Know that you can dive deeper with a hormone specialist to look at the root cause of the imbalance and treat it naturally.
The thyroid starts to become sluggish as we age, especially with the hormonal shifts of perimenopause, menopause and andropause. Optimizing thyroid hormones improves metabolism, energy levels and mood.
Thyroid hormones are released by the thyroid gland and are responsible for temperature regulation, metabolism, cerebral function and energy. Thyroid problems are very common. The thyroid works optimally in conjunction with other endocrine organs, like the adrenals, pituitary, pancreas, liver and reproductive organs. The thyroid is required to work harder if the other organs have been overworked or overstimulated by stress, food allergies, poor diet and lack of sleep. Thyroid function is evaluated by obtaining blood levels of thyroid stimulating hormone, Free T4 or T3, and thyroid antibodies.
Three Categories of Thyroid Imbalance
- Hypothyroidism/Thyroid deficiency
- Hyperthyroidism/Overactive thyroid
- Suboptimal Thyroid/Low thyroid symptoms with normal values, not optimal values.
- Optimizing the thyroid hormones protects against cardiovascular disease, fatigue, weight gain and cognitive decline.
- Low Thyroid Symptoms
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Constipation
- Dry skin and brittle nails
- Irregular cycles
- Hair loss on overall head, thinning of hair on head, temples, and outer eyebrows
- Poor memory or reflexes
- Depression or low motivation
- Low body temperature
- High Thyroid Symptoms (caused by excess hormone because of overmedication, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or hyperthyroidism)
- Heart palpitations
- Insomnia
- Loose stools
- Shakiness
- Anxiety
- Bone loss (not the case if you are on thyroid hormones)
- Fingernails lifting in the center of the tip
- Heat intolerance or sweating
Hashimoto’s
This is an autoimmune disease associated with hypothyroidism but is often missed if doctors don’t test thyroglobulin antibodies in a blood test. These antibodies are produced by your immune system that is attacking the body’s own thyroid gland. It can be triggered by consistent stress, life changes, childbirth, deaths, divorces and other stressful events. In severe cases of Hashimoto’s, it can cause low thyroid. I often see patients without symptoms and we can prevent low thyroid by reducing inflammation, lowering the thyroid antibodies and give supportive herbs, nutrients and thyroid glandulars if needed. Often patients with Hashimoto’s see improvement with avoiding wheat and dairy products along with the herbal adrenal and thyroid support.
Sub-Optimal Thyroid
This is commonly seen in my practice. Patients may have symptoms of a sluggish metabolism or low thyroid, but their lab values do not warrant a true Hypothyroidism diagnosis. It is common in perimenopause, menopause or andropause in men to have a suboptimal thyroid that adds to the hormone imbalance. We focus on optimizing hormones and look at all the endocrine glands – thyroid, female or male hormones, adrenals, pancreas and liver to help improve hormone balance and energy levels and kick up the metabolism for aging healthfully.
In Conclusion
If you feel you are experiencing symptoms of low thyroid or other hormone imbalance, it is important to seek the advice of a hormone specialist, especially if you have had testing by another doctor and they tell you everything is normal, yet you are not feeling well. Know that you can dive deeper with a hormone specialist to look at the root cause of the imbalance and treat it naturally. FBN
By Christina Kovalik
Dr. Christina Kovalik NMD, LAc, The Vitality Doctor, is a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist specializing in hormone optimization, optimal health and vitality. She is a new Flagstaff resident, practicing since 2004, and opened her second location in Doney Park in 2020.
For more information, visit thevitalitydoctor.com or call 928-863-6086.
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