The Thyroid gland is a very important gland in the body that produces hormones. It plays many roles in the body including metabolism regulation, growth, and development.
The Thyroid gland produces 3 hormones. Triiodothyronine or T3, Thyroxine or T4, and Calcitonin.
T3 is the active thyroid hormone
T4 is the inactive thyroid hormone that is converted to T3
Calcitonin is involved in calcium and bone metabolism
Thyroid Disorders
Hypothyroidism
is due to a thyroid gland that is underactive and does not produce enough thyroid hormone. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, cold hands and feet, weight gain, high cholesterol, low blood pressure, decreased sweating, hair loss, body aches, heart palpitations, bone loss, constipation, low body temperature, difficulty losing weight, dry hair and skin, and brittle nails. Hypothyroidism can cause infertility in women and can also lead to emotional issues such as memory problems, depression, poor concentration, decreased libido, and sleep disturbances.
Hyperthyroidism
is due to a thyroid gland that is overactive and produces too much thyroid hormone. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include hot flashes, excessive sweating, heat intolerance, weight loss, rapid heartbeat, diarrhea, increased appetite, trembling hands, muscle weakness, hair loss, bulging eyes, and double vision. Hyperthyroidism can lead to light or absent menstrual cycles in women and can lead to emotional issues such as nervousness, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping.
Autoimmune Thyroid Conditions
occur when a person’s immune system attacks the thyroid and treats it as a foreign body. This attack on the thyroid can cause it to be underactive or overactive. It is believed that genetic susceptibility and environment play a role in developing autoimmune disease. When the autoimmune disease causes the thyroid to be underactive, this condition is called Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. When the autoimmune disease causes the thyroid to be overactive, this condition is called Graves Disease.
Thyroid disease management
At Southern Secrets Med Spa and Clinic, we approach management of thyroid conditions holistically to determine the root cause of the disease. A complete medical and social history is done to determine any contributing factors than can lead to thyroid dysfunction. A comprehensive bloodwork panel is done to determine Thyroid levels and identify other potential deficiencies that lead to thyroid dysfunction. We also assess for environmental sources of inflammation including diet and gut health.
Treatment
Treatment involves a multifaceted approach to achieve thyroid hormone optimization. Therapy can include Thyroid hormone replacement, dietary changes, as well as vitamin and mineral supplementation.
Reference
InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. In brief: How does the thyroid gland work? [Updated 2021 Jun 18]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279388/