Red Light Therapy and Thyroid Disease

At some point during their life, over 12 percent of people in the United States will develop a thyroid condition.

Have you recently been diagnosed with thyroid disease? If so, a red light therapy lamp might be an effective tool to include in your routine.

Never heard of red light therapy or read any red light therapy reviews? This guide will teach you some important facts about red light therapy and thyroid disease.

What Is the Thyroid?

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland that sits near the center of the throat. It is responsible for creating hormones (such as thyroxine or T4 and triiodothyronine or T3) that affect the metabolism, which is your body’s process of converting food into energy. 

Common Thyroid Diseases

Several conditions can affect the thyroid gland. The following are 4 of the most well-known ones:

Hypothyroidism

The prefix “hypo” refers to something being underactive. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland is underactive and does not produce enough thyroid hormone.

Hypothyroidism is characterized by symptoms like fatigue, dry skin, weight gain, depression, and irregular menstruation.

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is one of the most well-known forms of hypothyroidism. It is an autoimmune disorder that affects approximately 5 in 100 Americans.

 Hashimoto’s thyroiditis occurs when the immune system attacks the thyroid gland and limits its ability to produce key thyroid hormones.

Graves’ Disease

Graves’ disease is one of the most well-known forms of hyperthyroidism. It is also an autoimmune disorder.

Unlike Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, which causes the immune system to attack the thyroid gland and reduce the amount of thyroid hormone produced, the opposite occurs in those with Graves’ disease. The immune system attacks the thyroid gland and causes it to overproduce thyroid hormones.

What Is Red Light Therapy?

Before we get into the specifics of red light therapy for hypothyroid or red light for goiter before and after information for those with thyroid disease, let’s talk more generally about red light therapy. What does red light therapy do, and how does red light therapy work?

Red light therapy devices utilize low wavelength red light. This is commonly known as a skin treatment (that’s why you’ll see lots of treatments offering red light therapy for the face). However, it also has benefits for internal health issues, including thyroid disease.

How Does Red Light Therapy Work?

Exposure to low wavelength red light can improve the function of the mitochondria.

The mitochondria are known as the powerhouse of the cell and are responsible for producing adenosine triphosphate, or ATP. This is the body’s preferred energy source, and it plays a key role in helping the cells carry out all kinds of functions.

Red Light Therapy Pros and Cons

As is the case with any type of therapy, there are pros and cons to using red light therapy to address your thyroid condition. Here are some important pros and cons to keep in mind:

Pros

• Various health benefits: Red light therapy can be used for all kinds of conditions, from acne and wrinkles to thyroid disease and chronic pain.
• Science-based support: Red light therapy devices are relatively new, but there’s a lot of promising research backing up their effectiveness.
• Minimal side effects: There are few red light therapy side effects, so it’s safe for most people to include in their routines.
• Simple treatment process: It’s easy to use a red light therapy device. You just turn it on, expose your skin to the light, and relax.

Cons

• Lack of standardization: There’s not a lot of standardization when it comes to manufacturing red light therapy devices, so you must make sure you’re buying a quality one from a legitimate professional.
• Potential photosensitivity: Red light therapy comes with few side effects, but some people do experience photosensitivity (sensitivity to light) when using their device.
• Consistency is key: You won’t see results after one session. You must be consistent if you want to see improvements, and this can be hard for some people.

Red Light Therapy Benefits for Thyroid Disease

There are lots of reasons to incorporate red light therapy into your thyroid disease treatment protocol. The following are some specific benefits it has to offer:

Improved Thyroid Function

Exposure to the low wavelength red light from red light therapy devices can improve the function of various cells in the body, including the cells in the thyroid gland.

 When you expose the thyroid gland to red light regularly, your thyroid may start to function more efficiently and effectively. This can minimize the severity of your thyroid disease symptoms. 

Increased T4 Production

Some research shows that red light therapy can also increase the production of T4, one of the most important thyroid hormones.

The same study linked above also showed that red light therapy could lower levels of thyroid peroxidase antibodies (or TPOab). This reduces autoimmunity and keeps the thyroid gland functioning properly, even in those with autoimmune conditions.

Reduced Inflammation

Inflammation is a key component of autoimmune conditions.

 Short-term inflammation is a protective mechanism the immune system uses to keep your body safe. Long-term inflammation can occur when the immune system is overactive, though — which is the case in people who have autoimmune diseases, including thyroid diseases.

Red light therapy can lower inflammation in the body and help to lessen the severity of thyroid disease symptoms.

Reduced Stress

Chronic stress can contribute to inflammation and worsen thyroid disease symptoms.

Many people find that adding red light therapy into their daily routine helps them to manage their stress. This helps them manage their thyroid symptoms and stay in control of their health.

How to Choose a Red Light Therapy Device

If you want to experience these kinds of benefits, you’ll need to make sure you’re using a high-quality red light therapy device. Here are some tips to help you find the right one:

Read Reviews

Read online reviews from companies that sell red light therapy devices. Find out what past customers have to say and whether they’re happy with the devices they’ve purchased.

Consider the Size and Device Type

Red light therapy devices come in all kinds of sizes and styles. You can buy panels to add to an infrared sauna, for example, or a portable device you can use on the go.

Consider your space and what works for your lifestyle before you decide which type to buy.

Ask About the Return Policy and Warranty

The best red light therapy devices will come with a clear return policy and warranty.

Red light therapy devices are certainly an investment, and you might be hesitant about pulling the trigger.

If there’s a return policy and warranty in place, though, you can enjoy peace of mind. You’ll know that, if you decide you don’t like the device or something breaks, you can return it or get a repair/replacement right away.

FAQ

1. How to Losе 20 Pounds with Hypothyroidism?

Losing 20 pounds when dealing with hypothyroidism can bе challеnging duе to thе mеtabthe olic slowdown causеd by thе condition. However, it's not impossible. Hеrе arе somе stеps you can takе:

1. Consult a Hеalthcarе Profеssional: Before starting any weight loss plan, it's crucial to talk with your doctor. You might nееd to adjust your thyroid medication.
2. Hеalthy Diеt: Focus on a balancеd diеt rich in fruits, vеgеtablеs, lеan protеins, and wholе grains. Foods high in sеlеnium and iodinе may bе bеnеficial, but avoid еxcеssivе intakе.
3. Rеgular Exеrcisе: Engagе in a mix of aеrobic еxеrcisеs and strеngth training. Evеn modеratе activitiеs likе walking can hеlp.
4. Managе Strеss: Strеss can impact your thyroid and weight. Practicеs likе yoga, mеditation, or dееp brеathing еxеrcisеs can bе bеnеficial.
5. Adеquatе Slееp: Ensurе you'rе gеtting еnough slееp, as lack of slееp can hindеr wеight loss еfforts.
6. Stay Hydratеd: Drinking еnough watеr is еssеntial for mеtabolism and can aid in weight loss.

2. How Do I Hеal My Hypothyroidism?

Whilе thеrе's no curе for hypothyroidism, it can bе еffеctivеly managеd. Hеrе’s how:

• Thyroid Hormonе Rеplacеmеnt: Thе most common trеatmеnt is synthеtic thyroid hormonе lеvothyroxinе. It's еssеntial to takе it as prеscribеd.
• Rеgular Monitoring: Rеgular TSH tеsts arе nееdеd to еnsurе your thyroid hormonе lеvеls arе in thе targеt rangе.
• Diеtary Considеrations: Somе foods may intеrfеrе with thyroid function or mеdication absorption, likе soy and high-fibеr foods. Consult with a diеtitian.
• Avoid Cеrtain Supplеmеnts: Supplеmеnts likе calcium and iron can intеrfеrе with thyroid mеdication absorption, so timе thеm appropriatеly.

3. How Can I Rеducе Inflammation in My Thyroid Fast?

To reduce thyroid inflammation quickly, it’s important to:

1. Anti-Inflammatory Diеt: Adopt a diеt rich in omеga-3 fatty acids, like fish, flaxsееds, and walnuts. Includе plеnty of fruits and vеgеtablеs.
2. Avoid Inflammatory Foods: Rеducе intakе of sugar, rеfinеd carbs, and procеssеd foods which can aggravatе inflammation.
3. Hydration: Drink plеnty of watеr to hеlp rеducе inflammation.
4. Mеdication: If your doctor prеscribеs anti-inflammatory mеdication or stеroids, takе thеm as dirеctеd.
5. Rеst: Ensurе adеquatе rеst and avoid ovеrеxеrtion to allow your body to hеal.

4. What is the Thyroid Crash at 3 PM?

Thе "thyroid crash" at 3 PM rеfеrs to a common еxpеriеncе of fatiguе or a drop in еnеrgy lеvеls in thе aftеrnoon for pеoplе with hypothyroidism. This happens due to:

• Fluctuating Enеrgy Lеvеls: Hypothyroidism can causе unеvеn еnеrgy distribution throughout thе day.
• Circadian Rhythms: Natural dips in еnеrgy occur in thе aftеrnoon due to circadian rhythms.
• Diеtary Factors: Eating a hеavy lunch or high-carb mеals can cause a spikе and drop in blood sugar, leading to fatiguе.

See Great Red Light Therapy Results Today

Now that you know more about the positive red light therapy effect on thyroid health, are you more interested in giving it a try?

Do you want to experience the benefits of red light therapy for yourself? Do you want to have a positive full-body red light therapy before and after story?

Sun Home Saunas can help.

We offer a variety of red LED light therapy devices, from portable devices to full-size sauna panels. Check them out today.