A thyroid disorder is an autoimmune condition related to the thyroid gland, a small gland that manufactures and stores thyroid hormones. A thyroid disorder impacts the metabolic processes and may be characterized by nervousness or tiredness, weight changes, weak muscles, impaired memory and irregular menstrual flow. Your thyroid is one of your body’s most important glands. When your thyroid doesn’t work properly, it can cause you to feel nervous or tired; make your muscles weak; cause weight gain or loss; impair your memory; and affect your menstrual flow. A thyroid disorder can also cause miscarriage and infertility. About 20 million Americans—more of them women than men—are affected by a thyroid disease or disorder, according to the American Thyroid Association (ATA). In fact, an estimated one in eight women will develop a thyroid disorder at some time in her life.
Thyroid Disease in Women
Women are five to eight times more likely to have thyroid dysfunction than men, but most don’t know they have it. Women often overlook their symptoms or mistake them for symptoms of other conditions. For example, women are at particularly high risk for developing thyroid disorders following childbirth. Symptoms such as fatigue and depression are common during this period, but these are also symptoms of thyroid disease. The ATA estimates that more than half of thyroid conditions remain undiagnosed.
How the Thyroid Works
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland you can feel at the base of your neck, just below your larynx (voice box). Two lobes (the “wings” of the butterfly) fit on either side of your windpipe. The thyroid gland manufactures and stores thyroid hormone (TH), often referred to as the body’s metabolic hormone. Among other actions, TH stimulates enzymes that combine oxygen and glucose, a process that increases your basal metabolic rate (BMR) and body heat production. The hormone also helps maintain blood pressure, regulates tissue growth and development and is critical for skeletal and nervous system development. It plays an important role in the development of the reproductive system.

 
Types of Thyroid Disorders
 
The thyroid gland can malfunction in one of three ways:
It can release too little TH, resulting in a condition known as hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).
It can release too much TH, resulting in a condition known as hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).
Its tissue can overgrow, resulting in a nodule, a small lump in part of the gland. Most nodules are harmless growths, but some are cancerous. In fact, according to the ATA, less than one in 10 thyroid nodules are cancerous. However, despite this relatively low incidence, thyroid cancer is currently the fastest growing cancer in women.
Hypothyroidism
When too little TH is released, the body’s metabolic rate decreases, and the body slows down. Hypothyroidism often goes undiagnosed because its symptoms are often mistaken for or attributed to other conditions.
Symptoms include:
fatigue
depression
low body temperature
weight gain
dry or itchy skin
thin, dry hair or hair loss
puffy face, hands and feet
decreased taste and smell
slow heart rate
constipation
poor memory
trouble with concentration
hoarseness or husky voice
irregular or heavy menstruation
muscle aches
infertility
high cholesterol
goiter (enlarged thyroid gland)
 
Hypothyroidism can occur spontaneously, develop during or after pregnancy or after treatment for hyperthyroidism. You can be born with it or it can be caused by Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the leading cause of hypothyroidism in the United States. Named for the Japanese health care professional who first described it in detail, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease. That means the immune system attacks the body’s healthy tissues instead of fighting off invading bacteria or viruses. In this case, the immune system produces antibodies to attack the thyroid gland as if it were a foreign substance that needed to be destroyed. The resulting damage leads to reduced production of TH. One of the leading practitioners in hypothyroidism treatment, Datis Kharrazian says hypothyroidism is caused by Hashimoto’s, the autoimmune disease that attacks the thyroid gland. Although the use of thyroid hormones may be necessary, he feels that they do not address the cause of dysfunction, which is an immune system that is attacking the body it was designed to protect.This is evidenced by the many people who still have symptoms even after the gland is surgically removed (because some tissue remains, providing a site for attack).

 
Says Dr. Kharrazian:
My goal is to discover the exact nature of the immune imbalance, as it differs for each person, and then restore immune balance. This often means dietary changes, such as going on a gluten-free diet, as the literature establishes a clear link between gluten and Hashimoto’s. It also may mean giving up other favorite foods. Balancing blood sugar, addressing poor gut health, tackling chronic inflammation, and restoring adrenal health are fundamental aspects of this approach. Beyond that researchers have identified specific nutritional compounds that can be invaluable in modulating a dysregulated immune system. By addressing the immune system and not just the thyroid gland, we restore healthy thyroid function, reduce or remove the need for thyroid medication, restore healthy brain function, and perhaps most importantly prevent the development of future autoimmune diseases (particularly against brain tissue, which is sadly a site of future attacks for many of those with Hashimoto’s).
Even if it’s not autoimmune in nature, Dr. Kharrazian believes that hypothyroidism has its roots in some type of metabolic dysfunction, and, by reviewing the literature and through clinical observation, has identified what he believes are 24 different causes of low thyroid function. Says Dr. Kharrazian: “In addition to an autoimmune disorder they include elevated cortisol from chronic stressors; excess estrogen, such as from birth control pills or estrogen creams; excess testosterone in women, a common fallout from diets high in carbohydrates; PCOS; chronic inflammation; gut infections; and brain neurotransmitter deficiencies. Some of these don’t show up on lab tests at all, and most won’t show up on a test that screens TSH only. Knowing how to correctly order a thyroid panel and read it is integral.” Dr. Kharrazian also believes that it is important to understand that no one thyroid hormone medication is right for everyone. According to Dr. Kharrazian: “Although bio-identical hormones are always preferable, the exogenous T3 will be problematic for some people, such as those who overconvert T4 to T3. Also, different medications use different fillers, and reactions to those fillers can vary from person to person.”
Dr. Kharrazian believes that hypothyroidism is not only very common today, it’s a silent epidemic. But he believes that the reason for the condition varies significantly among the population, and the astute practitioner will first search for that person’s cause of hypothyroidism and address that, rather than apply a blanket treatment to all. Says Dr. Kharrazian: “It is not simple, quick, or easy, and it most often involves lifelong dietary and lifestyle changes, but a faltering thyroid is a warning that must be heeded before the person’s health deteriorates further.” Datis Kharrazian, DHSc, DC, MS, MNeuroSci, FAACP, DACBN, DABCN, DIBAK, CNS is considered one of the leading experts in non-pharmaceutical applications to chronic illnesses, autoimmune disorders, and complex neurological disorders. Patients from all over the world fly to his practice located in San Diego, California to learn and understand his perspective regarding their condition and to apply natural medicine alternatives to help them improve their quality of life. Dr. Kharrazian has become the referral source for many doctors nationally and internationally when their cases become too complex to evaluate and diagnose.
 
 

 
Hyperthyroidism
When too much TH is released, the body’s metabolic rate increases, and your metabolism speeds up.
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:
nervousness/irritability
weight loss
fast or irregular heart rate
heat intolerance or increased perspiration
changes in appetite
sleep disturbances (such as insomnia)
muscle weakness
trembling hands
more frequent bowel movements
shorter and scantier menstrual flow
exophthalmos (bulging eyes)
goiter (enlarged thyroid gland)
Hyperthyroidism can be caused by nodules composed of thyroid cells that produce TH without regard to the body’s need. It can also develop during or after pregnancy and may be caused by Graves’ disease. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism may also result from overtreatment of hypothyroidism with synthetic TH or from thyroiditis, an inflammation of the thyroid gland, which leads to an overproduction of TH. Graves’ disease, another autoimmune condition, is the leading cause of hyperthyroidism, accounting for 85 percent of hyperthyroidism cases. Graves’ disease differs from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in that the antibodies turn the thyroid on, causing the thyroid gland to enlarge and overproduce TH. Other antibodies may also attack eye muscle tissue and the skin on the front of the lower leg. Graves’ disease was named for Robert Graves, an Irish health care professional who first discussed this form of hyperthyroidism. It is a completely treatable disease and is rarely fatal.
 
Thyroid nodules
Thyroid nodules are the most common thyroid disorder, occurring in up to 50 percent of people over the age of 50. Many of these nodules are small (less than 1 centimeter) but some can reach more than 5 centimeters with few, if any, symptoms. Indeed, many nodules are only discovered when people have imaging studies of their necks, such as a chest CT scan or a carotid ultrasound. An estimated one in 10 Americans will develop a significant thyroid nodule at some point in their lives. Ranging from as small as a millimeter to as large as several inches, thyroid nodules themselves don’t represent illness. Nodules do, however, indicate an underlying problem with the thyroid and should be evaluated if they are discovered. The majority of nodules are benign discrete clumps of thyroid cells, which don’t function like normal thyroid tissue. Other nodules turn out to be simple cysts. However, there is a slight chance that a thyroid nodule is cancerous—less than 10 percent of nodules are cancerous—so it is important to have a health care professional assess all growths. While most nodules have no symptoms, are never detected and are harmless, some can be large enough to press against the windpipe and cause difficulty swallowing or a cough. A nodule can also become overactive, suppressing the rest of the gland and causing hyperthyroidism.
 

 
The Optimal Treatment for Thyroid Disease – Click Here to Find Out More about our 5 Step Holistic Approach to Optimum Health

Book a Functional Health Consultation Including Full Comprehensive Plan and Tests Review – Purchase Now