Have you asked yourself if you are suffering from a malfunction of your Thyroid? Do you often feel tired, have a lack of enthusiasm, feel down and can’t get off those last few pounds?
Shaped like a butterfly or shield (which is why its name comes from the Greek “shield”), the thyroid is a vital part of the body’s endocrine system. It is a gland that is under the Adam’s apple and located before the trachea in the neck. The hormones it produces get moved throughout the body via the bloodstream to supply bodily tissues; these hormones include T4, or Thyroxine, and T3, or Triodothyronine.
When a body’s thyroid hormones function properly, one’s body is able to process food correctly, converting it to energy. In addition, all food is metabolized and then must be eliminated as waste which utilizes additional energy for the conversion process. One’s thyroid is essential for numerous bodily functions, as the hormones produced are responsible for determining proper metabolism and thus can affect the growth and efficiency of other body systems. A primary example of this is the hormone calcitonin. It is produced by the thyroid gland and regulates the levels of calcium circulating in the blood. To properly produce these hormones, the body must have enough iodine and an amino acid known as tyrosine.
Over ten million women could be affected by thyroid deficiencies on a subnormal level, and be totally unaware of this condition. Women aged 35 to 55 are most affected, especially those who are perimenopausal or menopausal.
The Thyroid Foundation of America has studied this and estimates that more than 11 million women could have an abnormal thyroid situation. When considering that a lot of women have this borderline condition, there may be an additional number in the tens of millions that suffer from related symptoms, which indicates hypothyroidism. Of course, those who are currently perimenopausal or menopausal are affected more than others, meaning those in the age range of 35-55.
The thyroid is important in its function to create hormones that control one’s metabolism. In fact, when a woman experiences tiredness and irritability, along with the inability to think straight, this might point to a thyroid issue. Other notable problems might be hot flashes, heart palpitations, difficulty sleeping, and the gaining of excess weight.
When one’s metabolism runs efficiently, one can burn calories most effectively and thus lose weight or at least stay at a normal weight. The hormones produced in the thyroid are what manages this, and also the way that the body uses vitamins it gets from food. Thyroid function is so important that it affects many bodily systems, including the muscular, reproductive, circulatory, nervous, and digestive systems. Within each cell, it affects the activity of the creation of the item that produces energy in the cells. It also allows for proper use of oxygen throughout the body.
Thyroid hormones produce energy in the body, and when insufficient supplies are produced, a person’s metabolism slows down. Then, it comes as no surprise that a person is subject to excessive weight gain or obesity.
When a person has a healthy metabolism, it must mean that the hormone leptin is properly curbing hunger within their system. This hormone is regulated by thyroid function and is created out of fat cells that also maintain proper energy for use by the body. Thus, thyroid function is crucial to proper appetite and the maintenance of one’s weight. In addition, it affects their ability to awaken and rise and their energy levels throughout the day.
Since subnormal thyroid function causes symptoms shared by many other illnesses, it has come to be known as the great imitator.
When a person has the following medical symptoms, why have they been told their thyroid is normal?
* Fatigue in the morning
* Trouble remembering things
* Brain befuddlement or fogginess
* Rash eruptions
* Severe headaches, or migraines
* More susceptibility to hot and cold conditions
* Less moisture in the facial skin and Hair depletion (occurring mainly outside of the eyebrows)
* Dispirited nature (more observable in seniors)
* Apprehension and nervousness
* Tendency to crave more sleep
Almost every doctor will give a woman the usual TSH and T4 tests in an attempt to determine low thyroid function. Unfortunately, these tests are not complete and most women end up being diagnosed as having normal thyroids when they do not. Usually, doctors rely on determining thyroid function from these tests since TSH comes from the brain’s pituitary gland and is what determines the secretion of T4 which is then converted to T3. This is why the drop in these two hormones should indicate hypothyroidism as a simultaneous increase in TSH occurs. Using this method will omit the diagnosis of those who do not have severe hypothyroidism, yet are low normal only. There are so many other factors that can contribute to low thyroid that a more thorough testing is necessary for a complete diagnosis.
Women might instinctual know there is something wrong with their thyroid yet not get those answers from their doctors; this can be rather frustrating. So, when thorough testing shows there is a thyroid issue, women can get some comfort knowing they are on their way to true healing and a properly functioning thyroid level.
When the Archives of Internal Medicine, a scientific magazine, performed a study regarding low thyroid function in those whose thyroid showed “normal”, an increase in the likelihood of those having arteriosclerosis (hardened arteries) and double the rate of heart attacks was found. This “low-normal” thyroid ranch is known as sub-clinical hypothyroidism and causes tiredness, depression, inability to lose weight and other negative effects. It is in a woman’s best interests to regain a normal thyroid function as it will affect her overall well-being and bring her health back up to what is most desired.
If you or anyone you know is unnecessarily suffering from these symptoms, get a consultation at no charge to find out if handling the thyroid is the answer. There is a chance that you can relieve some aggravation about this and get to the root of the problem.
Learn more about Dr. Anju Mathur and Bioidentical Hormone Replacement at Angel Longevity Medical Center