Thyroid disorders are common. Studies have shown that over 12% of people experience thyroid problems at some point.’
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The likelihood of women developing a thyroid condition is eight times higher than a man. At the fundamental level, your thyroid hormone helps regulate growth, energy, and metabolism in the body.
A person may experience health problems if the thyroid hormone levels are too high or too low. Such issues include slow metabolism and decreased growth of many parts of the body.
Hypothyroidism explained
The thyroid is a small gland and has the shape of a butterfly. It drapes across the front of your esophagus (windpipe).
You can feel your thyroid gland when you place your fingers on the sides of your Adam’s apple. Likewise, it slides down your fingers when you swallow.
The thyroid gland produces and secretes the thyroid hormone. The thyroid hormone regulates the growth and metabolism of almost every part of your body.
The pituitary gland monitors your body’s physiology and releases thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH signals your thyroid gland’s release of thyroid hormone (1).
Sometimes, your TSH levels may increase, but the thyroid cannot release more thyroid hormone in response. This condition is referred to as primary hypothyroidism because the problem begins at the level of the thyroid gland.
In other cases, TSH levels fall, and the thyroid does not receive any signal to increase the levels of thyroid hormone. This is referred to as secondary hypothyroidism.
Hypothyroidism has many signs and symptoms. This article explains how you can identify the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism.
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Seven early warning signs of hypothyroidism
Loss of the outer part of the eyebrows
· Thinning, dry hair
· Decreased cold tolerance
Heat is produced when the body burns calories. For instance, consider how you get hot during workouts. The heat is made from the burning of calories.
Even while sitting, your body is constantly burning calories. However, in a hypothyroid case, the body’s basal metabolic rate will decrease, thus reducing the amount of heat generated by the body.
Moreover, thyroid hormone switches on the thermostat on brown fat. Brown fat is a unique kind of fat that generates heat. Brown fat maintains the heat of the body in cold climates. But this ability is impeded in cold temperatures (2).
And so, people with low thyroid hormone levels will always feel colder than others around them. Studies have shown that over 40% of low-thyroid individuals are more sensitive to cold than others (3).
· Slow metabolism
· Weight gain
Sudden weight gain is another important symptom of hypothyroidism (4).
You see, apart from the fact that low-thyroid individuals move less, they also send signals to their muscles, livers, and fat tissue to retain their calories.
When thyroid levels are on the low end, metabolic activities switch modes. So, instead of burning calories for activity and growth, your basal metabolic rate (the amount of energy your body uses at rest) will decrease. Your body is then compelled to store more calories from the diet in the form of fat. This explains how low thyroid hormone levels can cause weight gain even if the calorie count remains constant.
· Feeling tired
The feeling of fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism. This is because the thyroid hormone regulates energy balance and can influence your nap or go.
Research has shown that animals that hibernate usually experience low thyroid hormone levels leading up to their hibernating period (5).
The thyroid hormone usually receives signals from the brain and coordinates the body cells to alter their functions, depending on other underlying activities that are taking place in the body.
People with high levels of thyroid hormone will always feel jittery and nervous. In contrast, hypothyroid patients feel sluggish and exhausted.
· Depression
Hypothyroidism is associated with depression (6).
Over 57% of men and 64% of women with hypothyroidism report feelings of depression. Also, the same percentage of women and men reported feelings of anxiety (7).
In a particular study, thyroid hormone replacement improved depression in patients with mild hypothyroidism compared to a placebo (8).
The best remedies for hypothyroidism
Determine the root cause
First, you have to find out the root cause of the problem. Then, you’ll have to do a few investigations by yourself. For instance, do you feel normal after taking thyroid hormones? If they’re not, you have to start asking questions because they’re not the right solution.
You can also do an iodine patch test or an Achilles tendon test.
Take trace minerals
They’re essential. Take trace minerals like iodine, zinc, and selenium.
Get rid of the gluten
I recommend getting rid of all the grains. That alone might produce massive changes.
Vitamin D is important. Take 40,000 IU daily.
Thyrotrophin PMG is a secret remedy that is unknown to many. It is produced by a company called Standard Process. Take one of these before bed for over three months. It is very effective. Thyrotrophin is an extract of the thyroid. So, you’re taking this before bed, and it gets into your stomach. Although not proven, the idea is that your immune system attacking your thyroid will begin to attack thyrotrophin as a decoy leaving your thyroid alone for some time.
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Takeaway
Hypothyroidism, also known as low thyroid, is a common disorder. It causes various symptoms, including weight gain, fatigue, and coldness.
Hypothyroidism can also cause problems with your muscles, hair, memory, skin, or mood.
One important thing to note is that none of these problems are unique to hypothyroidism.
So, if you have these symptoms, or you’ve already had them, and they’re worsening, see your healthcare provider to decide if there’s a need for a test for hypothyroidism.
Disclaimer: Dr. Berner does not diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical diseases or conditions; instead, he analyzes and corrects the structure of his patients with Foundational Correction to improve their overall quality of life. He works with their physicians, who regulate their medications. This blog post is not designed to provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment, or services to you or any other individual. The information provided in this post or through linkages to other sites is not a substitute for medical or professional care. You should not use the information in place of a visit, consultation, or the advice of your physician or another healthcare provider. Foundation Chiropractic and Dr. Brett Berner are not liable or responsible for any advice, the course of treatment, diagnosis, or any other information, services, or product you obtain through this article or others.
