Could it be your Thyroid?
Are you tired, lethargic, struggling to lose weight & feeling low?
Did you know that about 1 in 20 people in the UK has some kind of thyroid disorder?
These symptoms that we often dismiss can be signs your thyroid may not be functioning optimally.
The thyroid is a small butterfly shaped gland that sits in the neck, just in front of the windpipe and is responsible for regulating the body’s metabolism by secreting hormones called Triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxine (T4).
The hormones your thyroid produce affect every cell in your body, therefore when this small but mighty gland is not functioning properly symptoms can be widespread.
Whilst thyroid disorders tend to occur mainly in women, anybody - men, teenagers, children and babies - can also be affected.
Thyroid function can go one of two ways - up, or down.
HYPOthyroidism occurs when there is not enough thyroid hormones being produced & generally the body’s functions slow down. This might feel like tiredness, feeling cold, weight gain or difficulty losing weight, poor concentration, constipation, low mood, infertility & heavy periods.
HYPERthyroidism occurs when there is too much thyroid hormones being produced & generally this causes the bodily functions to speed up. You may experience weight loss, heat intolerance, anxiety, nervousness, palpitations, an increased heart rate & increased bowel movements.
As thyroid hormone output is controlled by the hypothalamus & pituitary gland within the brain, it can be difficult when things go wrong to pin-point where the problem is and this is where functional testing can be invaluable.
Perhaps your GP has already run your bloods and told you your thyroid function is normal? There’s 2 problems that can arise here:
Firstly, did they test anything more than TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)?
TSH is only really a marker of how much the hypothalamus & pituitary gland are shouting at the thyroid gland, but doesn’t tell is a lot about what the thyroid is actually doing. When assessing thyroid function, you need the whole picture - TSH, T4, T3 AND if possible, whether there are any antibodies present. In the long run these results not only help to identify if there is an issue, but also if there is then where the problem may be to allow you to formulate a plan to get you back to feeling your best.Secondly, what does normal look like & where are you on that normal range?
A result that is higher than optimum but not high enough to diagnose you with hypothyroidism, for example, is still not ok & may indicate that there is a problem brewing.
This is known as Subclinical Hypothyroidism - your thyroid function isn’t quite right and you have all the symptoms to go with it, but you’re not quite within the range to be diagnosed and therefore you’re left in no-mans land, feeling rubbish and confused.
Whatever is going on, don’t panic. Stress will only further hinder your thyroid function and make matters worse.
The good news? Majority of thyroid disorders can be managed!
If you’re concerned that some of the above may be applicable to you and you’re ready to explore this further, book your free call with me today to see how I can help you!
Go well,
Charlotte
