Do You Have an Underactive Thyroid?

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Current blood tests miss most people who need thyroid treatment

Something very common today is underactive thyroid function – and the under-diagnoses of this problem. However, once it is diagnosed, it can be very easy to treat, and treatment can save your life in addition to making life worth living!

The thyroid gland is located in the neck area and is the body’s gas pedal. It regulates the body’s metabolic speed. If the thyroid gland produces insufficient amounts of thyroid hormones, the metabolism decreases and the person gains weight. Other symptoms of hypothyroidism include intolerance to cold, fatigue, achiness, confusion and constipation.

Sadly, many physicians don’t know that the blood testing for thyroid is unreliable, and continue to treat the tests instead of the person. Holistic physicians (visit The American Board of Holistic Medicine to find one) know how to treat this, taking both your symptoms and labs into account. If you have even two of the above symptoms, consider a trial of natural prescription thyroid (e.g. Armour Thyroid).

Low thyroid problems are increasing in frequency. In the U.S., they mostly occur because the thyroid is being attacked by our own immune system (an autoimmune process called “Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis” – diagnosed by having an elevated anti-TPO antibody – a simple blood test). A resurgence of iodine and selenium deficiencies also contributes to thyroid problems. Having the problem is no big deal – as long as you get treated properly with natural thyroid hormone.

The high cost of missing hypothyroidism

1. More than 30,000 preventable deaths occur each year from heart attacks. Women with untreated hypothyroidism are more than twice as likely to have a heart attack.
2. More than 4,600 miscarriages occur each year after 15 weeks of pregnancy –  countless more before. Six percent of miscarriages are associated with hypothyroidism. In moderate to severely hypothyroid mothers, babies are over six times as likely to die soon after being born.
3. Children born to hypothyroid mothers have a lower IQ (by an average of seven points). They are almost four times as likely to have an IQ under 85 and more than twice as likely to have learning difficulties.
4. Hypothyroidism contributes to millions being unnecessarily disabled. More than six million Americans have fibromyalgia, and tens of millions more have chronic muscle pain. Undiagnosed or inadequately treated thyroid disorders contribute to these unnecessarily disabling conditions.
5. Hypothyroidism is a major cause of gaining and being unable to lose weight. It causes fatigue, dry hair, coarse skin, depression and “brain fog.” Americans are currently treating hypothyroidism, which is often confused as being depression, with Prozac! This is an even bigger problem in the elderly who are being misdiagnosed with depression or Alzheimer's Disease when what they have is hypothyroidism.

While only lab testing can determine with certainty that you have hypothyroidism, you can perform a simple at-home self-examination called the “Neck Check™” to help you detect if you have an enlarged thyroid gland, and then you should speak with your doctor about further testing. For step-by-step instructions on how to perform this self-examination, visit the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.