The thyroid is a small organ, but it plays an important role in the body, just like the commander of hormones. It is responsible for secreting various hormones, managing our metabolism and regulating cholesterol. It is simply the "King of Hormones"! Not only that, it is also known as the "master of metabolism" [ 1-2 ], because it controls our energy intake, helps us maintain appropriate body temperature, and allows muscles to function normally.
How does the thyroid do this? It secretes various important hormones that help us use energy effectively, making us full of motivation, physical strength, and emotional stability. They are like the body's engine, keeping our metabolism running smoothly. 【 3 】
But when there is a problem with the thyroid gland, we may suffer from thyroid dysfunction. Sometimes when the thyroid function is low, our metabolic rate will be reduced, we will feel tired, gain weight, have muscle weakness, cannot even concentrate, and may even have symptoms such as dry skin and a feeling of coldness. On the other hand, hyperthyroidism increases the metabolic rate, making us anxious, our heart beats faster, we lose weight, our hands tremble, and we may also suffer from insomnia and excessive sweating!
Faced with these problems, Western medicine often treats symptoms, such as giving antithyroid drugs, radioactive iodine, or performing surgery to regulate thyroid hormone production. If the thyroid gland does not produce an adequate amount of hormone, replacement therapy is often used.
Don’t rush to say you are old yet! Although age may have some impact on metabolism, thyroid dysfunction is not just age-related. We can look at these uncomfortable feelings from a daily perspective and explore possible causes and triggers.
When blood and machine test results are normal but you still feel unwell, it may be due to a thyroid imbalance
After all, going from health to illness never happens overnight. There is a process in the middle that we call " dysfunction ." At this time, we can explore it in the following directions :
- A dark cloud hanging over the whole person : Chronic stress and an imbalance of adrenal hormones (such as cortisol) may affect thyroid function. Stress management is important in supporting overall thyroid function.
- Can't SAY NO to sweets: High-sugar diet causes blood sugar to rise rapidly and stimulates the rapid release of insulin. This may interfere with the body's utilization and conversion of thyroid hormones, thereby affecting the normal metabolism and balance of thyroid hormones.
- Picky eaters and eaters : Deficiency of certain nutrients, such as iodine, selenium and vitamin D, may affect thyroid function. It is important to eat a balanced diet to ensure you are getting enough of these nutrients.
- Endocrine Disruptors Exposure to environmental toxins such as heavy metals and endocrine disrupting substances may lead to thyroid dysfunction. May appear in the following products: genetically modified foods, pesticides in fruits and vegetables, BPA (found in plastics)
- Flatulence and constipation : Unhealthy intestines may manifest as an imbalance of intestinal bacteria. Supporting gut health by eating a balanced diet and addressing digestive issues may help with thyroid function.
- Immune attacks your own body randomly : Autoimmune thyroid diseases, such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease, are the most common causes of thyroid imbalance. The immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland.
- More than 12% of the U.S. population will suffer from thyroid dysfunction during their lifetime
- An estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease
- Up to 60% of people with thyroid disease are unaware of their disease
American Thyroid Association®
Symptoms of thyroid imbalance are so diverse that they can easily be overlooked. It is easy for ordinary people to go to the cardiology department because of chest tightness and palpitations, long-term stress, anxiety or insomnia to go to the psychosomatic department, and constant diarrhea to go to the gastroenterology department. In the end, only part of the symptoms are resolved. Functional medicine uses scientific testing plus lifestyle to find the underlying causes of thyroid imbalance and address these issues, not just improve symptoms. Looking at the individual as a whole and formulating an execution-friendly plan is more likely to produce long-term results. This method includes diet, stress, lifestyle adjustments, supplementing nutrients to activate the body's self-healing ability, etc.
It is important to emphasize that a functional medicine approach is not necessarily mutually exclusive with Western medicine, but rather complements and extends Western medical perspectives. Within the framework of functional medicine, various factors are considered comprehensively and patient-centered, with the goal of improving overall health and the body's self-healing.
You might want to ask yourself, when did you first start to feel that you had a thyroid disorder? Did you notice anything happening before these symptoms appeared? Maybe it's a sudden life event, such as changes in interpersonal relationships, work pressure, exam pressure, or changes in diet, etc. These major events may be able to find some clues for us and unlock the secrets of the body !
" Thyroid Rescue: Recover the energy master and regain the vitality of life! "
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references :
- American Thyroid Association. Thyroid blood tests and general well-being, mood and brain function. Available at: articulo . Last accessed January 2017
- 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
- 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
