Thyroid Disorders
What is the thyroid?
The Thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland that sits in the front of the neck. It produces and releases hormones that help regulate different bodily functions including - growth, development, temperature and energy production.
What does the thyroid do?
The Thyroid produces the hormone T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine) which are released into the blood to regulate the energy and activity levels of every cell in the body.
The thyroid is controlled by the hypothalamus and pituitary glands. They monitor how much thyroid hormone is in the bloodstream. If there is too much or too little, the pituitary glad adjust the amount of TSH (Thyroid stimulating hormone) that is released and this tells the thyroid what to do to bring the body back to balance.
Common thyroid problems
Hyperthyroidism - When the thyroid produces too much thyroid hormone and the body will use energy too quickly.
Hypothyroidism - Too little thyroid hormone is produced which causes energy production to slow down. This is the more common thyroid disorder.
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis - An autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the thyroid gland. This causes damage to the thyroid and reduces it’s ability to produce thyroid hormone.
Graves Disease - An autoimmune condition which results in the overproduction of thyroid hormone.
Signs and symptoms of thyroid dysfunction
Hypothyroidism:
Depression
Fatigue and muscle weakness
Poor concentration, brain fog, memory loss
Heavy periods, irregular periods
Dry coarse hair, skin and nails.
Cold intolerance
Poor circulation
Shortness of breath
Constipation or sluggish bowel
Weight gain or difficulty losing weight.
Hyperthyroidism:
Fatigue
Shortness of breath
Easy Bruising
Heat intolerance
Weight loss
Irregular periods
Restless, anxiety, irritability
Poor sleep
Increased bowel movements
Links between gut and thyroid
There are a number of ways in which the gut and thyroid are linked. The thyroid requires specific nutrients in order to produce thyroid hormone. If gut function is not optimal nutrients in food may not be absorbed well causing deficiencies and impaired thyroid function.
A compromised gut can also contribute to autoimmune conditions. The gut wall should act as a protective barrier between what is in the gut and what goes into the blood. When it is irritated and inflamed the walls become leaky allowing proteins to leach into the blood that shouldn’t be there. This can set off an immune response and over time create dis-regulation in the immune system.
Thyroid function can also impact gut health. The role of the thyroid is to regulate metabolism or the production of energy in the body. If too much thyroid hormone is released the body can speed up body functions which can speed up transit time and stimulate bowel movements. The opposite can also occur, when too little thyroid hormone is released the bowels can become slow and sluggish.
What to do if you suspect a thyroid problem?
The best thing to do is get your thyroid tested. Ideally, a Full Thyroid Panel - which includes TSH, T4,T3, rT3 as well as antibodies.
If you are presenting with any of the symptoms above your GP should be able to send to test your TSH. This is a good start however it doesn’t really tell us much about what your thyroid is doing. Unless your TSH falls outside the “normal” range, which is really wide, the GPs often can’t test further due to limitations with their regulating bodies.
This does not mean you should stop your journey here. If you still don’t feel right, seek help. A functional doctor or a naturopath like myself can send you for testing after a consultation. You do need to pay the pathology labs directly for the test which at the moment is around $180. It is an investment however, it can rule out or confirm if your thyroid is contributing to how you are feeling.
I chatted with Dorz Brown from Let’s Get Visible about her journey with her Hashimoto's diagnosis on her podcast recently. She was told time and time again she was “healthy” but her body was telling her otherwise. This led her to working with me and going down the path of testing her thyroid which helped her get her life back. You can listen to the podcast here.
How to support a healthy thyroid:
Eat a whole foods nutrient rich diet
Avoid processed sugary foods
Include exercise daily
Reduce stress
Priorities good sleep
Priorities rest and relaxation
For support related to your specific condition work with a practitioner. They can give you diet and lifestyle advise specific to you and your needs. A naturopath can also prescribe specific nutrients and herbal medicine to help support your body and bring it back to balance.
