According to the American Thyroid Association (ATA) :
More than 12 percent of the U.S. population will develop a thyroid condition during their lifetime.
An estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease.
Up to 60 percent of those with thyroid disease are unaware of their condition.
Women are five to eight times more likely than men to have thyroid problems.
One woman in eight will develop a thyroid disorder during her lifetime.
Besides the symptoms listed below in the questionnaire that are related to a hypothyroid condition, thyroid disease is associated with an increased risk in heart disease, since it elevates the bad cholesterol (LDL). This pertains as well to a sub-clinical hypothyroid condition. According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death in women in the US.
The 5 most common causes of acquired thyroid disease:
Not enough iodine in the diet
Autoimmune disease – Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
Iatrogenic causes– Due to radiation, drugs, or surgery
Environmental Toxicity from heavy-metal over exposure, excess halides (remember your periodic table group 17), too much chlorine from water, bromine from non-organic breads, fluoride from toothpaste, and excess estrogens and xenoestrogens).
Nutrition deficiencies such as low zinc, selenium, copper iodine and low tyrosine.
It seems that women have more thyroid disease than men. Why is that? In part it has to do with the amount of estrogen circulating in the blood stream. When estrogen is within the normal range in the blood, thyroid hormones tend to be in a normal range (as long as there are no other variables.) Once the level of circulating estrogen goes up too high, the amount of available thyroid hormones decrease, and there is less thyroid available for the cells.
Hypothyroid Quick Check
Rate the following on a scale from 0 to 5,
with 0 being not present, and 5 being severe.
1. ____Fatigue
2. ____Muscle aches and pains
3. ____Joint pains
4. ____Fibromyalgia
5. ____Feelings of weakness
6. ____Lethargy, or loss of interest in daily activities
7. ____Memory loss
8. ____Concentration difficulties
9. ____Mental sluggishness
10.____Low Moods
11.____Depression
12.____Cold hands and feet
13.____Sensitivity to cold
14.____Tendency towards constipation
15.____Weight gain
16.____Low blood sugar/ hypoglycemia
17.____Menstrual problems
18.____Heavy bleeding during menses
19.____Repeated colds and flu
20.____Skin problems (itching, eczema, psoriasis, acne, or coarse, dry, scaly skin)
21.____Do not perspire easily
22.____Hoarse voice
23.____Feeling of fullness in neck
24.____Swelling of the eyelids
25.____Hair loss
26.____Dry, coarse hair
27.____Loss of outer 1/3 of eyebrows
28.____I have about as many mental and emotional symptoms as physical symptoms
____TOTAL
A score of 20-40 suggests mild hypothyroidism; 40-70 suggests moderate hypothyroidism; and over 70 suggests possible significant hypothyroid problems.
It seems that women have more thyroid disease than men. Why is that? In part it has to do with the amount of estrogen circulating in the blood stream. When estrogen is within the normal range in the blood, thyroid hormones tend to be in a normal range (as long as there are no other variables.) Once the level of circulating estrogen goes up too high, the amount of available thyroid hormones decrease, and there is less thyroid available for the cells.
There are several conditions where one can find elevated estrogen in the body. Taking estrogen directly with birth control pills, and hormone replacement therapy, eating estrogen residues in animal products that have been treated with hormones–eggs, milk, dairy, poultry, beef, etc. Ingesting pesticides and herbicides trapped in the skins of vegetables and fruits that have been sprayed with pesticides. Likewise using cosmetics that have estrogens in them also contribute to excess circulating estrogens, as do soy, flax seeks and other plant-based estrogens. Chronic stress lowers progesterone, which elevates estrogen.
The good news is there are a number of things you can do to help your body lower excess estrogen: eat organic whenever you can. Add Brussels sprouts, broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables to your diet as often as possible. Participate in a liver cleanse. Make sure you have good bowel health for eliminating estrogens. If you are taking hormone replacement therapy, you may want to consider as an alternative several herbs that can provide similar results that the hormone replacement does, as well as buying organic cosmetics and beauty products free of the chemical culprits.
There are a few ways to evaluate the health of the thyroid. The most common way involves a blood test My experience of sending people to their primary care for a complete blood panel is that the doctors will not do extensive testing unless the TSH is abnormal. Only a complete panel including antibody tests is necessary to give you an accurate picture. Many doctors also use old ranges to determine a thyroid condition. We offer accurate tests to determine if the thyroid is involved in your health concerns.
Applied Kinesiology is a quick and easy way to check the thyroid energy and to figure out if the problem is due to poor nutrition, gluten sensitivity, untreated scars on the body, heavy metal toxicity, etc., and then to design a treatment program to repair and rebuild the thyroid. The treatment makes thyroid medicine work better and can often keep you off medicine. Even when the doctor says your lab values are perfect but you still suffer with a lot of “thyroid” symptoms, you may benefit from this treatment because all the nutritional factors need to be in place to get the thyroid to work best.
Until the end of August I will be offering a
$49 Quick Thyroid Assessment.
Call 781-639-0010 today to book your appointment or
email us at marbleheadnaturalhealing@gmail.com.
Photo by Pete Johnson from Pexels
