Hypothyroidism is a chronic health condition that is both under-diagnosed and undertreated.
- Do you experience any of the following?
- Are you tired, sluggish in the morning or having trouble with memory, concentration and focus?
- Do you have dry skin or fluid retention?
- Is your sex drive lower than it was previously?
- Are you hands and feet always cold, and do you experience chills that are difficult to warm up from?
- Are your constipated or do you have slow digestion?
- Is your hair thinning?
- Is your cholesterol high?
- Have you gained weight recently or are you having difficulty losing it?
- Do you suffer from depression?
- Is your PMS getting worse?
- Are you having difficulty getting pregnant?
- Do you have muscle cramps or muscle weakness?
What is Hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism is an underactive thyroid gland which controls your metabolic rate. When your thyroid slows down, every other organ and system in your body slows down, including your brain, heart, digestion and muscles.
Thyroid function however is a gray area of medicine – there are degrees of imbalance. But even a mildly underactive thyroid can have a dramatic effect on the quality of your life.
Unfortunately, this condition is highly under-diagnosed because conventionally, it is diagnosed through one blood test, called TSH, and you are considered hypothyroid only with a level over 5.0.
This diagnosis misses a large group of people who have what is called “sublcinical hypothyroidism”, and it is less clear to diagnose. Subclinical hypothyroidism may cause many low-grade symptoms, such as fatigue, difficulty losing weight, mild depression, constipation, and more. Yet, it causes just slight changes in the blood tests. In fact, it often only shows up in tests that most doctors do not perform.
Who is Affected by Hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism affects men and women of all ages, however there are increasing incidences in women post-pregnancy and during menopause.
What Causes Hypothyroidism?
There are several key factors that contribute to the large number of cases of hypothyroidism: chronic stress, environmental toxins, inflammation, and vitamin / nutrient deficiencies.
Chronic stress is a very common cause of hypothyroidism as there is an intimate connection between thyroid and adrenal hormones.
Another factor with hypothyroidism is exposure to environmental toxins such as pesticides and heavy metals, which act as hormone disrupters and interfere with hormone metabolism and function.
It is a very common condition because of the many factors that can affect thyroid function: chronic stress, nutritional deficiencies, food intolerances, and environmental toxins such as heavy metals and pesticides.
Chronic inflammation in the body can be caused by factors such as food intolerances where antibodies are formed and cause an over-activity of the immune system. One of the most common causes of inflammation is gluten intolerance. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, spelt, rye, barley and oats.
Finally, nutritional deficiencies also affect thyroid function. These include: iodine, vitamin D, selenium, zinc, omega-3 fast, B-complex vitamins and vitamin A.
How is hypothyroidism diagnosed and treated?
If you suspect that you may have an underactive thyroid, a combination of physical examination and blood testing is recommended to confirm.
Treatment will start by addressing the root causes of your thyroid imbalance in order to restore balance. In many cases this can be treated naturally with detoxification, dietary changes and natural supplements.
If you have any questions, or would like to investigate your thyroid function further, please contact the clinic to book your appointment.
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Best wishes,
Shawna Darou ND
