How do you know if you have hypothyroidism?
Do you feel tired most of the time? Do you have brain fog? Do you have digestive issues, especially constipation? Do you have unexplained weight gain? Do you have hair loss? Do you feel depressed? There is a good chance that you could have an underactive thyroid.
The thyroid gland is responsible for producing thyroid hormones that are used in every cell of the body. These hormones are vital in igniting the mitochondria (the energy producers of the cell) to create energy and regulate metabolism. If the thyroid gland does not produce adequate amounts of thyroid hormones or adequate amounts of thyroid hormones cannot effectively reach into cells, hypothyroid symptoms occur.
In functional medicine, when trying to look for the root cause, the above is a very simplified explanation of why one could experience hypothyroid symptoms. Below, various symptoms are described and insight is given as to why one may suspect hypothyroidism with each:
Low Energy
As thyroid hormones are essential to energy production, low levels of thyroid hormones or other factors causing thyroid hormone resistance can cause one to feel low energy, even to the point of exhaustion. Factors that can cause thyroid hormone resistance can include adrenal dysregulation, overgrowths from viruses, bacteria, fungus or parasites, nutrient deficiencies, food intolerances, or high total toxic burden from heavy metals or other toxins. It is important to assess all of these factors to make sure thyroid hormone metabolism is functioning optimally to improve energy levels.
Gastrointestinal Issues
Gut cells need thyroid hormones to help with the motility of the small and large intestines. If there are not enough thyroid hormones present in these cells, one can suffer from chronic constipation due to a sluggish gut. A common symptom of autoimmune thyroiditis is also low production of stomach acid. This can also cause constipation. In these cases, it is important to improve stomach acid production as well as include 35-40 grams of fiber from vegetables daily to improve the transit time of fecal matter. One should go to the toilet at least one time daily to get rid of toxins that could potentially further interfere with thyroid function.
Weight Gain
Many thyroid patients are disappointed to find out that weight gain does not correct itself once put on thyroid replacement hormones. As weight gain is a common symptom of hypothyroidism, in a lot of cases, a sluggish liver is usually the culprit for this. The liver is the main organ where T4, the storage form of thyroid hormone, is made into T3, the active form of thyroid hormone used by the cells. If the liver is sluggish due to factors such as a highly processed diet from refined white flour and sugar, alcohol use, toxicity, a sedentary lifestyle, etc., the transformation from T4 to T3 does not happen at the rate it is supposed to. This is one reason why weight gain is common for many hypothyroid patients. Another reason for weight gain in hypothyroid patients is high toxic load. Many toxins are stored in fat cells and when the liver is sluggish and does not detoxify the body properly, the body will not get rid of fat cells steadily because too many toxins will be released and the liver will not be able to keep up. Therefore, as a protection mechanism, the body makes it harder for the patient to lose weight. Liver health is a key component of the hypothyroid patient.
Depression
There is a link between autoimmune thyroiditis and depression. As stated earlier, thyroid hormones are essential to every cell in the body and brain cells are not excluded. Low levels of T3, high antibodies, and inflammation within the body have all been associated with depression. If you feel down most of the time without an explainable trigger, it may be time to check for hypothyroidism.
Brain Fog or Decreased Concentration
Do you feel tired or unable to concentrate after eating specific foods? Do you feel that you cannot concentrate in general? Many patients with hypothyroidism have food intolerances that lead to brain fog. Common food intolerances that can lead to this issue are food intolerances to gluten, wheat, sugar, processed foods, conventional dairy, soy, and corn. Excluding these foods can help to alleviate brain fog and improve concentration for may thyroid patients.
There are many more symptoms that one can have when suspecting hypothyroidism. If low thyroid function is suspected, it is important to get a full thyroid panel done in addition to other biomarkers deemed important by your doctor or functional medicine practitioner.
