It's estimated that as many as 27 million people in the United States have a thyroid issue, such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis or Graves' disease, and half of them don't have any concept that they do. An under-active thyroid, or hypothyroidism, accounts for approximately 90 percent of all thyroid imbalances.
What is the thyroid gland?
A butterfly-shaped gland in your neck's center gland, the thyroid gland, is the master gland of metabolism. Your thyroid gland is inter-related with each system in the human body. If your thyroid isn't running optimally, then neither are you.
10 Signs of an Underactive Thyroid:
- Fatigue after sleeping 8 to 10 hours a night or having to take a rest daily
- Weight gain or the inability to lose weight
- Mood issues such as mood swings, anxiety, or depression
- Hormone imbalances such as PMS, irregular periods, infertility, and reduced sex drive
- Muscle pain, joint pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, or tendonitis
- Cold hands and feet, feeling cold when others aren't, or having a body temperature consistently under 98.5
- Dry or cracking skin, brittle nails and excess hair loss
- Constipation
- Head issues like brain fog, poor concentration, or poor memory
- Neck swelling, snoring, or hoarse voice
How Does the Thyroid Gland Function?
Thyroid hormone production is regulated by a feedback loop involving the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and the thyroid gland. Hypothalamic thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulates pituitary thyrotropin (TSH) secretion and synthesis. In turn, TSH stimulates release and production of T4 and T3 in the thyroid gland. It signals that there's enough thyroid hormone in flow and not to generate more, when T4 is generated.
About 85 percent of this hormone produced by our thyroid gland is T4, which is an inactive form of the hormone. Once T4 is made, a little quantity of it is converted. For complicate matters, T3 also gets converted to either Free T3 (FT3) or Reverse T3 (RT3). It is the Free T3 that actually matters in all of this, as it is the only hormone that could attach to a receptor and cause your metabolism to increase its production, keep you warm, keep your bowels moving, keep your mind working, along with keeping other hormones in check. Reverse T3's part isn't well known, however, healthcare professionals have seen it increase under intense stress and in people who have allergies.
And finally, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease, is the most common form of hypothyroidism and its numbers are increasing annually. An autoimmune disorder is one in which your body turns on itself and begins to attack a certain organ or tissue believing it's foreign. Many healthcare professionals regularly screen patients for autoimmune thyroid disease by ordering Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOAb) and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb) tests.
Why is Hypothyroidism So Under Recognized?
Many symptoms of thyroid imbalance are vague and most doctors spend only a few minutes talking with patients to sort out the cause of the complaint. Most conventional doctors use just a couple of tests (TSH and T4) to display for problems. They aren't assessing the thyroid gland, RT3 , or FT3.
Most traditional doctors utilize the 'normal' laboratory reference range as their guide only. Rather than listening to their patients symptoms, they use 'optimal' laboratory values and temperature as their guide.
Which laboratory tests are better to ascertain if you've got a thyroid problem?
Healthcare professionals may check the below panel on patients. Make sure your doctor does the same for you.
- TSH
- Free T4
- Free T3
- Reverse T3
- Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOAb)
- Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb)
What are the Optimal Laboratory Values for Thyroid Tests?
In various clinics, it has been discovered that the below list are the ranges in which many patients flourish. These may have been recordeded taking how patients are feeling into account and listening to their patients.
- TSH 1-2 UIU/ML or lower (Armour or compounded T3 can artificially suppress TSH)
- FT4 >1.1 NG/DL
- FT3 > 3.2 PG/ML
- RT3 less than a 10:1 ratio RT3:FT3
- TPO -- TgAb -- < 4 IU/ML or negative
10 Things to Improve Thyroid Function
- Be certain that you are carrying a high quality multivitamin with Iodine, Zinc, Selenium, Iron, Vitamin D, and B vitamins.
- Also make sure that your multivitamin contains adequate levels of iodine to aid with the FT4 to FT3 conversion.
- Go gluten-free. In case you have Hashimoto's thyroiditis, try going entirely grain and legume.
- Deal with your stress and support your adrenal glands. The adrenal glands and thyroid work hand and hand. It's necessary to deal with anxiety using healing yoga and adaptogenic herbs, which support the adrenal glands.
- Get 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night.
- Possessing a biological dentist safely remove any amalgam fillings you may have.
- Watch your intake of cruciferous vegetables. There is a bit of a disagreement.
- Get fluoride, bromide, and chlorine from your diet and surroundings.
- Heal your gut. A correctly functioning digestive tract (gut) is essential to good health.
- Locate a functional medicine doctor and have them operate the above mentioned laboratory test and work with you to find out the root cause of the thyroid imbalance.
Reverse Chronic Illnesses So You Can Take Back Your Health
Are you ready to conquer your symptoms, regain your energy, and feel like yourself again? When you have Hashimoto's, Graves', or any of the hundreds of other autoimmune disorders, it's important for you to know that you CAN reverse your affliction. Simply follow a healthcare professional's advice and take back your health.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
Additional Topics: Wellness
Overall health and wellness are essential towards maintaining the proper mental and physical balance in the body. From eating a balanced nutrition as well as exercising and participating in physical activities, to sleeping a healthy amount of time on a regular basis, following the best health and wellness tips can ultimately help maintain overall well-being. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables can go a long way towards helping people become healthy.
