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Thyroid
Thyroid problems are eight times more common among women than
they are in men. Here is a brief overview of what can go wrong.
Hypothyroidism: This is the condition in which the
thyroid gland is unable to produce sufficient hormones to keep
body functions operating normally. There are many possible
symptoms but the main ones are fatigue, cold body temp, weight
gain, dry skin and hair, hair loss, menstrual iregularites,
muscle aches, water retention, and constipation. Untreated,
hypothyroidism causes elevated blood lipids, high blood
pressure, accelerated arteriosclerosis, and eventually even
heart failure. This condition frequently goes undetected because
of most physicians’ tendency to pay attention to blood test
results rather than patient symptoms. Therapy with natural
thyroid replacement is usually quickly successful in normalizing
all symptoms, but our experience has been less satisfactory with
the synthetic thyroid medications. Many patients already on
those pharmaceuticals will consult us with persistent symptoms
of hypothyroidism. A goiter, or enlargement of the thyroid
gland, is only occasionally seen in conjunction with this
diagnosis. When the thyroid enlarges, it is often a sign that
there is insufficient iodine being consumed to promote adequate
production of the thyroid hormones. Testing for iodine
deficiency and
nutritional replacement therapy usually solves
this problem as well.
Hyperthyroidism: This is the opposite of hypothyroidism.
Here, the body makes too much thyroid hormone (actually at least
two different hormones), and that results in symptoms of
palpitations, excess body heat, rapid pulse, nervousness, hair
loss, fatigue, and thigh and
shoulder weakness. Eventually the
eyes tend to bulge outward. There are not many natural medicine
treatments that can resolve an overactive thyroid.
Interestingly, the gland’s overactivity diminishes temporarily
during pregnancy. In all but the mildest cases, I recommend
radioactive iodine ablation therapy rather than chronic
anti-thyroid medication which has numerous potential side
effects. The uptake of this injected material destroys the
overactive thyroid gland cells, and in most cases reverts the
case to an underactive thyroid condition. In reality this is
much easier to treat.
Subacute Thyroiditis: This temporary infection of the
gland usually follows an upper respiratory infection. There may
be pain in the throat with radiation into the jaw, and
tenderness over the thyroid gland. Symptoms may be compatible
with either an over or an underactive gland. A similar condition
can occur in the immediate post-partum period with symptoms that
mimick the “blues”. Pregnancy may also inhibit the conversion of
less active into the more active form of thyroid hormone, and as
a result symptoms may develop. Women with postpartum mood
changes should see a natural medicine physician. Thyroiditis can
also be caused by
immune system short circuiting that results in
the destruction of thyroid gland tissue by self made antibodies.
The person’s own thyroid gland is mistakenly identified as a
foreign invader, and targeted for destruction. The symptoms may
be subtle, and routine thyroid tests may usually look perfectly
normal. Many of these patients have exaggerated negative
reactions to medications, vitamins, and herbs. That is a great
tip off to me to order the specific anti-thyroid antibody tests
that will confirm the diagnosis. The it becomes a matter of
investigating the possible allergic, pharmacologic, toxic, and
infectious triggers for the autoimmune phenomenon.
Thyroid Nodules: Growths on the thyroid can be either
benign or malignant. Diagnosis is confirmed by ultrasound and
needle biopsy. Many of these patients are deficient in iodine.
Thyroid function can be either fast or slow.
Wilson’s Thyroid Syndrome: This condition mimicks an
underactive thyroid gland, but is actually due to inefficient
internal conversion of the less active hormone (T4) into the
more active one (T3). Tests may look normal. The tip off is a
hypothyroid patient on replacement therapy with only synthetic
T4 (Synthroid, Levothyroxine, Levothroid) who continue to have
many symptoms of the disorder despite the thyroid tests
appearing basically normal. Monitoring clinical symptoms and
body temperature and using T3 in the therapy will solve this
problem. The disorder is more common after pregnancy and in
those of European descent, especially the Irish, but it can
develop in anyone. |
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