Thyroid Disorders
The thyroid is a tiny gland that sits at the base of our necks and controls the metabolic rate of our entire bodies. Thyroid hormones play a major role in our body’s metabolism, growth, and development. Without an optimally working thyroid gland, we feel sluggish, have trouble losing weight, and feel depressed – just to name a few.
Functional Medicine Approach to Thyroid Disorders
Untreated thyroid problems can lead to fatigue, mental health issues, adrenal and sex hormone dysfunction, weight gain, and the associated risks of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
What’s more, 27 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease, and one woman in eight will develop a thyroid disorder during her lifetime.
For patients with thyroid disorders, functional medicine helps to optimize hormone levels with a holistic treatment plan, including diet, nutritional support, stress reduction, and appropriate hormonal replacement therapy where needed.
Testing for Thyroid Disorders
At Peak Health Institute, we offer full thyroid screening to ensure we are not missing an opportunity to restore health and function to the thyroid gland. Conventional medicine generally only looks at TSH levels; however, at Peak Health Institute, we look at all biomarkers of thyroid health, including:
- Total and Free Thyroxine (T4)
- Triiodothyronine (Free T3)
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
- Reverse T3
- Anti-Thyroglobulin and Anti-Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies
This panel allows us to identify patients with early thyroid autoimmune disease, and to identify and treat the cause of many cases of fatigue and other health problems.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a thyroid disorder where your thyroid gland can’t make enough hormone for your body’s needs or isn’t properly utilizing the thyroid hormone.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism include the following:
- Fatigue and sluggishness
- Increased sensitivity to cold
- Constipation
- Pale, dry skin
- A puffy face
- Brittle nails
- Hair loss
- Unexplained weight gain
- Joint pain and stiffness
- Muscle weakness
- Depression
- Memory lapses
- Muscle aches, tenderness, and stiffness
- Excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is the opposite of Hypothyroidism. It’s caused by the thyroid gland secreting too many T3 and T4 hormones.
Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism may include the following:
- Rapid heart rate
- Increased anxiety
- Weight loss
- Panic attacks
- Irritability
- Tremors in the hands
- Hair loss
- Muscle aches
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty sleeping
- Excessive sweating
- Infertility
- Heat intolerance
- Irregular menstrual cycles
- Frequent bowel movements or diarrhea
Autoimmune Thyroid Disorders
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is an autoimmune thyroid disorder, and is the primary cause of Hypothyroidism. With Hashimoto’s, your immune system attacks your thyroid. As a result, the thyroid becomes damaged and can’t make enough thyroid hormones.
The functional medicine approach to thyroid disorders looks at restoring the immune system and repairing proper thyroid function.
At Peak Health Institute, we evaluate digestion, diet, exposure to environmental toxins, chronic infections, and stressors that can contribute to thyroid disorders and dysfunction. Then we can intervene with various treatments and lifestyle recommendations tailored to the needs of each patient.
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