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Thyroid Disorders: The Highs and Lows

Do you ever find yourself struggling to lose weight or losing weight without trying, your hair falling out or it’s fine and brittle, your skin dry or thinning, or even an increased sensitivity to heat or cold? You may be suffering from a thyroid disorder such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.

Understanding the Thyroid Gland

Your thyroid gland is a vital part of your body’s endocrine system as it produces the hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) which help regulate such things as heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and brain development. Since the thyroid gland plays such a vital role in keeping our internal organs and systems regulated and functioning properly, it is important that we monitor our T3 and T4 by keeping them within their optimal levels to ensure our overall health.

Hypothyroidism vs. Hyperthyroidism

Now that we have a better understanding of how the thyroid gland, T3, and T4 play pivotal roles in our body, we can explore two of the most common disorders that can affect the thyroid gland and its production of T3 and T4 hormones, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism, as the name implies, is when the thyroid gland is running below efficiency and thus is not producing the proper amount of T3 and/or T4 hormones. Hyperthyroidism on the other hand, is when the thyroid gland is running above efficiency and is producing too much T3 and/or T4 hormones than the body needs. The symptoms for hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are listed below.

Hypothyroidism

  • Fatigue
  • Weight gain
  • Increased blood cholesterol level
  • Increased sensitivity to cold
  • Constipation
  • Dry skin
  • Puffy face
  • Hoarseness
  • Muscle weakness, aches, tenderness, and stiffness
  • Joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
  • Irregular menstrual periods or amenorrhea
  • Dry hair or hair loss

Hyperthyroidism

  • Swollen thyroid gland
  • Prominent eyes
  • Increased metabolic rate, a condition termed as hypermetabolic state
  • Irregular or rapid heartbeat
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Shaking hands
  • Increased sweating
  • Hot flashes Irritability and restlessness
  • Increased bowel movement
  • Weight loss
  • Weakness
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Brittle hair
  • Hair loss
  • Nausea and/or vomiting
  • Irregular menstrual cycles or amenorrhea in women
  • Breast development in men

As with any symptoms or medical condition, it is important to always speak with a healthcare professional that can further evaluate and properly diagnose your condition(s) and work with you on a treatment plan that is personalized towards you to get your thyroid gland back to its optimal levels.

Causes

When it comes to finding the root cause of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The cause can range from anything such as a birth defect, family history, a thyroid tumor, your gender, and even Lyme disease. Other factors such as nutrient deficiencies, gut health issues, autoimmune conditions, chronic stress, environmental toxins, and even hormonal imbalances can all play a factor in how your thyroid gland functions.

Conclusion

Due to the complexity of the thyroid gland and the disorders that may affect it from functioning properly, it is important that you meet with a qualified healthcare professional, such as Dr. Robin Ridinger of Premier Health and Holistic Medicine. With over 30 years as a board-certified physician, Dr. Ridinger puts precedence on her patients’ health and wellbeing above all else. Dr. Ridinger takes a functional medicine approach that consists of comprehensive testing, dietary modifications, stress management, gut healing strategies, nutritional supplementation, and addressing underlying causes, all while specializing the treatment plan to you. Call or visit our website today to schedule an appointment!

Phone #: (703) 857-4280
Website: https://www.premierhealthandholisticmedicine.com/contact/