Thyroid
The thyroid is really a tiny gland that lies inside the neck concerning the level of the Adam’s apple and weighs around a single ounce. It produces thyroid hormone and calcitonin. The parathyroid glands are extremely tiny and lie around 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) that is created within the pituitary gland situated inside the brain. The pituitary is controlled by the hypothalamus in the brain which monitors the level of circulating thyroid hormone. Iodine need to enter the thyroid gland through a transport program that’s repaired using the intake of vitamin C. There is certainly generally about 20-30 mg of iodine inside the physique and 75 percent of it really is stored in the thyroid. In addition to iodine, magnesium, zinc, copper, and vitamins B2, B3, and B6 are needed for thyroid hormone production.
The thyroid gland produces two thyroid hormones: T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine). Ninety-five percent of thyroid hormone made is T4 and five percent is T3. T3 will be the active form of thyroid hormone which can be created because of 1 iodine getting cleaved from T4. T4 is inactive so the majority of thyroid hormone created is actually inactive. The numbers “3” and “4” indicate the number of iodines. This really is important in understanding optimal thyroid function. Each T4 and T3 are bound to proteins inside the blood till they reach your cells and grow to be unbound to work their magic on metabolism.
Most of the T4 is converted into T3 inside the liver. Around sixty % of the T4 is converted into T3, twenty % is converted into an inactive type 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 may be problematic; although it really is inactive, it’s going to still bind to T3 receptors and block T3 from binding and functioning its magic on metabolism. As well a lot or also tiny cortisol that is created by the adrenal glands will improve circulating levels of reverse T3. This mechanism is because of suppressed liver detoxification and clearance of reverse T3 from excess cortisol production. Anxiety can not just cause indicators of hypothyroidism nevertheless it may also impair the liver’s ability to detoxify. Cortisol will also suppress TSH production resulting in low thyroid function. Immune program activation, high adrenaline, excess free of charge radicals, aging, fasting, stress, prolonged illness, and diabetes may also drive the inactivation of T3 to reverse T3.
T3 and reverse T3 may also be inactivated by conversion into a hormone identified as T2. Elevated insulin levels due to a diet program high in refined carbohydrates will also boost reverse T3 levels. Toxic metals including mercury, cadmium and lead may also improve reverse T3 production. T3S and T3AC are inactive until they are catalyzed by an enzyme within the GI tract identified as sulfatase. This enzyme is dependent on healthy gut bacteria. We are going to talk about within a later chapter the importance of a healthful digestive tract as it relates to twenty percent of active thyroid hormone.
Thyroid hormone’s main role is always to control metabolism (power production) inside the cell. Our cells contain tiny factories known as mitochondria that produce power from fat, sugar and protein. Thyroid hormone controls the function in the mitochondria which determines just how much energy is produced. Symptoms of low thyroid function are connected to a lower in energy production which includes:
Fatigue
Weight gain/inability to lose 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 mostly on the TSH or thyroid-stimulating hormone blood test to measure thyroid function. TSH is not a thyroid hormone. TSH is produced by the pituitary according to just how much thyroid hormone is circulating within the bloodstream. As thyroid hormone levels drop, TSH production will improve to stimulate the thyroid to make a lot more hormone. If thyroid hormone increases, then TSH production will lower because the thyroid is creating lots of hormone. The TSH alone just isn’t sufficient to assess thyroid function simply because it doesn’t take into consideration the conversion of thyroid hormone into its active type which happens in the liver, kidneys and lungs. The TSH test also does not 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 major to normal blood tests but improvement of low thyroid symptoms. Cortisol made throughout anxiety by the adrenal gland can also inhibit TSH production further throwing off the accuracy in the test. When the TSH is elevated, the traditional physician will prescribe synthetic T4 and this will typically decrease TSH into the “normal” range. This strategy will not take into account peripheral thyroid hormone conversion or receptor binding. In the event the body is compromised in its ability to activate thyroid hormone into T3, then taking T4 will outcome within a failure of treatment. When 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 approach will fail also.
You are going to discover that most health-related physicians usually do not invest much time reading the peer-reviewed healthcare literature which provides us with useful data on TSH levels. An excellent 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 especially T3 decline but TSH remains normal.”6 Do physicians ask you about your sleep patterns? Possibly this could be the purpose for the abnormal TSH. I’ve seen many individuals 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? Unfortunately, this takes place to lots of people. I always take into account each patient’s sleep pattern and appropriate it as a part of our therapy strategy. Many occasions, sleep patterns are abnormal as a result of blood sugar and adrenal gland imbalances. Keep in mind, you’re not a lab test but a stunning, complicated getting where everything is connected as 1.
Testing & Diagnosis
Blood tests alone cannot usually adequately diagnose thyroid hormone imbalance. It really is estimated that about forty percent in the U.S. population suffers from some kind of thyroid imbalance as opposed to the current standard figure of ten %. This is as a result of the inadequacies from the TSH test. Furthermore 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 numerous practitioners to evaluate thyroid function but this does not solely indicate a thyroid imbalance. There are several other factors that can trigger a low basal physique temperature such as adrenal fatigue, leaky gut, impaired liver detoxification and malnutrition. I use the basal body temperature simply as one a lot 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 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 made by the pituitary to stimulate the thyroid to make hormone. The ideal range is 1.8-3.0. Conventional medicine uses a much broader variety of 0.5-5.5. This variety misses numerous hypothyroid sufferers such as those with a TSH between 3.0-5.5.
Total Thyroxine (T4) – This test measures the quantity of T4 (thyroxine) that is both bound to protein and unbound.
Totally free Thyroxine Index – This is calculated by multiplying the TT4 by the T3 uptake. The outcome gives you the quantity of unbound T4 or Totally free T4.
Free of charge Thyroxine (Free of charge T4) – This measures the amount of unbound or totally free T4 which can be the most active type. Free T4 just isn’t affected by medications or other factors that affect protein bound thyroxine (TT4).
T3 Uptake – A measurement of the amount of available binding sites for free of charge T3 on thyroxine-binding proteins. Elevated testosterone will minimize the amount of binding sites and trigger a low T4 and high T3 uptake. Excess estrogen from hormone replacement or birth handle pills will increase binding sites and can result in high T4 and low T3 uptake.
Free of charge Triiodothyronine (Totally free T3) – This can be a measure of totally free T3 levels or unbound T3. This can be the best test if your natural physician wants to see the quantity of available active thyroid hormone inside the bloodstream.
Reverse T3 (rT3) – This is a measurement from the quantity of T3 that has been inactivated.
Thyroid Antibodies – Thyroid peroxidase, thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin and antithyroglobulin elevations indicate Ipotiroidismo autoimmune thyroid disease such as Hashimoto’s or Graves’ disease. Thyroglobulin and calcitonin are mainly used in 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 will be the most popular prescription drug for hypothyroidism. Synthroid is within the top 5 most commonly prescribed drugs inside 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. Many side effects which includes hyperthyroid symptoms.
Armour Thyroid, Nature Thyroid, Westhroid – Natural thyroid hormone from desiccated pig thyroid tissue. Contains roughly 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 since it will not include corn and other binders.
Several alternative-minded medical doctors prescribe Armour and other natural desiccated pig thyroid tissue. This is a better option in some cases than merely prescribing synthetic T4 (Synthroid) simply because these natural agents also contain T3. The problem with Armour is that it contains corn and other fillers which could be a problem for those with specific sensitivities. Nature Thyroid is the best choice because it doesn’t include corn or fillers. But the author will not agree with this treatment method because although it’s a better option, it still doesn’t take into account the underlying causes of why the thyroid is out of balance within the first place. These natural prescriptions nonetheless only replace thyroid hormone and require dependence around the doctor for continued prescriptions and office visits. I’ve seen several, many sufferers who are on such natural prescriptions who still 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 must be rigorously evaluated for underlying physiological imbalances.
Another issue with such remedy methods is suppression of hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid feedback mechanisms. Whenever you take a hormone that is produced inside the body, this tells the brain that it no longer needs to stimulate hormone production simply because it’s constantly being ingested. When male bodybuilders take testosterone, their testicles shrink since there’s no longer a need for them to produce testosterone. Taking thyroid hormone for long periods of time will suppress natural production which may or may not return after discontinuing the medication. It’s strongly encouraged that you do every thing 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. Many 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. Patients who have had their thyroid removed or partially removed may require prescription thyroid hormone. In the event the gland isn’t 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 significantly more active than T4 and is responsible for most of the actions of thyroid hormone on the cell. Some folks cannot convert T4 into T3 as efficiently as others. Furthermore, there are several 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 also as production and receptor binding. As people get older, they lose their ability to convert thyroid hormone which may be due to decreased vitamin and mineral absorption. This is due to a loss of intestinal barrier function where all of your nutrition is absorbed. This barrier loses its function as we age so supplementation is absolutely necessary. Excess estrogen from xenoestrogens inside the environment, birth control 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 that is inactive till it becomes unbound. Cortisol created by the adrenal gland is really a major factor in converting thyroid hormone. Too a lot cortisol can inhibit the activation of thyroid hormone and also little cortisol yields the same result. Exhausted adrenals will cause low thyroid symptoms due to the lack of cortisol production. Insulin is 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.