs will not metabolize as quickly as they should. The presence of excess acid only makes the problem worse. Your cells and organs will become overrun with acid that they need to eliminate, but your thyroid disorder will reduce their ability to deal with these acids. The acid, in turn, will perpetuate or worsen your thyroid disorder.

For example, a sluggish thyroid reinforces the digestive problems that cause acid to accumulate in your body. Because a thyroid disorder slows your cellular metabolism, it reduces your body’s ability to eliminate acid waste. The more acid-forming substances you consume, the more this cycle repeats.

Thyroid disorder also reduces your immune system function, leading to chronic infection. With the accumulation of acid in your body, infection will spread quickly, further reducing your body’s ability to neutralize acids.

As with other organs, the thyroid needs glucose and oxygen to function. When acid waste accumulates in the bloodstream, these vital substances cannot get through. Without adequate oxygen and glucose, thyroid function is reduced. The resulting thyroid disorder further reduces the body’s ability to clear the bloodstream of these acids that prevent the oxygen and glucose from getting through.

THE BENEFITS OF A BALANCED pH

Because thyroid discover causes so many other degenerative diseases, a thyroid that functions properly can restore health in so many other areas of your body. When you neutralize the acids in your body and eliminate acid-forming substances from your diet, you give your thyroid a chance to heal. Improved thyroid function will, in turn, help your other body organs function properly.

To neutralize acids and restore your body’s pH balance, you need to reduce or eliminate consumption of acidic foods and other acidic substances. Adding more alkaline foods and minerals to your diet can help restore thyroid disorder. As your acid level falls, you'll find that your thyroid function will increase. Your body’s metabolism will increase as a result, and you'll be able to neutralize acids even further. The end result will be restored health, higher energy, and a decreased risk of thyroid disorder.

Learn how to relieve and treat thyroid disorder. Get free 7-day email mini course that shows you how to make your body alkaline and relieve thyroid disorder.

Help Thyroid Disorder By Natural Methods

Compared to other therapies, home remedies are cheaper and affordable to treat hypothyroidism. Listed here are some of the home remedies that will help you to treat and control the thyroid gland.

Seaweed
Iodine is necessary for the proper functioning of the thyroid. Sea vegetables and seafood high in iodine can help to treat thyroid disorder. Dulse, kelp, arame, kombu, nori, wakame, hijike spirulina are specific examples of sea vegetables. Kelp seaweed also is available in supplement form.

Amino Acid
Amino acids are important for bodily functions. In particular, it is beneficial to the thyroid. This amino acid is a building block of thyroid hormone. It helps in weight loss and increases the levels of plasma in the body. This can be found in supplement form and also in foods like chicken, beef, fish and edamame.

Estrogen Balancers
Estrogen, a female dominant hormone, has an effect on thyroid function. If the estrogen levels are elevated, then thyroid function can go down. Black cohosh and agnus cactus are two supplements that can balance out estrogen levels. As an added benefit, agnus cactus also supports the function of the pituitary gland.

Minerals
Regular minerals and trace minerals are used as natural remedies for thyroid problems. They help in the metabolic functions for which the thyroid is responsible. Manganese, copper, iron, zinc, calcium, thullium and terbium are minerals that help in curing thyroid disorders.

Dietary Adjustments

By following proper diets, the problem of thyroid can be avoided to some extent.
There are some foods that depress the thyroid's function. By avoiding such foods, the problem of underactive thyroid or hypothyroid can be avoided. Brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, turnips, spinach, mustard greens and cauliflower are the food which should be avoided by persons with underactive thyroid or hypothyroid.

Acupuncture
Acupuncture, a type of Chinese medicine, is found effective in treating thyroid disorders. In this treatment, small needles are inserted into the skin at various meridian points. The idea is that there is a natural energy flow called "Qi" in the body. According to the World Health Organization, thyroid problems can be effectively treated with acupuncture.
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