It’s estimated that approximately 20-30 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease. Women are five to eight times more likely than men to have thyroid problems.
What is thyroid?
The thyroid is a small gland in our neck that is shaped like a butterfly. It has many functions such as: controlling metabolism, helping our immune, reproductive and cardiovascular systems. Symptoms of thyroid disease (low thyroid) include but are not limited to: dry skin, brittle nails, feeling cold/weak all the time, inability to lose weight, depression/mood disturbance, constipation, hair loss/thinning, brain fog/inability to concentrate, low libido, menstrual problems and infertility.
You can also produce too much thyroid hormone. Some symptoms include: irritability, nervousness, muscle weakness, unexplained weight loss, sleep problems, vision problems and eye irritation.
Thyroid and Our Immune System
Studies have reported that people whose thyroid levels were abnormal and contracted COVID-19 had more severe cases of pneumonia than those with normal thyroid levels. The more abnormal the levels, the more severe the disease.
Inadequate thyroid function can also affect our gut and poor gut health can affect our thyroid. It goes both ways! Did you know that many people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity often have abnormal thyroid levels? When we don’t have healthy bacteria in our gut, it creates and promotes inflammation and we can’t absorb the nutrients and vitamins that our thyroid needs.
Thyroid and Weight
The thyroid regulates metabolism, especially the way we make and process fat. People with insulin resistance or diabetes often have thyroid levels out of balance. Optimizing and balancing thyroid levels have been shown to improve bad cholesterol (LDL) levels and insulin resistance.
Thyroid and Infertility
Abnormal thyroid levels can affect both men and women’s fertility. For women, it can cause problems with ovulation and successful implantation of the fertilized egg. For men, it can damage sperm quality and motility.
Having optimal thyroid function is crucial to our well being. If you think you may be experiencing symptoms of thyroid imbalance, give us a call for testing and treatment options.
