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Thyroid disease is more common than diabetes or heart disease. As many as 27 million Americans are affected with thyroid disorders and more than half of those remain undiagnosed. Thyroid disorders are more common in women and tend to run in families. If left untreated, thyroid and associated conditions can lead to other health issues such as bone loss, chronic constipation, weight gain, increased cholesterol levels, heart disease, infertility and osteoporosis. Many people have been told that their thyroid is ‘okay’ but in reality continue to have unresolved health problems. These are a few of the most common symptoms:

• difficulty losing weight
• brain fog
• hair loss
• fatigue
• hormonal imbalance
• dry skin
• digestive problems
• low libido
• depression

Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid is consistently under active. Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disorder that destroys thyroid tissue and is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. Hashimoto’s is a complicated health issue that is often misdiagnosed and requires specialized care.

If caught in time, hypothyroidism can be reversed with lifestyle changes, nutritional support, and natural compounds to correct the contributing factors. The majority of patients do not need thyroid medication. Thyroid issues are driven by poor blood sugar control, stressed adrenals, poor gut health, anemia of chronic inflammation, and hormonal imbalances. Eighty-two percent of patients with thyroid symptoms have anemia of chronic inflammation. Autoimmune Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, an inflamed thyroid, and iodine toxicity are often overlooked. Gluten can be a trigger of autoimmune responses and must be identified and completely omitted if repair is to occur.

What is the new standard of medical care? If you are having symptoms or unresolved health issues, blood screening is the most valuable tool to evaluate thyroid health. The newest standards recommend a comprehensive wellness panel (52 markers) with T4, T3 uptake, TSH and a Thyroid Antibody Panel including TPO and TAA for a reasonable $200. If a patient is on thyroid medication, a reverse T3 may be requested.

Accurate diagnosis and addressing all contributing factors is crucial. There are actually SIX patterns of functional hypothyroidism, only one of which responds to medication. The standard/traditional TSH blood test only determines one pattern of the six. Incomplete or inaccurately interpreted tests allow countless people to live in unhealthy misery.

Dr. Datis Kharrazian’s book “Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms When My Lab Tests Are Normal?” is excellent recommended reading if you are interested in more information about this critical, often misdiagnosed disease. It provides a breakthrough in understanding Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, educating and supporting those who suffer from thyroid symptoms.