Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism, the medical term for an underactive thyroid, is a very common cause of fatigue, altered function of the endocrine system, central nervous system, immune system, and a host of other symptoms.

Of all the problems that can undermine health and accelerate aging, none is more common--or more likely to be overlooked--than an underactive thyroid gland.

Thyroid hormone messages travel to every one of your 75 (or so) trillion cells, and affect all tissues and organs. Because the thyroid's job is regulate metabolism (in other words to tell all of your cells how hard to work), if your thyroid doesn't work right, the rest of your body won't, either.

Hypothyroidism is extremely common. Experts estimate that undetected hypothyroidism has reached epidemic proportions in the United States, affecting between 25 and 40 percent of the nation's population. But most people who have it do not know they have it because they are misdiagnosed by mainstream physicians. The problem is that physicians misinterpret the lab test results, setting the bar for diagnosing the disease at too high a level.

Be careful! Many people have symptoms of a low thyroid but their doctor has told them their test results are "normal." Blood tests for hypothyroidism are often inaccurate. A consultation with a physician versed in natural thyroid hormone replacement therapy will help you determine your true thyroid status. Most people with the disease have what is known as "subclinical" hypothyroidism, a form of the disease in which the usual thyroid test results are normal or close to normal, but the patient has significant symptoms and thyroid disease nonetheless. I have listed the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism below. If you think you might have this disease, please read my chapter on the subject from Renewal: The Anti-Aging Revolution. The chapter includes directions for an easy test you can do at home to determine whether you are hypothyroid.

Symptoms

The symptoms of an underactive thyroid can vary widely, depending on the organ affected. Since all organs depends on thyroid hormonal "messages," any tissue can manifest symptoms of a shortfall. This makes for a very long list of potential symptoms! Here are just a few examples: When the circulatory cells don't get enough thyroid, your hands and feet get cold. When hair cells experience a shortfall, the hair begins to dry out and even fall out; when skin cells don't get their share, the skin dries up. The gastrointestinal tract might slow down, causing constipation. When when the brain and central nervous system aren't getting proper thyroid hormone marching orders, the underactivity that results can cause slow thinking and moving, poor concentration, memory problems, and depression. Here is a more complete list of symptoms and problems associated with a low thyroid:

Allergies
Anemia
Angina
Atherosclerosis (hardening and clogging of the arteries)
Brittle nails
Chronic or frequent infections
Cold hands and feet
Constipation
Depression
Difficulty losing weight
Digestive problems
Dry skin
Fatigue
Hair loss
Headaches
Heart rhythm disturbances
High cholesterol
Immune dysfunction
Infertility
Irregular menstrual periods
Lethargy
Loss of appetite
Loss of libido
Low resistance to colds and flu
Memory problems
Mental sluggishness
Muscle weakness and atrophy
Slowness of movement
Slow wound healing
Stiff joints

Although everyone is different, in general I prefer to use Armour thyroid to treat a low thyroid, because it is closer (we call it "bioidentical") to the actual hormone made by the human body. The physician should start with smaller doses and increase gradually to give the body time to adjust to the hormone. Testing should be done frequently until optimum dose is achieved. Dose changes should be made no more often than once a month.