Interesting Facts about Thyroid Disease

Here are my top 21 facts about thyroid disease:

1. There are over 100 signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism. More common symptoms of thyroid deficiency include a loss of the lateral 1/3 of the eyebrows, thinning hair, swelling, high cholesterol, weight gain, constipation, and depression.
2. Your body needs an adequate supply of iron, iodine, selenium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and magnesium to be able to make thyroid hormone.
3. Our bodies rely on enzymes to convert thyroid T4 to its more active form of thyroid T3. These enzymes need nutrients to function properly.
4. Thyroid functioning can be negatively affected by diet, especially a diet high in carbohydrates and low in protein. Stress, kidney, and liver disease also prevent the thyroid from functioning optimally.
5. Certain medications, vitamins, and mineral supplements can affect how your body absorbs thyroid pills taken at the same time. Some examples include calcium, iron, magnesium, antacids and Carafate. Be sure to always check before starting a new supplement or medication to see if there is an interaction with your thyroid medicine.
6. When testing for thyroid disease it’s important to check for TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), free T4, free T3, and thyroid antibodies. The antibody testing screens for Hashimoto’s disease, which is an autoimmune disease that attacks your thyroid gland. Hashimoto’s disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism.
7. Treating Hashimoto’s disease involves finding the underlying trigger for the immune dysfunction. Some causes can include adrenal fatigue, nutrient deficiency, leaky gut, and food allergies.
8. Thyroid hormones are critical for focus, memory, and concentration.
9. Some foods when consumed raw such as broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, and cauliflower can interfere with thyroid production.
10. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can have a negative impact on cardiovascular health and are risk factors for heart disease.
11. A healthy heart and cardiovascular system are highly dependent on sufficient levels of T3 thyroid hormone. Many practitioners don’t even measure T3 levels.
12. Thyroid cancer is the 5^th most common cause of cancer in women. Risk factors include family history, radiation exposure, age greater than 40, and iodine deficiency.
13. Do not take an iodine supplement without first measuring your iodine level. This can lead to thyrotoxicosis which causes increased levels of thyroid hormone which has serious consequences, even death.
14. People with Hashimoto’s disease are more likely to develop celiac disease than the general public.
15. A major cause of Hashimoto’s disease is gluten consumption.
16. There is a strong association between anxiety and hyperthyroidism.
17. Elevated levels of cortisol from stress can cause low T3 levels leading to fatigue.
18. Selenium, iodine, iron, zinc and high protein diets can increase T3 levels.
19. Toxins found in heavy metals can affect thyroid function. Detoxification programs can remove toxins and improve thyroid function.
20. Thyroid hormones can be compounded to give you the exact dosing you need for both T3 and T4.
21. Click here to find a list of hypothyroidism symptoms. Check with your doctor if you feel you need to be screened for thyroid disease.