Thyroid deficiency (hypothyroidism) can cause many unpleasant symptoms including low energy, chronic fatigue, cold intolerance, headaches, depression, weight gain, dry itchy skin and hair loss. Millions of Americans have hypothyroidism and don’t even know it.
Dr. Izabella Wentz reports that over 300 symptoms can be related to thyroid disease. Women are ten times more likely to suffer from thyroid disease than men. Studies show that untreated thyroid and autoimmune disorders can cause health problems including infertility, severe muscle and joint pain, low sex drive and sexual dysfunction, frequent urination, changes in menstrual cycle and frequent colds and infections due to low immune function. About 90 percent of cases of underactive thyroid are due to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (also known as Hashimoto’s disease), an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation of the thyroid gland producing antibodies that attack the body’s own healthy thyroid tissue. Unfortunately, Hashimoto’s disease cannot be diagnosed with a simple thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test that is drawn at a primary care appointment.
Asking for a comprehensive thyroid panel (FT3, FT4, reverse T3, TPO) will help you better understand what is happening to your thyroid. Using a desiccated thyroid replacement such as Nature-Throid or WP Thyroid can be life changing.