Is Your Thyroid Causing Your Symptoms?
Maybe you have asked yourself this question or maybe you’ve had blood work done to check your thyroid levels. Many people have health concerns that are affecting or are affected by the thyroid gland. Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped organ in the front of your neck. This small gland is responsible for regulating and controlling your metabolism (energy output) using thyroid hormones, T4 and T3 mostly. Just to reiterate: a small gland in your neck is responsible for the metabolism for the entire body. Here are some of the functions it regulates: breathing, heart rate, nervous system, menstrual cycles, body temperature, energy, cholesterol levels, body weight….the list goes on. (Read more about metabolism here)
The thyroid works in a feedback loop with the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland in the brain. The hypothalamus tells the pituitary to release thyroid-stimunlating hormone (TSH) which stimulates the thyroid to make thyroine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Thyroine or T4, the inactive and predominant form of thyroid hormone, makes it’s way to the tissues and cells where it gets converted into T3, the active form, for immediate use. When dysfunction occurs the thyroid gland will either not make enough hormone or it will make too much causing a host of uncomfortable symptoms.
Hypothyroidism is a low functioning thyroid. TSH goes up, T4 and T3 decline. It’s as if the pituitary gland is yelling at the thyroid to make more hormone because the body doesn’t have enough for use. Hypothyroid disease can be further separated by underlying dysfunction. Either the thyroid does not make enough hormone to support the individual. Or, there can be an issue with the conversion of T4 to T3 at the tissue site. Or both. The symptoms people experience are fatigue, slow heart rate, dry skin and hair, hair loss, forgetfulness/brain fog, depression, intolerance to cold, sleep disturbances, constipation, unintentional weight gain, heavy or frequent menstrual cycles
Hyperthyroidism is an excess of thyroid hormone leading to a speeding up of metabolism. TSH will drop and there is too much T4 and T3 in the body making cells work in overtime. Common symptoms include elevated heart rate, anxiety, excessive sweating, intolerance to heat, nervousness/irritability, unintentional weight loss, hair loss tremors, eye irritations or bulging, loose stools, infrequent menstrual periods, muscle weakness, thinning hair.
To make it even more complex, there are autoimmune variations of hypo and hyperthyrodism. This happens when antibodies are made against the thyroid tissue. Common names are Hashimoto’s disease (hypo) and Graves’ Disease (hyper)
If you are experiencing any of these concerning symptoms it is important to talk with your doctor and have your thyroid levels checked.
Tests I, Dr. Waite, uses to evaluate your thyroid functioning. I will preface by saying that I prefer to use a more functional ranges for these values rather than broad range given by the lab. This is one of the differences in a functional medicine provider and a conventional provider. I do this because a lab with a huge range may look “normal” but the client may not feel well. Again, talk with your doctor about which tests you need and how you will follow-up.
TSH – Comes from the brain, stimulates the production of T4 mostly.
Free T4 – amount of unbound T4 in the periphery available for cells/tissues to use.
Free T3 – amount of available T3 to the cells.
Reverse T3 – an inactive form of thyroid hormone that blocks the receptors for T3 normally helping to keep metabolism in balance. If rT3 is high however, it indicates hypothyroidism.
Anti-thyroglobulin – antibodies to thyroglobulin (thyroid protein)
Anti-thyroperoxidase – antibodies to thyroperoxidase (thyroid converting enzyme)
So, is your thyroid causing your symptoms? Maybe. The endocrine (hormone) system works like a symphony. The thyroid hormones are just one section of full orchestra. It’s important to ensure that when working toward thyroid health you are also monitoring and addressing the following factors as they inhibit proper balance of thyroid hormones (all the other hormones, the immune system, the whole system really)
Stress: large obvious stressors like work/financial/houseing/COVID/illness/etc. But also the micro-stressors we experience constantly through out the day for our whole lives such as: running late, stepped on a lego, too much coffee, kids are whining...
Infection/illness/trauma - acute incidences such as these alter our hormones
Underlying infection such as Epstein Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, Lyme disease
Medications – some medications specifically alter hormones and interfere with the symphony
Fluoride – an antagonist to iodine which is an important nutrient for thyroid hormone.
Toxic chemicals aka endocrine disrupters and heavy metals interfere with everything
Auto immune diseases – because these don’t happen overnight, it’s common not to discover it until a major flare.
NOTE: everything after the first bullet is also a stressor
As stated above some issues arise in conversion of the T4 to T3. Again, it’s important to investigate and address these factors while working toward thyroid health.
Stress
Trauma
Low calorie diet
Inflammation and infections
Toxins
Medications
Supporting your thyroid in a whole bodied approach is the best way to alleviate your symptoms and treat the underlying cause. A whole body approach includes using supportive practices such as meditation and exercise in addition to nutrients such as iron, iodine, tyrosine zinc, selenium, vitamins A, E, B2, B3, B6, C, and D. Remember, not every supplement is indicated for every body so please talk with your provider to discuss your personal plan of action toward health.
**This blog is not to be used as medical advice**