Did you know that thyroid disease affects one in five women and one in ten men? (Yes, it can occur in men.) But 50% of people with thyroid disease go undiagnosed. Wow! And your thyroid is key to your body and mind – your health. It affects so much. Yes, your weight and energy levels plus even more.
So what exactly is your thyroid?
The thyroid is a small gland located in your neck and is part of your endocrine or hormonal system. Shaped like a butterfly, it produces two major hormones — T3 and T4.
T3 is the active version which sends messages to your DNA to ramp up your metabolism. T3 is so important in making every cell in your body work at the proper speed. It lowers your cholesterol, improves memory, helps with weight, promotes regrowth of hair, relieves muscle aches and constipation, and affects fertility. Only 7 % of your thyroid hormone is T3.
T4, the second major hormone, is the inactive form of your thyroid hormone. If your body is functioning properly, then T4 is converted into T3. About 93% of your thyroid hormone is this form.
What does the thyroid do?
The main role is metabolism which affects almost every function of your body – every cell. So many symptoms can occur then, if it’s not functioning optimally. If you have too little T3 or it’s not converted into T4, then your metabolism doesn’t get the proper signal which affects the mitochondria in your cells so you gain weight, have problems with insulin and sugar metabolism so trouble losing weight, have brain fog, fatigue/sluggishness, low-grade depression, hoarseness, low body temp so you’re cold all the time, low blood pressure, body pains, dry itchy skin, high cholesterol, fluid retention, hair loss, and constipation (just to name a few).
You can be hypothyroid which is when your body doesn’t have enough of the thyroid hormones or hyperthyroid which is too much. Both are problematic. Hashimoto’s Disease is one common cause of hypothyroidism. If you’re hyperthyroid, you may experience heart palpitations, rapid heart rate, weight loss when not even trying or trouble gaining weight, eye problems, nervousness and irritability, increased anxiety, feel hot and sweat often, sleep disorders, and possibly hand tremors. Graves’ Disease is an autoimmune disorder that is a common cause of hyperthyroidism.
Many cases of premature aging are due to poor thyroid functioning.
What can you do to help?
The first step is to get your labs checked. And not just the TSH (which is what most conventional doctors order). Ask for a complete thyroid panel because you want to know your Free T3, Free T4, and Reverse T3 plus thyroid antibodies (TPOab and TgAB). I have a FREE thyroid symptoms and labs checklist for you to talk to your doctor about. Click here to request it for free.
One other note: your doctor may say it all looks good according to the standard levels. I heard that for years but still didn’t feel well plus I miscarried three babies which is one thing that can happen due to hypothyroidism. Optimal ranges are very different than standard. More than 10% of the total population and 20% of women over 60 have subclinical hypothyroidism which means you don’t have symptoms and only slightly “abnormal” tests which are often overlooked by doctors and medical practitioners. So be aware.
Other things that may affect how well your thyroid works include:
- Gender
- Age
- Genetics
- Diet
- Environment
- Sleep
- Stress
- Medications
Regarding diet, some foods may trigger your symptoms and if you continue to eat them, your inflammation increases. This could be in certain categories (like gluten) or even general things like processed foods. Nutrient deficiencies may also set you up for thyroid dysfunction (Vitamin D deficiency is one that can occur if you have thyroid issues.) Now this doesn’t happen overnight; however, after years of unhealthy eating, your body may start showing symptoms because you cannot fool your body forever.
And if you need to take thyroid medication, which some do need, while others can reduce or eliminate after following certain diet and lifestyle modifications. But always talk and work with your own doctor on this. Never take yourself off your thyroid medication.
If you are taking thyroid medications, here are some things you may not know:
*Don’t take them with food. You need to take them on an empty stomach and not within one hour of a meal. This includes coffee! Why? Caffeine stimulates transit time in your gut and affects absorption of your medication. So take your medication the same time each day, and set a timer for 60 minutes so you know not to eat or drink anything other than water during that time.
*Medications – Certain antibiotics like Cipro, or antidepressants like Prozac, or even antacids like Tums or Mylanta, and PPIs like Prilosec may interact with your thyroid meds. So be sure you ask your doctor if the additional medications will affect the effectiveness of your thyroid medication and how/when you should take them.
*Vitamins and supplements – Some may affect your thyroid medications such as iron, calcium, and magnesium up to 4 hours afterwards. So don’t take these within that time frame.
*Brands – Various brands may affect how your body absorbs the medication. Some are made with fillers and additives including lactose, corn, and peanut oil. If you react to these, then that may be causing additional inflammation (which you don’t want). About 6 months ago, I did research and found out my thyroid medication had lactose in it so we had to change that. Now my doctor knew I was lactose intolerant. But all medical practitioners are busy and don’t have time to keep up with fillers and additives. Plus, some companies change their ingredients. So you need to be your own health advocate and learn about you and what you put into your body. Even if you use a compounding pharmacy (which I’ve had to use), be sure to tell them if you have allergies or sensitivities.
Action Step for Today:
Get your thyroid levels checked. You can click here to access my free thyroid lab checklist to help you when you talk to your doctor.
And as Jim Rohn said, “Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.” So learn what you can and stick up for yourself and your health. One step at a time.
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I am a national board certified health and wellness coach who works primarily with women who are having fatigue, brain fog, hormonal issues, pain, mood issues, and trouble keeping the weight off. I will be happy to work with you in collaboration with your medical practitioner. It is a team effort to help you achieve your optimal goals. And many of my clients have autoimmune issues including thyroid issues as I personally do. Contact me here for a free 20-minute discovery call to see how we could work together. — Leah Cheshire, MCD, CCC-SLP, NBC-HWC
