Approximately 20% of women and 10% of men in the US have below optimal Thyroid function. Half of them will never be diagnosed!
The Thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system; it’s main job is to produce hormones that stimulate our metabolism and determine the rate of every function of every cell in our bodies. For example, thyroid hormones affect the health our hearts, skin, hair, mood, hormones, bones, immune system, body temperature, and cholesterol production, among many other things. This is why a low functioning thyroid will produce many subtle, non-specific signs and symptoms, and is also part of the reason that it can be difficult to diagnose.
Why can the Thyroid be so hard to diagnose?
Because our understanding of thyroid health is an area that has, in recent years, been rapidly evolving, many doctors either don’t do the right tests, or don’t do enough tests to fully diagnose subtle imbalances in function. Accepted values for “normal” ranges on thyroid test are also changing as we gain a better understanding of what optimal function really looks like. Recognition of the far-reaching health impacts that thyroid function has is slow to grow as well, which means many people who have had “normal” test results but still have symptoms can still benefit from treatment with diet, herbs, supplements and acupuncture. Patient already on thyroid medications and replacement hormones can also benefit greatly from natural treatment.
I’m already treating my hypothyroidism with hormone replacement medications….why do I still not feel quite right?
Very often a patient walks into my practice already aware of having a hypothyroid condition, but still having symptoms after being prescribed medications. Something that even most well-educated doctors aren’t aware of yet is that up to 90% of hypothyroidism may be caused by an underlying autoimmune condition, and so they never run the antibody tests needed to diagnose it. While thyroid hormone replacement may play a crucial role in the recovery of wellness, it is only part of the picture, and it does nothing to address the out-of-control immune system that is attacking it’s own body tissues. This is where simple diet changes, nutritional supplements and botanical medicines can be essential to calm down and re-balance the immune system, and in fact, in these cases are necessary for complete recovery of well-being.
How do I know if I should get my Thyroid tested?
Symptoms of thyroid disorder vary hugely from person to person. If you commonly have any of the symptoms listed below, or, if you have any of the medical conditions listed below, you should consider testing your thyroid function.
These conditions may be related to an underlying thyroid imbalance:
- Fibrocytic breasts or breast tenderness
- Stubborn menopausal symptoms that are resistant to other treatments
- Irregular or heavy periods
- Severe PMS
- Water retention
- Muscle or joint pains
- Uterine fibroids or endometriosis
- PCOS
- History of miscarriages or infertility
- High cholesterol
- Low sex drive
- Low sperm count
- Depression or memory loss
- Frequent illnesses with prolonged recovery time/low resistance
If you frequently have any of the following symptoms, consider testing your thyroid:
- Fatigue or mental sluggishnessFeeling cold in hand, feet, or bodyTired when wake up, or, needed excess sleep to functionGaining weight easily, even if on a low calorie diet, or, difficulty losing weightTendency toward constipationMorning headaches that ease as the day progressesDepression, especially post-partumThinning of hair, or hair falling out on scalp, face, or bodyThinning of the outer third of the eyebrowDryness of skin/scalpHeart palpitationsInward tremblingIncreased resting pulse rateNervousness or anxietyInsomniaNight sweatsDifficulty gaining weight