Your thyroid - the basics

There is no question; Thyroid gland disorders are becoming more predominant (or at least more commonly diagnosed) in our culture. Hormones are complicated and I work with patients diagnosed with thyroid disorders on a daily basis and the questions: what? why? how? come up regularly. Let’s look at some answers:

What & where is my Thyroid Gland?

• The thyroid is an endocrine (hormone producing)

• It is located at the base of your throat. 

What does my Thyroid do?

• The thyroid regulates the body’s metabolism. This means it plays a role in providing your cells with energy as well as in weight balance.

• There are 3 main hormones that regulate how your thyroid is functioning:

  • TSH - this hormone is produced in the pituitary gland. It regulates the production of the thyroids 2 main hormones, T3 and T4

  • T3 and T4 – are released by the thyroid hormones. They are the hormones that bind other cells to regulate your metabolism.

So…. What can go wrong with my thyroid?

• Thyroid problems typically present in 2 main ways: either having too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroid) or too little thyroid hormone (hypothyroid).

• The thyroid gland is activated by TSH (hormones produced by the pituitary gland, a tiny gland in the brain).

• There can be many causes of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, and some of these may include:

  • Hyperthyroidism:

    • The most common cause is Graves Disease – an autoimmune disease, meaning the body’s own immune system is producing antibodies that are binding sites on the thyroid. This causes the thyroid becomes enlarged and produces excessive thyroid hormone.

  • Hypothyroidism

    • The most common cause is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis – again, an autoimmune disease. This autoimmune disease causes a form of thyroid inflammation, caused by attacks of the body’s the immune cells on the thyroid. This gradually leads to decay of the thyroid gland, thus affecting it’s ability to produce an adequate amount hormone.

  • Other, less common causes of both hyper and hypothyroidism may include:

    • Stress

    • Environmental Toxic Exposures

    • Poor Diet and Nutritional Deficiencies

    • Blood Sugar Dysregulation

    • Certain Medications

    • Hormonal Fluctuations

    • Genetics/Family History

What would I feel or notice if my Thyroid wasn’t functioning properly?

• Some of the signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:

  • High body temperature and a feeling of constant warmth

  • Increased sweating

  • Fast pulse

  • High blood pressure

  • Hyperactivity, Excessively high energy

  • Racing thoughts, Nervousness or Anxiety, Confusion

  • Insomnia

  • Shakiness, tremor

  • Weight loss despite an increased appetite

  • Diarrhea

• Some symptoms you might notice in a hypothyroid state might include:

  • Low body temperature and feeling cold most of the time

  • Lack of perspiration (even with vigorous exercise)

  • Slow pulse (less than 60 beats/minute)

  • Low blood pressure

  • Fatigue, Muscle weakness

  • Depression, memory loss, poor concentration

  • Dry, scaly skin, brittle hair and possibly hair loss

  • Slow reflexes

  • Weight gain, despite eating less

  • Puffy face

  • Constipation

  • High cholesterol and triglycerides

Should I seek treatment?

• If you feel that you might be suffering from an imbalance in your thyroid, it’s very important and would be very beneficial for you to visit your Naturopathic Doctor.

• We can help determine whether testing would be beneficial for you, and then recommend specific treatments to help ease your symptoms of and improve your specific condition.

• Additionally, if you are only showing mild hormonal changes and feeling only a few symptoms, we can help recommend dietary and lifestyle modifications as well as certain herbs and supplements that may help prevent full progression to thyroid disease.

In health

Dr Katarine Holewa, ND RAc