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Thyroid & Hypothyroid - The Basics

Updated: Jul 15, 2024

What is hypothyroidism & what causes it?


Thyroid disorders are very common. According to the American Thyroid Association, 1 in every 8 women will develop a thyroid disorder during her lifetime. Primary hypothyroidism is one of the most common endocrine (hormone) disorders and refers to an underactive thyroid gland that does not make enough thyroid hormone. Primary hypothyroidism is the most common type of thyroid disorder. In geographic regions with insufficient iodine, iodine deficiency is the most common cause of primary hypothyroidism. In iodine-sufficient regions, hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the most common cause of primary hypothyroidism. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease in which the body makes anti-thyroid antibodies that “attack and destroy” the thyroid gland. The prevalence of primary hypothyroidism in the United States has significantly increased over past decades and the cause(s) of this are not fully understood. However, naturopathic and functional medicine has identified many root causes and treatments for primary hypothyroidism.  


Hypothyroidism can be categorized as autoimmune (caused by hashimoto’s thyroiditis), non-autoimmune (not caused by autoimmunity), and subclinical hypothyroidism (early stages or mild hypothyroidism). Hypothyroidism can affect all organ systems and is the cause of many health related symptoms and conditions. Restoring thyroid health and correcting thyroid function should take priority in every treatment plan, as doing so can drastically improve, if not full resolve, these related symptoms and conditions. Consider the thyroid as a water reservoir at the top of a mountain, thyroid hormones as the water itself, and the causes of hypothyroidism as fallen trees between this reservoir and the rest of the mountain, which is suffering from dehydration manifesting as withering plants, frequent fires, and scarce wildlife. Once these fallen trees are removed, water runs freely downstream, hydrating the entire mountain, growing luscious plants, putting out fires, and bringing in new wildlife.



How does the thyroid work & why is it important?


Thyroid receptors are on every cell in the body, which means that thyroid hormones affect every cell in the body. Hence why hypothyroidism can have such immense and wide-ranging consequences on the body, producing numerous symptoms and conditions that may not even seem related or be recognized as hypothyroidism. Thyroid hormones are essential for normal growth and development as well as for metabolic regulation that controls many functions including energy expenditure and body temperature. Thyroid hormones control metabolism, or the rate (speed) at which every cell works, which is why when there is not enough, metabolic rate (and bodily functions) slow down – for example you feel tired, can’t think, gain weight, and become constipated because you have decreased energy production, brain function, metabolism, and gut motility, respectively. 


The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck that makes thyroid hormones thyroxine, or T4, and triiodothyronine, or T3. There are multiple steps in the process of making and using thyroid hormones in the body:

  • It starts with the hypothalamus in the brain, which senses lower levels of thyroid hormones in the body and makes thyroid releasing hormone (TRH), 

  • which tells the pituitary gland in the brain to make thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), 

  • which tells the thyroid gland at the base of the neck to make thyroid hormones (T4 and T3)

  • T4 and T3 are transported in the blood by specific protein carriers and travel around the body 

  • Most of the thyroid hormone made from the thyroid gland is T4 (about 80%), which is the inactive form that gets converted throughout the body (such as in the liver, heart, muscle, and gut) into T3 (about 20%), the active form that the receptors on cells of the body pick up and use. You can think of T4 as the savings and T3 as the spendings

  • When T4 and T3 are too low, TSH increases (think of this as the brain yelling at the thyroid to make more) and when they are too high, TSH decreases (think of this as the brain shushing the thyroid to make less)

  • This pathway depends on many nutrients and can be adversely influenced by many factors. Because of this and the involvement of several different steps, there is plenty of opportunity for thyroid dysfunction to occur when one or more steps is compromised – but also plenty of opportunity to intervene with various treatment interventions.


What are the consequences of hypothyroidism?


Consequences of hypothyroidism can vary significantly depending on the person’s predispositions and the severity of thyroid disease. Low levels of thyroid hormone can have detrimental impacts on both physical and mental performance and may lead to serious complications if left untreated. 


Top consequences (symptoms & conditions) of hypothyroidism:

  • Fatigue, brain fog, depression 

  • Easy weight gain, difficult weight loss

  • Infertility, heavy periods, irregular cycles 

  • Hot flashes, night sweats 

  • Hormone imbalances (e.g. estrogen dominance) 

  • Hair loss on scalp or eyebrows 

  • Sensitivity to cold temperature 

  • Constipation, leaky gut, SIBO, low stomach acid 

  • Joint pain & muscle aches, bone & muscle loss  

  • Puffy face, slow speech & movement

  • Anemia, high cholesterol, insulin resistance

  • Poor liver detoxification   

  • Goiter (enlarged thyroid gland)

  • Severe: myxedema, death 

  • ***This is not an exhaustive list***


Summary

Thyroid health and function has far-reaching effects on overall health and wellbeing. Hypothyroidism is a very common hormone imbalance in women of all ages that can have profoundly negative effects on quality of life and disease risk. It can be evaluated simply with a consultation and lab testing and it can be treated successfully with non-invasive interventions that target the underlying causes. ANAMARIA Natural Medicine is a functional and naturopathic clinic dedicated to helping women blossom into abundant health by addressing health and hormone imbalances at their root using natural, evidence-based, and wholistic approaches. For personalized care, get started by scheduling a free discovery call. 


Written by Dr. Jordan Valdez, ND, RD


Contact Information: (Telemedicine Only)

Social: @anamaria.naturalmedicine



References

Wyne KL, Nair L, Schneiderman CP, et al. Hypothyroidism Prevalence in the United States: A Retrospective Study Combining National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and Claims Data, 2009-2019. J Endocr Soc. 2022;7(1):bvac172. Published 2022 Nov 10. doi:10.1210/jendso/bvac172

 
 
 

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