What does the thyroid do? The body signals of thyroid dysfunction

The thyroid is a small organ, yet it plays an important role in the body — rather like the conductor of our hormones. It secretes a range of hormones, governs our metabolism and regulates cholesterol: truly the king of hormones. More than that, it has been called the master of metabolism [1-2], because it controls how we take in energy, helps us hold a proper body temperature, and keeps our muscles working normally.

How does the thyroid manage all this? It secretes a range of important hormones that help us use energy efficiently, keeping us motivated, physically capable and emotionally steady. They are the body's engine, keeping metabolism running smoothly. [3]

When something goes wrong with the thyroid, however, we can run into the trouble of thyroid dysfunction. Sometimes thyroid function is low, our metabolic rate falls, and we feel exhausted, gain weight, lose muscle strength, cannot concentrate, and may even experience dry skin and feeling cold. On the other hand, when thyroid function is overactive, metabolism speeds up, leaving us anxious and restless, with a racing heart, weight loss, trembling hands, and possibly insomnia and relentless sweating.

Faced with these problems, Western medicine usually treats the symptoms — prescribing antithyroid drugs, radioactive iodine, or surgery to regulate thyroid hormone production. Where the gland is not producing enough hormone, replacement therapy is generally used.

Do not be too quick to put it down to age. While age may have some effect on metabolism, thyroid dysfunction is by no means only about getting older. We can look at these uncomfortable feelings from the perspective of daily life and explore the possible causes and triggers.

When blood work and imaging come back normal but your body still feels wrong, thyroid dysfunction may be the reason

After all, going from healthy to ill never happens overnight. There is a process in between that we call "dysfunction", and at that point these are the directions worth exploring:

1. Everything feels overcast: long-term stress and an imbalance in adrenal hormones such as cortisol can affect thyroid function. Stress management matters a great deal in supporting the thyroid overall.
2. Unable to say no to sweet things: a high-sugar diet causes blood sugar to spike, prompting a rapid release of insulin. This can interfere with how the body uses and converts thyroid hormone, affecting its normal metabolism and balance.
3. Fussy eaters and people who eat out a lot: shortfalls in certain nutrients — iodine, selenium and vitamin D among them — can affect thyroid function. A balanced diet that ensures enough of these nutrients is very important.
4. Endocrine disruptors Exposure to environmental toxins such as heavy metals and endocrine-disrupting substances can cause thyroid dysfunction. They may be present in genetically modified foods, pesticides on fruit and vegetables, and BPA (found in plastics).
5. Bloating and constipation: poor gut health can show up as an imbalance in gut bacteria. Supporting gut health through a balanced diet and by addressing digestive problems may help thyroid function.
6. An immune system attacking its own body: autoimmune thyroid conditions such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease are the most common cause of thyroid imbalance, with the immune system mistakenly attacking the thyroid gland.

• More than 12% of the US population will be affected by thyroid dysfunction at some point in their lives
• An estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease
• Up to 60% of people with thyroid disease are completely unaware of it

American Thyroid Association®

The symptoms of thyroid imbalance are extremely varied, which makes them easy to overlook. People commonly see a cardiologist for chest tightness and palpitations, a psychiatrist for long-standing tension, anxiety or insomnia, and a gastroenterologist for persistent diarrhea — and end up resolving only part of the picture. Functional medicine uses scientific testing together with lifestyle to find the root cause beneath the surface of thyroid imbalance and address it, rather than simply improving symptoms. Looking at the individual as a whole and building a plan that is realistic to follow is far more likely to produce lasting results. The approach includes diet, stress and lifestyle adjustment, and nutritional support to activate the body's own capacity to heal.

It is worth stressing that the functional medicine approach is not necessarily at odds with Western medicine; it complements and extends it. Within the functional medicine framework, a wide range of factors is considered, the patient is at the center, and the goal is to improve health overall and support the body's own repair.

You might ask yourself when you first started feeling that something was wrong with your thyroid. Did you notice anything happening before those symptoms appeared? Perhaps a sudden life event — a change in a relationship, pressure at work, the stress of an exam, or a change in diet. Those significant events may give us the clues we need to unlock the body's secrets!

"Thyroid rescue: take back control of your energy and bring life back to life!"

From YOUNGER users:

• Jill, project manager: There is someone here just like you (jillbopleek.wixsite.com)

References:

1. American Thyroid Association. Thyroid blood tests and general well-being, mood and brain function. Available at: articulo. Last accessed January 2017
2. Europan Thyroid Association. Thyroid blood tests and general well-being, mood and brain function. Available at: http://www.thyroid.org/patient-thyroid-information/ct-for-patients/august-2016/vol-9-issue-8-p-8-9/. Last accessed January 2017
3. Chicago Thyroid Association. Thyroid blood tests and general well-being, mood and brain function. Available at: http://www.thyroid.org/patient-thyroid-information/ct-for-patients/august-2016/vol-9-issue-8-p-8-9/. Last accessed January 2017