Thyroid
The thyroid is really a little gland that lies in the neck concerning the amount of the Adam’s apple and weighs approximately a single ounce. It produces thyroid hormone and calcitonin. The parathyroid glands are extremely small and lie on the outside portion from the thyroid gland and secrete parathyroid hormone. We are going to be focusing on thyroid hormone.
The thyroid gland is stimulated to create thyroid hormone by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) which is made inside the pituitary gland positioned within the brain. The pituitary is controlled by the hypothalamus within the brain which monitors the quantity of circulating thyroid hormone. Iodine must enter the thyroid gland through a transport program which is repaired with all the intake of vitamin C. There is generally about 20-30 mg of iodine inside the physique and 75 % of it’s stored in the thyroid. Furthermore to iodine, magnesium, zinc, copper, and vitamins B2, B3, and B6 are necessary for thyroid hormone production.
The thyroid gland produces two thyroid hormones: T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine). Ninety-five % of thyroid hormone made is T4 and 5 percent is T3. T3 will be the active form of thyroid hormone which can be made as a result of one iodine being cleaved from T4. T4 is inactive so the majority of thyroid hormone produced is really inactive. The numbers “3” and “4” indicate the amount of iodines. This can be crucial in understanding optimal thyroid function. Each T4 and T3 are bound to proteins in the blood until they reach your cells and grow to be unbound to work their magic on metabolism.
The majority of the T4 is converted into T3 within the liver. Roughly sixty percent from the T4 is converted into T3, twenty percent is converted into an inactive kind of thyroid hormone recognized as reverse T3 (irreversible), and also the remaining twenty % is converted into T3S (T3 sulfate) and T3AC (triiodothyroacetic acid).
Reverse T3 can be problematic; even though it’s inactive, it’s going to nonetheless bind to T3 receptors and block T3 from binding and operating its magic on metabolism. Too much or as well small cortisol that’s created by the adrenal glands will increase circulating levels of reverse T3. This mechanism is as a result of suppressed liver detoxification and clearance of reverse T3 from excess cortisol production. Tension can not just result in indicators of hypothyroidism nevertheless it will also impair the liver’s ability to detoxify. Cortisol will also suppress TSH production resulting in low thyroid function. Immune method activation, high adrenaline, excess free of charge radicals, aging, fasting, anxiety, prolonged illness, and diabetes may also drive the inactivation of T3 to reverse T3.
T3 and reverse T3 also can be inactivated by conversion into a hormone known as T2. Elevated insulin levels due to a diet high in refined carbohydrates may also improve reverse T3 levels. Toxic metals such as mercury, cadmium and lead will also increase reverse T3 production. T3S and T3AC are inactive till they may be catalyzed by an enzyme inside the GI tract known as sulfatase. This enzyme is dependent on wholesome gut bacteria. We’ll talk about in a later chapter the significance of a healthful digestive tract since it relates to twenty % of active thyroid hormone.
Thyroid hormone’s main function is to manage metabolism (power production) inside the cell. Our cells contain tiny factories called mitochondria that generate power from fat, sugar and protein. Thyroid hormone controls the function in the mitochondria which determines how much power is created. Symptoms of low thyroid function are related to a reduce in power production which includes:
Fatigue
Weight gain/inability to shed weight
Constipation
Dry/itchy skin
Dry brittle hair and nails
Depression
Headaches
Overly sensitive to cold
Cold/numb hands and feet
Muscle cramps
Depressed immune system-can’t recover from infections
Slow wound healing
Unrefreshing sleep
Digestive problems as a result of low stomach acid
Hair falls out
Water retention
Lateral third of eyebrow thinning
TSH
Conventional medicine relies primarily around the TSH or thyroid-stimulating hormone blood test to measure thyroid function. TSH is not a thyroid hormone. TSH is created by the pituitary depending on how much thyroid hormone is circulating in the bloodstream. As thyroid hormone levels drop, TSH production will boost to stimulate the thyroid to create a lot more hormone. If thyroid hormone increases, then TSH production will reduce since the thyroid is producing a lot of hormone. The TSH alone is not adequate to assess thyroid function simply because it does not take into consideration the conversion of thyroid hormone into its active kind which occurs inside the liver, kidneys and lungs. The TSH test also doesn’t take into account thyroid hormone receptor resistance. Thyroid hormone receptors can grow to be resistant to thyroid hormone as a result of thyroid-disrupting chemical exposure leading to regular blood tests but improvement of low thyroid symptoms. Cortisol made throughout tension by the adrenal gland can also inhibit TSH production additional throwing off the accuracy of the test. In the event the TSH is elevated, the conventional doctor will prescribe synthetic T4 and this will generally minimize TSH in to the “normal” range. This strategy does not take into account peripheral thyroid hormone conversion or receptor binding. When the body is compromised in its capability to activate thyroid hormone into T3, then taking T4 will outcome within a failure of remedy. If the adrenal glands are out of balance, then probably thyroid hormone function will also be out of balance. Additionally, if thyroid hormone receptors are desensitized, this strategy will fail too.
You are going to find that most healthcare physicians do not invest a lot time reading the peer-reviewed health-related literature which provides us with useful data on TSH levels. A superb study was published by Obal and Krueger (2001)on sleep deprivation and thyroid hormone production. The researchers concluded: “When sleep deprivation is maintained for weeks, the plasma concentrations of T4 and specifically T3 decline but TSH remains typical.”6 Do physicians ask you about your sleep patterns? Perhaps this could be the purpose for the abnormal TSH. I have noticed several patients who also endure from insomnia and sleep problems and present with low thyroid symptoms and abnormal TSH levels. Does this imply they must have thyroid hormone dumped into their bodies? Sadly, this occurs to a lot of people. I always take into account each patient’s sleep pattern and correct it as part of our treatment program. Numerous times, sleep patterns are abnormal because of blood sugar and adrenal gland imbalances. Keep in mind, you’re not a lab test but a beautiful, complex becoming where everything is connected as 1.
Testing & Diagnosis
Blood tests alone cannot always adequately diagnose thyroid hormone imbalance. It is estimated that about forty % in the U.S. population suffers from some kind of thyroid imbalance as opposed to the current standard figure of ten %. This really is as a result of the inadequacies in the TSH test. Additionally to blood testing, I review a thorough case history and a variety of detailed health questionnaires and also perform a comprehensive physical examination for clues to thyroid hormone imbalance. Basal physique temperature testing is used by several practitioners to evaluate thyroid function but this will not solely indicate a thyroid imbalance. There are several other factors that can cause a low basal body temperature such as adrenal fatigue, leaky gut, impaired liver detoxification and malnutrition. I use the basal body temperature simply as one more diagnostic tool to evaluate the overall picture of a patient. Another sign that may indicate low thyroid function is thinning of the lateral one-third in the eyebrow.
The following thyroid tests can provide much more information about your thyroid. Use this as a guide when you get the results of your blood tests:
TSH (Thyrotropin) – Thyroid-stimulating hormone is produced by the pituitary to stimulate the thyroid to create hormone. The ideal range is 1.8-3.0. Standard medicine uses a significantly broader variety of 0.5-5.5. This range misses numerous hypothyroid sufferers such as those with a TSH between three.0-5.5.
Total Thyroxine (T4) – This test measures the quantity of T4 (thyroxine) which is both bound to protein and Ipotiroidismo sintomi unbound.
Free Thyroxine Index – This really is calculated by multiplying the TT4 by the T3 uptake. The result gives you the quantity of unbound T4 or Free of charge T4.
Free Thyroxine (Totally free T4) – This measures the level of unbound or totally free T4 that is the most active form. Free of charge T4 just isn’t affected by medications or other factors that affect protein bound thyroxine (TT4).
T3 Uptake – A measurement from the amount of available binding sites for free T3 on thyroxine-binding proteins. Elevated testosterone will reduce the amount of binding sites and cause a low T4 and high T3 uptake. Excess estrogen from hormone replacement or birth manage pills will increase binding sites and can cause high T4 and low T3 uptake.
Free of charge Triiodothyronine (Totally free T3) – This really is a measure of free T3 levels or unbound T3. This can be the best test if your natural doctor wants to see the quantity of available active thyroid hormone in the bloodstream.
Reverse T3 (rT3) – This really is a measurement in the amount of T3 that has been inactivated.
Thyroid Antibodies – Thyroid peroxidase, thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin and antithyroglobulin elevations indicate autoimmune thyroid disease such as Hashimoto’s or Graves’ disease. Thyroglobulin and calcitonin are primarily used within the diagnosis of more serious thyroid diseases such as cancer.
Prescription Medications
Prescription medications don’t take into account underlying physiological imbalances and may lead to dependence on the medication. The following drugs are prescribed by physicians to treat the thyroid:
Synthroid – Synthetic thyroxine (T4). Synthroid may be the most popular prescription drug for hypothyroidism. Synthroid is within the top five most commonly prescribed drugs in the US. Synthroid can be converted incorrectly into inactive reverse T3 resulting in no symptom improvement. Synthroid depletes calcium for bones and may not provide improvement for sufferers who have compromised conversion pathways of T4 into T3 or any of the other imbalances described in this book.
Levoxyl – Synthetic thyroxine (T4).
Levothroid – Synthetic thyroxine (T4).
Levothyroxine – Synthetic thyroxine (T4).
Thyrolar – Synthetic T4 and T3.
Cytomel – Synthetic T3. Several side effects such as hyperthyroid symptoms.
Armour Thyroid, Nature Thyroid, Westhroid – Natural thyroid hormone from desiccated pig thyroid tissue. Contains approximately 38 micrograms/grain of T4 and 9 micrograms of T3/grain too as other cofactors for thyroid hormone production. Nature Thyroid is a better choice than Armour simply because it doesn’t contain corn and other binders.
Many alternative-minded health-related doctors prescribe Armour and other natural desiccated pig thyroid tissue. This is a better option in some cases than merely prescribing synthetic T4 (Synthroid) since these natural agents also contain T3. The problem with Armour is that it contains corn and other fillers which may be a problem for those with specific sensitivities. Nature Thyroid may be the best choice since it doesn’t include corn or fillers. But the author does not agree with this remedy method since despite the fact that it’s a better option, it nevertheless does not take into account the underlying causes of why the thyroid is out of balance within the first place. These natural prescriptions nevertheless only replace thyroid hormone and require dependence on the doctor for continued prescriptions and office visits. I’ve noticed many, many individuals who are on such natural prescriptions who nonetheless have many symptoms and have been taking the prescription for a long period of time. Even if someone responds to a prescription such as Armour thyroid, she should be rigorously evaluated for underlying physiological imbalances.
Another issue with such therapy methods is suppression of hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid feedback mechanisms. Whenever you take a hormone that is produced within the physique, this tells the brain that it no longer needs to stimulate hormone production since it is constantly becoming ingested. When male bodybuilders take testosterone, their testicles shrink since there’s no longer a need for them to make testosterone. Taking thyroid hormone for long periods of time will suppress natural production which may or may not return after discontinuing the medication. It is strongly encouraged that you do everything possible to normalize thyroid function before going on medication of any kind. Americans typically want a quick fix, a magic pill that will instantly give relief. Lots of people get this instant relief from medication but the long-term effects of dependency and suppression of natural hormone production may not be worth it. Sufferers who have had their thyroid removed or partially removed may require prescription thyroid hormone. If the gland is not present then thyroid hormone must be replaced. In this case, prescriptions such as Armour and Nature Thyroid are the better choice.
Conversion of T4 into T3
T3 is much much more active than T4 and is responsible for most of the actions of thyroid hormone around the cell. Some individuals cannot convert T4 into T3 as efficiently as others. Furthermore, there are numerous factors that could possibly be inhibiting this process.
Selenium, antioxidants, iron, magnesium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B6 and B12 deficiencies can lead to poor conversion. The medications listed above affect thyroid hormone conversion too as production and receptor binding. As folks get older, they shed their capability to convert thyroid hormone which may be as a result of decreased vitamin and mineral absorption. This is due to a loss of intestinal barrier function exactly where all of your nutrition is absorbed. This barrier loses its function as we age so supplementation is absolutely necessary. Excess estrogen from xenoestrogens within the environment, birth manage pills and hormone replacement can lead to low thyroid symptoms. Estrogen increases the protein that binds to thyroid hormone leaving excess thyroid hormone bound to protein which is inactive till it becomes unbound. Cortisol produced by the adrenal gland is a major factor in converting thyroid hormone. As well a lot cortisol can inhibit the activation of thyroid hormone and too tiny cortisol yields the same result. Exhausted adrenals will cause low thyroid symptoms due to the lack of cortisol production. Insulin is really a hormone released by the pancreas to handle blood sugar elevations after consumption of carbohydrates and can inhibit hormone conversion too. Soy products have been shown to inhibit the conversion of thyroid hormone. This only goes for soy products that are non-fermented. Fermented soy products such as miso and tempeh are okay.
Vitamin C has been shown to enhance the conversion of thyroid hormone. Radiation, chemotherapy, growth hormone deficiency, and cigarette smoke have also been shown to decrease thyroid hormone conversion.