Effect of Yoga and Naturopathy Intervention on Thyroid Profile, Quality of Life and Sleep in an Overt Hyperthyroidism Patient: A Case study
Alkousar Taz Mujeebullah
*
Swamy Vivekanandha Naturopathy and Yoga Medical College, Vivekanandha Educational Institutions, Salem, Tamilnadu, India.
R. S. Hariharasudhan
Swamy Vivekanandha Naturopathy and Yoga Medical College, Vivekanandha Educational Institutions, Salem, Tamilnadu, India.
J. Anbudasan
Swamy Vivekanandha Naturopathy and Yoga Medical College, Vivekanandha Educational Institutions, Salem, Tamilnadu, India.
V. Raghavi
Swamy Vivekanandha Naturopathy and Yoga Medical College, Vivekanandha Educational Institutions, Salem, Tamilnadu, India.
K. S. Dhamodhini
Swamy Vivekanandha Naturopathy and Yoga Medical College, Vivekanandha Educational Institutions, Salem, Tamilnadu, India.
M. Mownika
Swamy Vivekanandha Naturopathy and Yoga Medical College, Vivekanandha Educational Institutions, Salem, Tamilnadu, India.
Renjish Mohanan
Swamy Vivekanandha Naturopathy and Yoga Medical College, Vivekanandha Educational Institutions, Salem, Tamilnadu, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Hyperthyroidism is a prevalent thyroid condition characterised by excess thyroid hormone production. Low or suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), combined with elevated triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), is characteristic of overt hyperthyroidism. This condition is associated with a range of comorbidities, including gastrointestinal symptoms and insomnia. Yoga and naturopathy interventions, including yoga therapy, hydrotherapy packs, acupuncture, and reflexology, may be beneficial for improving sleep quality, quality of life, and gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with overt hyperthyroidism. This paper assesses the effect of a yoga and naturopathy intervention on the thyroid profile, quality of life, and sleep using a case-study methodology.
Case description: A 20-year-old unmarried woman presented to our outpatient department with a history of hyperthyroidism associated with gastrointestinal symptoms, including indigestion, bloating, and mild spasmodic abdominal pain, which had persisted for the previous 2 years. She had been taking allopathic medication for hyperthyroidism irregularly for the past 4 years and had not taken any medication for her gastrointestinal symptoms. The patient was prescribed a 4-week yoga and naturopathy intervention. Pre-test data were collected before the intervention, post-test data were collected at the end of the intervention, and a 1-month post-intervention follow-up was conducted for a routine check-up.
Result: Thyroid function tests (TFTs), the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were assessed before and after the intervention. Results showed an increase in the SF-12 physical health component from 21.88 to 55.91, a decrease in T3 from >32.55 pg/mL to 24.23 pg/mL, a decrease in PSQI from 17 to 4, and a decrease in GSRS from 50 to 24, together with an improvement in quality of life after 4 weeks of intervention; a 1-month post-intervention follow-up was subsequently conducted.
Conclusion: The integrated yoga and naturopathy intervention may be beneficial for improving sleep quality, quality of life, and gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with overt hyperthyroidism.
Keywords: Hyperthyroidism, Yoga, sleep quality, quality of life, gastrointestinal symptoms