We will begin this week’s blog discussing one of the most common and undertreated conditions that I come across in my practice: Hypothyroidism.
Hypothyroidism is a condition that occurs when the butterfly-shaped thyroid gland located in the front of the neck, just below the Adam’s apple, becomes suboptimal or low (hypo) functioning. The thyroid gland plays a crucial role in regulating many metabolic processes in the body through the production of hormones, primarily thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). These hormones influence metabolism, growth, development, and body temperature regulation.
So what are the symptoms of hypothyroidism for most adults? They include inability to lose weight or abnormal weight gain, hair loss, fatigue, skin dryness, constipation, irregular periods, feeling cold/cold intolerance, arthritis and/or muscle pain, sadness, depression, etc.
As you can see, there is a very extensive and diverse list of hypothyroid symptoms; in other words, a malfunctioning thyroid can impact just about every system and endocrine gland in the body. Therefore, it is extremely important to ensure that your thyroid is functioning optimally and not just surviving. Unfortunately, a large percentage of the North American and European population (mostly women) today are walking around with either clinical hypothyroidism or subclinical (undetected by labs) thyroid function. These two conditions can manifest identically symptomatically, but they differ in the way that they are diagnosed. Classic or clinical hypothyroidism can be diagnosed through physical exam and blood work. Sometimes we can see an enlarged thyroid also referred to as a goiter, but most of the time we noticed that at least one of the thyroid related hormones, namely TSH, T4 or T3 will be out of range. It is also important to note that when testing thyroid function, it is important to test all three hormones and to test the T4 and T3 in their unbound or free form (FT3 and FT4).
Most doctors only test the TSH and FT4. Why do they only test the FT4 and not the FT3 you may ask? Because the most common medication that is used to treat hypothyroidism is Levothyroxine (Brand name Synthroid), which is a form of T4. Therefore, it is necessary to track the TSH and FT4 levels when a patient is on Levothyroxine to ensure that the prescribing doctor is administering the correct dose.
So why is it necessary to test FT3 levels? Because it turns out that T3 is a more metabolically active hormone. A healthy body naturally converts T4 to T3 in several tissues, glands and organs and conventional medicine assumes that the body will do so automatically. However, this is not the case. Particularly when most people are deficient in iodine and selenium which are essential for this conversion to take place. Most Americans no longer consume iodized salt which was one of the main sources of iodine. Iodine deficiency can lead to subclinical hypothyroidism and severe deficiency can lead to goiter.
In conclusion, it is important for hypothyroid patients to consider supplementation of iodine, selenium and zinc as well as thyroid supporting herbs like Ashwaganda, Blue Flag root, kelp, nettle leaf and Myrr gum resin. It is also worth noting that not all patients respond well to iodine particularly those with autoimmune hypothyroidism. The usage of iodine and herbs for hypothyroidism should be discussed with a naturopathic doctor or a functional medicine or integrative medicine practitioner.
What other medications or supplements should be considered when treating hypothyroidism? Well, the treatment depends on the degree of low function. On one side of the spectrum, you have patients with severe deficiency, who will need a pharmaceutical medication like Levothyroxine (brand name Synthroid) and liothyronine (brand name Cytomel) or a more natural form like NP Thyroid which contains T4 and T3 extracted from a porcine thyroid. You can also have a compounded form of T4 and T3 customized to the patient. Patients with a milder degree of hypothyroidism may only need a supplement containing herbs, selenium and iodine (and) or they may (also) need a supplement containing a bovine or porcine glandular extract with a lesser amount of T4 and T3.
We will discuss the benefit and limitations of each treatment option on the next newsletter.
You can call our clinic if you would like to find out more about supplements that we carry for thyroid support. We don’t recommend taking any supplements without the guidance of a licensed health care practitioner.
We wish you an optimal, healthy and blessed week!
Sincerely,
Dr. Yosef
This newsletter is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider regarding a medical condition.
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