Thyroid Health
Thyroid Dysfunction: What are the Common Problems?
Thyroid is an important gland located at front of the neck that is responsible for controlling the metabolic rate of our cells and organs. There are two main types of thyroid dysfunction – hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. In hypothyroidism, the thyroid is underactive, performing at slow and sluggish speed. It produces very little hormones for your body to utilize. In contrast, hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid becomes overactive, producing more hormones than the body needs to function.
What Causes Thyroid Dysfunction?
There are two main causes of thyroid dysfunction in the U.S. – Grave’s disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Both are autoimmune diseases which can cause either hypothyroidism (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) or hyperthyroidism (Grave’s disease). Less common causes may include thyroid nodules, metal toxicity, medications, goiter, or thyroid surgical removal.
What are the Symptoms of Thyroid Dysfunction?
Symptoms of thyroid dysfunction vary from person to person, depending on the type and severity. Common symptoms of an overactive thyroid may include thinning hair, anxiety, tremors, diarrhea, heart palpitations, insomnia, weight loss, etc. Common side effects of an underactive thyroid may include brittle hair, brain fog, fatigue, feeling depressed, constipation, dry skin, weight gain despite having no appetite, cold intolerance, and hair loss.
How Do You Treat Thyroid Dysfunction?
At Embodied Wellness, we work with you to get a comprehensive health assessment of your concerns, and order detailed lab tests to evaluate your thyroid levels, as well as any necessary antibodies and other markers to try to understand the etiology behind your symptoms and concerns.
Treatment is dependent on your lab results and symptoms, and various treatments are available if you have an underactive thyroid. Treatments may include synthetic options such as levothyroxine or glandular products like Nature Throid or Armour. Herbal supplements and dietary modifications will also be discussed as complimentary adjuncts to treatment. If you have an overactive thyroid, you will be referred to your primary care provider, who will refer you to an endocrinologist for treatment, as hyperthyroidism requires more specialized care.
FAQs
What are the symptoms of a troubled thyroid?
Symptoms of troubled thyroid are as follows:
Underactive Thyroid
- Fatigue (feeling tired)
- Weight gain
- Cold intolerance
- Coarse, brittle hair or hair loss
- Constipation
- Depressed mood
- Lack of energy
- Having a hoarse voice
- Brain fog or forgetfulness
- Irregular menstrual periods (for women)
Overactive Thyroid
- Feeling anxious, nervous, and irritable
- Resting tremors
- Unintentional weight loss
- Heat intolerance
- Enlarged thyroid gland or goiter
- Muscle weakness
- Trouble sleeping
- Irregular menstrual cycles or amenorrhea
- Vision problems or eye irritation
- Exophthalmia (Grave’s disease)
- Thinning hair
At what age do thyroid problems start?
Thyroid dysfunction can occur at any age. However, in the United States, hypothyroidism typically affects about 4.6 percent of people 12 years of age and older. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune disorder that specifically affects the thyroid gland, is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the U.S. It affects about 14 million Americans nationwide and is most common in middle-aged women. Most cases of hypothyroidism in the U.S. are mild.
Can thyroid cause belly fat?
Having an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) can slow metabolism as a result of insufficient hormone production. This slowing of metabolism affects your body’s basal metabolic rate, affecting how your body uses and burns calories. A slow metabolism caused by an underactive thyroid will ultimately result in low energy expenditure, which leads to weight gain and increased belly fat.
What foods are bad for thyroid?
Although hypothyroidism can be due to a number of factors that includes genetics, immune health, or environmental factors, various foods can worsen your body’s ability to respond to and utilize thyroid hormones more efficiently. The following foods described below can contribute to worsening thyroid function:
Wheat and other gluten-containing foods: According to a number of research studies, there is an association between gluten and autoimmune disorders, like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, which is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the U.S. People who have Celiac disease (a severe allergy to gluten/wheat) are 3 times more likely to develop hypothyroidism. Gluten has the propensity to create gut inflammation, creating an imbalance between your good gut flora and the proliferation of the bad gut bacteria. It is this imbalance that ignites an immune response, which if overactive, may start targeting the body’s own cells, causing autoimmunity, and thus targeting specific organs, such as the thyroid gland, causing hypothyroidism.
Those who have celiac disease need to avoid gluten-containing products. However, those who have non-celiac gluten sensitivity should also avoid gluten-products due to their risk factors. Avoiding gluten can help improve the immune system and thus, may lower your risk of autoimmune dysfunction to the thyroid gland.
Dairy products: Those who are lactose intolerant appear to have increased thyroid dysfunction in those with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (hypothyroidism), compared to those who restrict lactose according to one study. Casein is the main protein found in milk. For some individuals, casein can ignite an immune response similar to that of gluten, as the protein structure of casein may confuse the immune system into thinking it is a foreign invader. According to one study, about 50% of patients who had celiac disease had a similar inflammatory response to cow’s milk as they did to gluten products.
Sugary foods and desserts: Sugar, like dairy and gluten, can contribute to worsening thyroid dysfunction in many ways. For one, hypothyroidism leads to slow metabolism. If one consumes excess amounts of sugar, that sugar is going to be stored as fat, and the slowing of the body metabolism means your body will not be able to use that sugar as energy to burn fat, leading to even worsening weight gain.
Sugar also contributes to bodily inflammation, particularly in those who are overweight and obese. The sugar-obesity-inflammation complex can contribute to insulin resistance, which thus can lead to type 2 diabetes. According to one study, there is an association between type 2 diabetes and hypothyroidism, likely due in part to both being endocrine disorders. The best avoidance of type 2 diabetes is prevention. Avoiding sugary foods and having an active lifestyle can help reduce one’s risk and support thyroid health.
High-lectin containing foods: Lectins are sugar-binding proteins that can mount an immune response similar to the proteins found in gluten and dairy. That is, they can contribute to leaky-gut syndrome and its proteins can mimic proteins the body naturally produces, causing immune system confusion that can potentially lead to autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
According to one study, 95/102 of patients on a lectin-free diet achieved complete remission of autoimmune markers and inflammatory markers within 9 months. Consequently, avoiding lectins in the context of thyroid dysfunction may help improve thyroid hormone function and utilization in some individuals.
What are early warning signs of hypothyroid problems?
Some early warning signs of hypothyroidism include changes in mood, such as low mood and depression, as well as changes in energy levels and weight gain. Because these symptoms are nonspecific and mimic signs and symptoms of depression, they often present to their primary care office believing they have depression and are treated with antidepressants by some providers without a thorough workup.
At Embodied Wellness, we conduct a complete health evaluation of your health concerns and order a detailed thyroid panel, which includes antibodies and other contributing labs. Early diagnosis and treatment is key to effectively treating hypothyroidism and improving one’s overall quality of life and wellbeing.
Learn more on how Embodied Wellness can address your thyroid health needs and get you back on the path to wellness. Schedule your free consultation today!