I just thought I'd mention to this group of savvy women that you might want to get your thyroid tested the next time you have a physical. Many women (especially women over 40) have some level of thyroid dysfunction and this can affect everything from your energy level to your skin condition to your heart and mental functioning. After childbirth or around the time of peri-menopause or menopause are a common times for such problems to arise, but they can happen anytime. And even a small level of dysfunction can affect how your body functions.

A couple of years ago I had a bout of extreme hypothyroidism (slow-functioning thyroid) that left me depressed and exhausted, although I didn't know what was wrong with me at the time. After being tested for everything under the sun, I finally found a doctor who did a simple blood test to measure my thyroid activity and found that it had essentially stopped working. A simple dose of synthetic thyroid medication is all it takes now to keep me regulated.

Hypothyroidism symptoms - lack of energy, dry skin, hair loss, mild to severe depression, confusion, constipation, cold extremities, weight gain

Hyperthyroidism symptoms - racing pulse/heartbeat, weight loss, difficulty concentrating, nervousness

If you have any of these symptoms--and even if you don't--please get tested. It's such an easy fix and I'd hate for anyone to suffer in ignorance like I did. Interestingly, it was an article in Oprah magazine called "Why am I So Tired?" that made me start to wonder if it was my thyroid, and to ask my doctor about it. So, yay Oprah!