Hypothyroid affects women more than men and it’s estimated that one in 10 people have a thyroid disorder.
Is my thyroid slow?
In addition to fatigue, insomnia, weight gain or the inability to lose weight, other signs of hypothyroidism can include constipation, coldness, dry, flaky skin, slow heartbeat, heavy periods, concentration problems, hair loss, even loss of eyebrows. Some fertility problems have been linked to hypothyroid. The most common symptoms tend to be fatigue and intolerance to cold.
What does my thyroid do?
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck. It is responsible for regulating metabolism and body temperature by secreting hormones that control the body’s use of calories and energy. If the thyroid secretes too little hormone, hypothyroidism results; too much hormone will result in hyperthyroidism.
How to test for hypothyroidism
Getting a correct diagnosis of a sluggish thyroid can be tricky. Some doctors overlook the common symptoms, attributing them to stress or worse, they might consider the signs to be “typical female complaints” or aging and do nothing.
Specific blood tests for TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone), T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine) levels should be done to determine if the thyroid gland is working properly. The results of these tests and other measures of thyroid function are complicated and should be interpreted by a doctor familiar with the complex issues of thyroid hormone levels. Many times what may appear as “normal” really isn’t.
A preliminary self-test can be done my taking your temperature before you get out of bed in the morning. Known as Basal Body Temperature, if yours is at 97.6 or lower for 5 days, the BBT may be an indication of low thyroid.
Medication will help
If you do have a slow thyroid, medication will vastly improve your energy and concentration issues. In addition to several prescriptions for hypothyroid that are on the market today, there are natural options. Doctors who practice combination or alternative medication will sometimes prescribe natural thyroid instead of synthetic. Discuss your options with your physician and determine what is best for you.
Other ways to jumpstart your thyroid
Diet and exercise are extremely important. In fact, moderate exercise is one of the most important things a person can do to jumpstart their metabolism and endocrine system. Simply walking, 20-30 minutes a day several times a week (or even three, 10 minute daily walks) can stimulate thyroid function, increase energy and stamina, reduce stress and help fight depression.
Important dietary considerations
- Add Iodine-rich foods, such as seafood and kelp
- Sometimes, with a slow thyroid, it’s what you eat that can be detrimental. Certain foods such as cabbage, brussel sprouts, kale, broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, when eaten raw, can suppress thyroid function. It is usually ok to eat to eat them if they are steamed or cooked. In cases of severe thyroid problems, it is best to avoid them.
- Some practitioners advise reducing or eliminating processed sugar and flour as well. Yeast, (candida albicans and other forms) feed on sugar and can suppress thyroid function
- Detoxifying or cleansing can help rejuvinate a sluggish endocrine system
Supplements to try
- L-tyrosine and Amino acids
- B vitamins which improve oxygenation in cells and energy and are needed for proper thyroid function.
- Vitamin C helps improve immune function and stress hormones
- Ginseng can be added for energy
Herbs that can be used
- Bayberry
- Bladder wrack
- Black cohosh
- Parsley
- Skullcap
- Uva Ursi
Homeopathy
- Calcarea Carbonica
- Bach Flowers Hornbeam or Olive
Accupressure and Yoga can be added to treatment to help stimulate the endocrine system
If you have symptoms that suggest a slow thyroid, schedule an appointment with your doctor to be evaluated. If you do have hypothyroidism, treatment is usually easy and the results are fairly quick and remarkable. It’s important to consider that some symptoms of hypothyroidism can be symptoms of other health problems. Determining and treating the cause is most important.
Elizabeth Richards - Elizabeth Richards has published almost 200 articles for Suite101 since 2007 as a Contributing and Feature Writer.
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