Hypothyroidism

What is it?

Hypothyroidism is a decrease in the production and secretion of thyroid hormones which means, in turn, a decrease in the basal metabolic rate of the body. Causes include congenital anomalies, autoimmune disease, medication or surgery, infection, stress, nutritional deficiency, as well as dysfunctions in other organs. Some types of hypothyroidism are temporary, while others are more difficult to reverse. Hypothyroidism most commonly occurs in patients who are elderly, postpartum, have autoimmune disease, or other endocrine disorders. In our opinion, hypothyroidism is a vastly under-diagnosed disorder.

Key Points:

Symptoms may include

• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Weight gain
• Depression
• Changes in blood lipid levels
• Slow heart rate
• Facial puffiness
• Dry and pale skin
• Fragile and coarse hair
• Brittle nails
• Cold intolerance
• Changes in menstrual cycle
• Reduced reflexes
• Sysmptoms may be vague, particularly in elderly patients

How do we treat it?

We think of the thyroid as a “canary in the coal mine,” in that the thyroid gland is very sensitive to stress and may respond by decreasing its function. Almost as a protection from “overwork,” the brain’s signal for decreased hormonal output may be nothing more than an attempt to get you to sit down and rest. So, suboptimal thyroid hormone levels may be due to over-work, stress, or other life issues that need to be addressed. It is our goal to help you assess your lifestyle and make necessary adjustments while also supporting your body to regain metabolic function. The thyroid peaks developmentally during childhood as we begin to learn to interact with the outside world. For some patients, this phase of childhood presented unique challenges that interfered with proper thyroid development. For others, thyroid disease may be related to issues with communication or emotional processing, as the thyroid sits at the fifth chakra of the body. Your treatment plan will be tailored to the issues that are most impacting your metabolic health.