Is Lipedema A Thyroid Issue?
Both lipedema and thyroid conditions can affect your weight, shape, and size. Not only that, but it’s been proven in recent studies that many lipedema sufferers also have hypothyroidism. However, there is no evidence that the cause of lipedema relates to the thyroid gland. The hallmark of lipedema is abnormal fatty deposits. Thyroid problems, on the other hand, produce different symptoms.
What Is Lipedema?
Lipedema is a progressive condition characterized by diseased fat. At present, experts are unsure of the causes of lipedema. However, they believe that it has a connection to genetics and hormones. Virtually all sufferers are female, and the disease presents as an accumulation of abnormal fat. Sufferers develop excess fat on their lower bodies, creating a disproportionate shape. Often, their upper bodies will be several sizes smaller than their lower bodies. Sufferers not only experience low self-esteem due to their body shape, but they also experience pain and reduced mobility. While lipedema progresses over time and has no cure, there are ways to manage it. Both conservative and surgical treatments exist to help patients.
Also read – Is There a Test for Lipedema, or Do Doctors Rely on Lipedema Symptoms to Give a Diagnosis?
What Is a Thyroid Condition?
Several conditions can develop due to problems with the thyroid gland. If the gland produces insufficient thyroid hormone, sufferers develop hypothyroidism. If it produces too much of the hormone, they develop hyperthyroidism. A thyroid disorder may affect mood, heart rate, metabolism, energy levels, and bone health, among other functions.
Patients with hyperthyroidism experience arrhythmia, sweating, nervousness, and weight loss. Patients with hypothyroidism experience tiredness, depression, and weight gain, among other symptoms. Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is another autoimmune thyroid condition that can cause goiters along with other symptoms. Hypothyroidism and sometimes Hashimoto’s can be seen in up to half of all lipedema patients.
What Is the Connection Between the Thyroid and Lipedema?
As yet, experts are unsure of the link, and indeed, whether there is one, between lipedema and the thyroid. However, the thyroid gland produces certain hormones, and experts believe lipedema has a hormonal cause. Therefore, there could be a link in this way. On the other hand, it is possible that both lipedema and thyroid conditions may be genetic. They may, therefore, be passed down through families.
If I Have a Thyroid Condition, Will I Develop Lipedema?
There is certainly no evidence that if you have a thyroid condition, you’ll also develop lipedema. If you have hyperthyroidism, it’s no more likely that you’ll develop lipedema than any other condition. No link, as yet, exists between an overactive thyroid gland and lipedema.
If you have hypothyroidism, you may have a greater chance of having lipedema, too. But this is far from being a certainty. As yet, no direct link has been proven between the two conditions. While a number of lipedema patients also have thyroid problems, this may be coincidental. If you have lipedema it also doesn’t necessarily mean that you also have a thyroid problem.
If you’re worried about lipedema or a thyroid problem, you should see your doctor. While doctors often struggle to diagnose lipedema, especially in its early stages, they can easily diagnose thyroid conditions. A simple blood test determines whether a patient has a thyroid problem. Once patients receive a diagnosis of a thyroid condition, effective treatments exist to address it.
Can Thyroid Conditions and Lipedema Be Cured?
Neither thyroid problems nor lipedema have a cure as yet, unfortunately. However, effective medications exist to treat thyroid conditions. A doctor must prescribe these medications and patients usually have to remain on them for life. That will ensure they can manage their condition in the long term.
Like thyroid problems, lipedema also has no cure at the present time. However, there are also treatments available to help relieve the symptoms. Patients may opt for a conservative approach or a surgical approach.
Many doctors recommend that lipedema patients have conservative treatments. These involve wearing compression garments, doing light exercise, eating healthily, and having manual lymphatic drainage massages. These treatments address the symptoms of lipedema. Afterward, patients experience short-term relief, but the disease continues to progress. Patients must also repeat these treatments regularly to continue experiencing relief from pain and swelling.
Lipedema surgery is a better option for patients as it addresses the cause of the disease – the abnormal fat. While it doesn’t cure the condition, it gives patients long-lasting relief from pain and mobility problems. Patients also find significant improvements in their body shape, which restores their self-esteem. A single surgery gives patients many years of a better quality of life.
If you suspect you have lipedema, you need to see a specialist to receive a diagnosis. Perhaps you already have a diagnosis and want to discuss surgical treatments. Dr. Su at ArtLipo is your top choice in Tampa, Florida. As a liposuction specialist, Dr. Su regularly treats lipedema sufferers and produces excellent results. Call the ArtLipo team today to find out more.
Dr. Thomas Su, is the owner and cosmetic surgeon of Artistic Lipo. He has led our full-time clinic specializing in awake-only liposuction since 2007. Dr. Su began his medical career in internal medicine, practicing that until 2005, when he began to provide a full spectrum of non-invasive cosmetic procedures.