The Importance of Thyroid Health

The Importance of Thyroid Health

§ Hypothyroid (low thyroid) symptoms can include:

· severe fatigue, loss of energy
· weight gain, difficulty losing weight
· depression and depressed mood
· joint and muscle pain, headaches
· dry skin, brittle nails
· brittle hair, itchy scalp, hair loss
· irregular periods, PMS symptoms
· breast milk formation
· calcium metabolism difficulties
· difficulty tolerating cold and lower body temperature
· constipation
· sleeping more than average
· diminished sex drive
· puffiness in face and extremities
· hoarseness
· bruising/clotting problems
· elevated levels of LDL (the "bad" cholesterol) and heightened risk of heart disease
· allergies that suddenly appear or get worse
· persistent cold sores, boils, or breakouts
· tingling sensation in wrists and hands that mimics carpal tunnel syndrome
· memory loss, fuzzy thinking, difficulty following conversation or train of thought
· slowness or slurring of speech


§ Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, is a condition which occurs when the thyroid gland fails to produce enough thyroid hormones, and/or there is a failure of the tissues to receive thyroid hormones. It has been estimated that approximately 40% of the U.S. population suffers from chronically low thyroid function.

§ A well-functioning thyroid makes a balanced amount of two hormones: T4 and T3. These hormones manage our metabolism and influence our body temperature, body weight and how many calories we burn.

§ It’s very important to understand that standard T3 and T4 thyroid blood tests may fail to detect low thyroid function. Saliva testing has several advantages over blood lab tests in determining hormone levels. Please see this link to Saliva HormoneTesting for more information.


§ Research indicates that low thyroid function may manifest simply as a relatively constant (basal) body temperature of less than 97.8 degrees F.

§ To test for low thyroid function, take your temperature for ten minutes first thing in the morning, before getting out of bed, and before ingesting any food or water, on several consecutive days. If your temperature is below 97.8 degrees, you may have some degree of low thyroid function.

§ It is important to note that estrogen dominance can prevent the thyroid from performing its normal activities and can lead to low thyroid function despite what may be considered “normal” blood (plasma) levels of thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone imbalance is closely linked with pre-menstrual, perimenopause, and menopause symptoms.

§ In fact, as many as 13 million Americans may be undiagnosed and/or misdiagnosed because symptoms of thyroid imbalance can mimic other hormonal imbalances. An example would be the symptoms of menopause being similar to the symptoms of thyroid hormonal imbalance, so thyroid hormonal imbalance may go undetected in women of menopausal age. Hence the importance for women to consider thyroid health in the search for the cause of their symptoms.



General Information on the Thyroid

§ The thyroid gland is two-lobed, about the size of a plum, and located behind the Adam’s apple region of the neck, (just below the larynx in the throat). Thyroid hormone balance has an effect on many aspects of your health, and even a mild thyroid imbalance may result in a wide range of symptoms and concerns.

§ The thyroid gland is the body’s metabolic thermostat, controlling body temperature, energy use, and, in children, the body’s growth rate (low growth hormone also has effects on adults).

§ The thyroid and adrenal glands work closely together. The adrenal glands provide a steady stream of sugar-raising hormones (from the adrenal cortex) which the thyroid gland uses to produce energy when needed, as in times of stress or fear. To achieve maximum energy, both glands must be functioning optimally.

§ Thyroid hormone balance in the brain is essential for maintaining stable mood, emotions, and behavior. The actions and effects of thyroid hormones are similar in many ways to those of serotonin and other neurotransmitters. These include relieving emotional states of depression as well as aiding other communications between mind and body, such as regulating metabolism, sexuality, fertility, appetite, weight, and mental clarity.

§ Hashimoto’s Disease, also called “Hashi’s” or “thyroiditis,” is an autoimmune disorder in which one’s immune system attacks its own thyroid cells, causing inflammation and eventually resulting in hypothyroid. In many cases a goiter develops because of the inflammation, but sometimes the thyroid gland can actually shrink. Patients with Hashi’s can vascillate between hypo and hyper. There is a genetic predisposition to autoimmune disease, so if you have one, you are more at risk to have others, including Hashi’s thyroiditis. It is proposed that a lack of iodine also plays a role in autoimmune attacks on the thyroid.

§ HYPERTHYROIDISM is an overactive thyroid, meaning the thyroid gland produces too much hormone. As mentioned above, a well-functioning thyroid makes a balanced amount of two hormones: T3 and T4. These hormones manage our metabolism and influence our body temperature, body weight, and how many calories we burn. If your thyroid produces too much of these hormones, all the cells in your body increase the rate at which they function, resulting in thyroid problems and some or all of the following hyperthyroid symptoms:


· Heart palpitations; accelerated heart rate
· Chest pain
· A feeling of being too warm all the time
· Nervousness and trembling
· Insomnia despite feeling exhausted
· Breathlessness
· Diarrhea and GI upset
· Increased appetite
· Light or absent menstrual periods; infertility
· Weight loss
· Muscle deterioration
· Warm, moist skin


What Can You Do if You Suspect Thyroid Hormonal Imbalance?

A physician knowledgeable in endocrine health (an Endocrinologist) should be consulted. You may also wish to contact a natural health care practitioner knowledgeable in endocrine disorders that may be able to recommend natural remedies. Thyroid health issues should not be addressed and managed by you alone. Please seek qualified assistance.

§ A LIFESTYLE that includes eating a HEALTHY DIET, taking the right NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS, following an EXERCISE regimen, and practicing RELAXATION techniques, is important for thyroid patients.

§ FOLLOW A HEALTHY NUTRITION PROGRAM (See link to “Basic Anti-Aging Nutrition Tips” page, above).

§ FOLLOW A HEALTHY EXERCISE PROGRAM (See link to “Basic Anti-Aging Exercise Tips” page, above.)

§ STRESS MANAGEMENT AND RELAXATION should become a central part of any program designed for thyroid health. The combination of stress management and relaxation, along with a healthy diet, exercise, and nutritional and hormonal supplementation is important because of the significant mind-body effects of thyroid hormonal imbalance (see link to “Anti-Aging Stress Management Tips” page, above).

§ Taking iodine or kelp supplements for low thyroid function may be beneficial, although it is important to achieve the right balance in your iodine intake. Too much can be harmful to your thyroid; too little can make your gland underperform. Also, ginseng, chromium, and L-carnitine may be helpful in reviving normal thyroid function. (The various nutrients that support thyroid function are iodine, chromium, copper, L-carnitine, and selenium.) A thyroid-friendly diet is also friendly to the immune system; one that is likely to prevent or temper an autoimmune attack on the thyroid.



v INSULIN RESISTANCE AND HORMONAL BALANCE:

§ I thought a little information about insulin resistance would be very appropriate here (this information is included in the Diabetes and Adrenal sections, also). Insulin resistance, also called syndrome X, is very pervasive today, and has a huge effect on the body being able to balance hormones. Experts estimate that 25% of all Americans (over 80 million people) suffer from insulin resistance. This percentage may be much higher among perimenopausal women. Insulin resistance syndrome means you are on your way to developing diabetes (some may even be pre-diabetic).

§ Because insulin is one of the “major” hormones, it’s impossible for your body to balance its “minor” hormones (estrogen, progesterone and testosterone among them) until your insulin metabolism is balanced first. To put it simply, if you have hot flashes and you are insulin resistant, it’s going to be nearly impossible to cure the hot flashes without first healing the insulin resistance. Cortisol is also a “major” hormone. To understand Cortisol’s role in hormonal balance, and its interaction with the Thyroid gland, please read the related page on “The Importance of Adrenal Health.”

§ Women who are insulin resistant are at much greater risk of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol, breast cancer, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. There is also some evidence that insulin resistance may contribute to endometrial cancer. It has also been implicated in Alzheimer’s disease, according to http://www.womentowomen.com/insulinresistance (not a hot link).

§ The good news is that you can heal insulin resistance! Healthy nutrition, proper supplementation, regular exercise, and stress management are equally important. As far as grocery shopping, the “Women to Women” website noted above encourages everyone to shop the outside aisles of the supermarket, and to studiously avoid the inner rows of processed food, sugar cereals, high-sodium snacks and soda.

§ A nutrition program that consists primarily of lean meats and minimal dairy, and mainly protein from sea and plant sources, such as Spirulina - a blue-green algae, and Wheat, Barley and Kamut grasses; high-fiber grains, vegetables and legumes; leafy greens; and fresh fruit will substantially aid the body’s ability to balance insulin levels (avoid “white” food altogether, such as bread, pasta, and sugar). Also important is consistent small meals throughout the day, each including complex carbohydrates, protein, and good fats. Healthy fats, or those rich in essential fatty acids (EFA’s), are also important in an insulin-resistant diet. EFA’s can be found in avocados, cold-water fish like salmon and tuna, flax seed, and eggs, and can also be taken in supplement form. See “Basic Anti-Aging Nutrition Tips.”


Some interesting websites:

See http://www.womentowomen.com (not a hot link)
See http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com (not a hot link)

Dr. Cindy Bates