Thyroid Health Uncovered
What is the Thyroid Gland?
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland that sits just below your Adam's apple. It is a master gland that secretes hormones and is responsible for regulation of metabolism, growth and development, and influences nearly every physiologic process in the human body. When thyroid levels are out of balance, so is our health and well-being.
How Does the Thyroid Gland Work?
In order to create balance, the thyroid communicates with two other glands in the brain, the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. The hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis (HPT axis for short) aka thyroid homeostasis, is an entire neuroendocrine system responsible for the regulation of metabolism. One might imagine the hypothalamus as the person who regulates the thermostat. It releases Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and tells the pituitary gland where the thyroid should be set. The pituitary gland (the thermostat), then releases Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) to the thyroid gland, which acts as the furnace, producing thyroid hormones, Triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxine (T4). Thyroid hormones are like heat. When there is enough heat, the thermostat turns off, the room cools (thyroid hormone levels drop) and the process starts again as a negative feedback loop.
The thyroid gland itself uses iodine to produce the two main hormones, T4 and T3. The thyroid produces 80% T4 (inactive) and 20% T3(active). The body must convert the inactive hormones into an active, unbound, usable form. Certain conditions, factors, and nutrients must be present, not only for the thyroid to produce these hormones but for this conversion to take place.
What Are Symptoms of a Malfunctioning Thyroid?
A wide array of symptoms can stem from either an under or over-functioning thyroid gland. Nearly every system in the body can be impacted so symptoms should not be ignored.
How to Treat a Thyroid Disorder
Often times when a thyroid condition is diagnosed, little is done to determine the underlying insult to this essential “master gland” of our body. Rather, treatment often stops at replacement hormones without determining where the imbalance has occurred. Simply replacing hormones, does not address the immune system dysregulation, which is often the root cause. Some considerations in a thorough work-up include;
A FULL thyroid panel. Many times, only TSH, T3, and T4 are tested. A full panel would include the following markers: Free T3, Free T4, Total T4, TSH, Anti-thyroglobulin Ab, Anti-TPO Ab, Thyroglobulin, Thyroxine-Binding Globulin (TBG) and Reverse T3.
Thyroid lab ranges vary. “Normal” can be a wide range with optimal functioning in a narrower window.
Assess for specific nutrients that facilitate thyroid health.
Assess for potential factors (lifestyle, toxins, medications, etc.) that inhibit thyroid.
Heal the gut! Over 70% of the immune system originates in the gut. Gut bacteria also assist in hormone conversion.
Determine the most appropriate replacement hormone based on the patient’s specific needs.
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