Safe, Effective Hypothyroid Treatments

Safe, Effective Hypothyroid Treatments

Taking a Natural Approach to Thyroid Health The thyroid gland is a small gland in the neck that has an important job: producing the thyroid hormones that regulate the body’s metabolic function.

These hormones also help to maintain a variety of physiological functions throughout the body.

A Sluggish Thyroid: Hypothyroidism

hypothyroidism but still have very low levels of T3. This is because the typical hypothyroid drugs, synthroid and lethothyroxine, only include T4. Since they still have a T3 deficiency, they continue to experience the symptoms of hypothyroidism. But there are many ways to treat this deficiency — and hypothyroidism, overall. In many cases, you may not even need medication.

Nutrition & Hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism is the most common Proper nutrition is among the first lines type of thyroid imbalance. It occurs of defense against hypothyroidism. when the thyroid gland is underAn under-active thyroid is frequently active and may cause many different the result of nutritional deficiencies symptoms, including: and, once these deficiencies have u General fatigue been reversed, thyroid function usually u Hair loss and dry skin Joseph Kaye, MD improves. I have seen dramatic u Weight gain (both fluid and fat) improvements in many patients u Puffiness in the face after nutritional guidance and u Low body temperature supplementation, often without the u Digestive problems (i.e., constipation, need for medication. irritable bowel) Iodine is among the major nutrients In some cases, hypothyroidism is the needed by the thyroid gland to produce result of an autoimmune disease known thyroid hormones. It can be found in as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. The immune iodized salt, kelp (as found in sushi and system in people with this condition seaweed salads) and many multivitamins. However, there’s a attacks and destroys the thyroid gland tissue. When damaged, huge epidemic of unrecognized iodine deficiency in America. the thyroid gland is not able to produce thyroid hormones at the We’re reverting back to a situation seen in the early 1900s, levels that the body needs. when people developed goiters due to iodine deficiencies.

Low levels of thyroid hormones, overall, are not the only form Back then, this goiter problem was addressed by fortifying of hypothyroidism. It’s also important that your body is properly bread and salt with iodine. However, in the 1960s, the converting the relatively inactive thyroid hormone T4 into the government decided to stop fortifying bread with iodine and active thyroid hormone T3. To do any good in your body, T4 has relied on iodine-fortified salt. In the last 20 to 30 years, to be converted into T3. This conversion occurs in the liver and is performed by a certain enzyme that relies on nutrients in your though, the concern about salt consumption and heart diet. So, if you have liver disease or a deficiency in the nutrients disease and blood pressure has encouraged many people to reduce their salt intake. When you reduce your consumption of this enzyme needs to convert T4 into T3, you may experience iodized salt without eating more kelp or taking a multivitamin hypothyroid symptoms despite having adequate levels of T4. that includes adequate iodine levels, you put yourself at risk for hypothyroidism.

Under-diagnosed and Ineffectively Treated Traditional thyroid tests only check for TSH or free T4 levels Iodine isn’t the only nutrient that your body relies on to — they don’t check T3 levels. If your body is not converting T4 produce thyroid hormones and convert T4 into T3. You also into T3, these tests may come up negative for hypothyroidism, need an amino acid called tyrosine (found in certain proteins) even though you do not have adequate levels of the thyroid and several trace minerals and nutrients, including zinc, hormones your body can effectively use. The only way to selenium, iron and the B vitamins. To absorb and process evaluate your ability to convert T4 into T3 is to test for free T3 all of these nutrients, you need a healthy gut. If you have levels, which most physicians are not trained to do. intestinal problems, you may not be able to absorb the Many people have been theoretically treated for nutrients you need — leading to hypothyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism

Your Thyroid and Your Brain

Treating Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism isn’t the only type of thyroid imbalance! Your thyroid can also be overactive, resulting in hyperthyroidism. This is much less common than hypothyroidism, but can result in many symptoms, including anxiety, hair loss, heart palpitations, excessive energy, difficulty sleeping, weight loss, diarrhea and, in extreme cases, even death.

The active thyroid hormone T3 triggers the production of serotonin in the brain.

Serotonin is the hormone that is intentionally increased to treat depression. This is typically done with SSRI drugs, such as Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac or Celexa. But, by treating hypothyroidism and naturally raising T3 levels, we can often improve depression — and even eliminate the need for antidepressant drugs.

There are many ways to treat hypothyroidism, but it all starts with doing appropriate testing, determining which thyroid levels are low and investigating any nutritional deficiencies. Then, we can correct any deficiencies, balance your hormones and finally, if absolutely necessary, prescribe appropriate medications.

Food Allergies & Sensitivities The autoimmune form of hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, may also respond to nutritional intervention. It’s well known by doctors that people with this autoimmune disease are often gluten-sensitive and may also have a condition called celiac disease. In celiac disease, your body produces an immune response to any gluten, which is found in wheat, rye and barley that you eat. This response attacks and damages the lining of your intestine, causing a number of digestive symptoms.

However, many doctors do not realize that people who have gluten sensitivity or celiac disease also have a much higher risk for other autoimmune diseases, including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. In many cases, when you treat these conditions by eliminating gluten from your diet, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis also improves. I frequently recommend removing gluten from your diet even if you haven’t been diagnosed with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, because these conditions often go unrecognized.

Other food allergies may also contribute to autoimmune hypothyroidism. I do full food allergy testing through blood tests to determine if you may be reacting to any other foods, such as dairy or eggs. When any such allergens are removed from your diet, the levels of anti-thyroid antibodies that are attacking your thyroid gland may decrease, resulting in an improvement in symptoms.

Thyroid Levels & Other Hormones The other hormones in your body can also affect your thyroid hormone levels. All of the hormones in your body work together, so levels of one hormone affect all your other hormones.

Hypothyroidism may result due to an imbalance in your hormones, such as: u Estrogen. Estrogen can inhibit the function of the thyroid gland. If your estrogen levels are too high, your thyroid gland may not be able to produce thyroid hormones in the levels that your body needs. u Progesterone. Progesterone has a stimulating effect on thyroid hormone production. A decline in progesterone levels, as occurs in women undergoing menopause and perimenopause, may result in an under-functioning thyroid gland.

u Testosterone. Testosterone

also helps to stimulate the thyroid gland. When your testosterone levels decline, such as during andropause (the male menopause), you may experience reduced thyroid function that can result in hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroid symptoms frequently improve when your hormone levels are balanced through bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). A BodyLogicMD doctor can help you to test your current hormone levels to see if you have any imbalances and help you to bring your hormones back into harmony.

When Medications are Necessary While proper nutrition and hormone balance can improve hypothyroid symptoms for many people, some may still need medications. If your body is converting T4 into T3 effectively, traditional hypothyroid medications such as synthroid and levothyroxine may be sufficient. However, if this conversion is not occurring properly, you may need a medication that includes T3.

Cytomel is the typical form of medicinal T3, but it must be taken two or three times a day. Many people find this inconvenient and prefer T3 that has been compounded in a specialty pharmacy in a sustained-release form that can be taken just once a day. T3 can also be given in combination with T4 in the natural hormone called armor thyroid, which is given once or twice a day.

Treating Hypothyroidism Effectively I strongly believe that a whole-body approach, as used with BodyLogicMD, produces a better outcome than the traditional approach to hypothyroidism. Traditional medicine frequently relies solely on medicating a patient with synthetic T4 rather than addressing the entire picture of patient health and wellness. At BodyLogicMD, we look at a patient as a whole person. We look at your nutritional status, hormone levels, diet and general overall health. We look for a safe, effective treatment that works for you and helps you to reach optimal overall health.

To learn more about hypothyroidism and how bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can help, visit www.bodylogicmd.com or call my office at (877) 552-7880.