Lack of energy was never a concern for Heidi Raschke. Being an undergraduate at the University of Minnesota, Raschke easily juggled a complete course load with a part-time job and an internship at the campus newspaper. Then, in her senior year, her reserves started to run low. Normally an “A” student, Raschke couldn’t concentrate and her grades slipped. “I felt overwhelmed,” she remembers. “I had been tired all the time.” Raschke’s mood wasn’t helped by the fact that she was suddenly carrying extra weight. “I’d run six miles many times a week and bike to school every day,” she says. “Nothing helped.”
At first Raschke assumed that depression was the main cause of her problems. A therapist prescribed Prozac, and both medication and therapy seemed to help initially. But just over a year later, her physical symptoms returned with a vengeance. One night she slept for 19 hours straight. “That scared the hell from me,” she says.
Raschke made a scheduled appointment with her doctor, who immediately ordered a blood test. The outcomes confirmed she was suffering from Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease that had damaged her thyroid. Raschke’s thyroid function was depressed – a condition, called hypothyroidism, that her doctor said was likely irreversible.
Until her diagnosis, Raschke had never even thought about her thyroid. Suddenly, it appeared to have control over every part of her life. This led Raschke to ponder a question that will likely be posed by an increasing number of Americans in coming years: Just how can such a comparatively tiny gland have this type of giant impact?
The Body’s Gas Pedal
A healthy thyroid is important to everyone’s well-being. A butterfly-shaped gland found at the front of the neck between your Adam’s apple and the collarbone, the thyroid produces several hormones, a couple of which – triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) – are vital to some person’s health. These hormones help oxygen get into cells and make your thyroid the actual gland of your body’s metabolism.
“A thyroid problem is the gas pedal for distributing energy throughout the body,” says Richard L. Shames, MD, coauthor, with his wife, Karilee Halo Shames, RN, PhD, of Thyroid Power: 10 Steps to Total Health. “Thyroid hormone keeps your body working at the right speed.”
When an individual’s thyroid hormonal levels decrease, explains Shames, the activity in their body’s cells decreases, too. Consequently, the person may feel emotionally and physically drained and may also gain weight, even as his or her appetite wanes.
Hypothyroid disorders are extremely common. According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), one in 10 Americans – more than the amount of Americans with diabetes and cancer combined – are afflicted by thyroid disease, more than half of these undiagnosed.
The most common cause of thyroid disease in the United States is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, a chronic autoimmune condition that results once the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues. The thyroid can also produce elevated levels of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism), usually as the result of a less-common autoimmune condition known as Graves’ disease.
In the case of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, the immune cells that usually fight off infection and colds attack the thyroid instead. The damaged thyroid loses function, resulting in a variety of symptoms including fatigue, putting on weight, forgetfulness, depression, constipation, dried-out skin, and cold hands and feet. Left untreated, hypothyroidism can lead to more serious health consequences, for example elevated cholesterol, heart disease, osteoporosis and infertility.
Hypothyroidism runs in families and is five to eight times more prevalent in women than in men. The elderly are also at increased risk for the disease. The AACE estimates that by age 60, as much as 17 percent of women and 9 % of men have an underactive thyroid.
“There is a huge population of people who are putting on the weight and are depressed and exhausted, plus they aren’t being treated properly,” says Mary Shomon, who was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 1995 and is today a patient advocate and the author of Living Well With Hypothyroidism: What Your physician Doesn’t Tell You That You Need to Know. Shomon and other advocates, including many doctors, want more attention paid to thyroid disorders, including treatment options for people with low, but not necessarily disease-level, thyroid function.
“Something doesn’t have to be at the level of a disease for it to be a problem,” says Laura Thompson, PhD, a naturopathic endocrinologist and director of the Southern California Institute of Clinical Nutrition. “There tend to be a lot of mysterious symptoms that individuals can’t explain that grow to be subclinical thyroid imbalances. Inability to slim down, depression, irregular menstrual cycles, severe PMS, menopause problems – all could be related to the thyroid.”
Recently, official hypothyroid diagnosis guidelines were adjusted downward (see “The Numbers Game” sidebar). The modification, which received a great deal of media coverage, is built to help doctors more accurately identify and treat the big number of hypothyroid sufferers whose conditions were previously considered “subclinical.”
Causes and Solutions
Why a multitude of people’s thyroids under siege? It all depends on whom you ask. An expert in nutrition might blame our unhealthy dependence on processed foods, while an environmental scientist will cite research that links toxins in the water supply to weakened natural defenses. Still others will caution that our overly stressed lifestyles and lack of sleep are throwing our thyroids off kilter.
Regardless from the reasons, all experts agree the best way to treat a thyroid issue is to prevent it from developing in the first place. Diet is a good place to start.
The very first thing to look for: iodine deficiency. “Iodine is the most important mineral for manufacture of thyroid hormone,” Thompson explains, “and many people don’t get enough.” In 1924, U.S. salt companies iodized salt in an effort to eliminate iodine deficiencies. Today iodizing salt is required in 120 countries but is voluntary in the United States. While ordinary table salts still contain iodine, kosher salt plus some gourmet sea salts don't. Nor do the majority of salts that end up in processed or fast foods.
Over the past 20 years, the percentage of Americans with low iodine levels has quadrupled. In a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the Cdc and Prevention found that several in 10 Americans are deficient in iodine.
To boost iodine levels, Thompson suggests you utilize iodized sea salt for seasoning. She also advises eating more seafood and sea vegetables, for example kelp, nori and wakame (these are featured in sushi, soups and lots of other Asian dishes and therefore are widely available in health-food stores and greater markets).
Many nutritional experts advise individuals who suspect or know they've thyroid problems to avoid eating large amounts of cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts, particularly when raw. These vegetables can have a depressive effect on thyroid function.
Another food that could depress the thyroid is soy. While soy can be an important protein source, it is not your thyroid’s favorite food. “In high quantities, soy depresses thyroid function,” says Shomon. Eating soy moderately is fine, but if you have soymilk for breakfast, a soy smoothie for supper, a soy burger for dinner and take soy supplements to protect against heart disease or menopausal flashes, it may be time to cut back.
There is a wide array of nutrients helpful in promoting healthy thyroid function. Towards the top of Thompson’s list are gamma linoleic acids (GLAs), for example evening primrose oil and black currant oil, both of which help the thyroid produce hormones. The mineral selenium and also the amino acid tyrosine help convert the inactive T3 thyroid hormone to the active T4 version. Thompson suggests a selenium supplement or perhaps a supplement that combines selenium with iodine and tyrosine.
Because an inflamed or swollen gland often accompanies thyroid problems, it’s also important to include anti-inflammatory foods in your diet, such as the essential fatty acids omega-6 and omega-3. Finally, water is important for proper immune-system function, so whenever you can, choose filtered or pure spring water over sodas along with other drinks. Sip water throughout the day, not just when you become thirsty (an indication you are already dehydrated).
You may also support your thyroid by minimizing sugar, sugar substitutes, caffeine, dairy and wheat in addition to flavor and color additives, because these foods pose a challenge to many people’s immune systems, says Thompson.
Chemical Barrage
Getting the right food and nutrients is just the start of your thyroid challenge. Environmental scientists are pointing to a growing body of research that suggests the chemicals in our air, water and food may be confusing and taxing our immune systems. According to Paul Connett, professor of chemistry at St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., the fluoride we ingest through tap water, processed foods, toothpaste and mouthwash suppresses thyroid function.
“Within the 1950s, doctors in Europe treated patients with hyperthyroidism with sodium fluoride tablets,” he explains. “The doses they were using are within the selection of what we get in people residing in fluoridated communities.” Connett suggests that fluoride may cause trouble for those with hypothyroid disorders because it mimics the act of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), the hormone that catalyzes the discharge of hormones from the thyroid, and desensitizes the protein receptors that receive TSH.
Connett yet others believe that people concerned about their thyroid health shouldn't only filter their tap water or drink bottled water, but additionally avoid fluoridated toothpastes and mouthwashes, as well as processed foods (which may be made with fluoridated water) and fluoride-rich foods such as sardines and cooked spinach. (Connett is one kind of a group of scientists and alternative practitioners who reject the concept fluoride has dental health benefits; most conventional dentists disagree and then support fluoridation.)
Easy on Stress
While the idea of chemical stressors is daunting, emotional and mental stress might be an even bigger concern. Some doctors think that serious physical or mental stress can trigger the defense mechanisms to attack the thyroid, especially if you have a family history of low thyroid, diabetes, or any other rheumatic or autoimmune illnesses. But even though you don’t have a family history of autoimmune diseases, it’s still important to make sure that your stress levels aren’t weakening your thyroid or getting into the way of your body’s healing processes.
“There is a tremendous amount of frustration included in our everyday lives,” says Shames, “all of which has a negative impact on our biochemistry. Plus our rapid pace of life leaves little time for immune-restoring activities such as exercise and a solid night’s sleep.”
“When you're going through a difficult time or a chronically stressful situation,” advises Shames, “utilize every good stress-reduction technique available to you. If you don’t know any, acquire some training and try a few out. You can choose meditation, self-hypnosis, or specific relaxation exercises from biofeedback or yoga.”
Shames also advises his thyroid patients to exercise, to stay connected with friends and, when they need it, to seek out professional counseling. But the basic message is simple: When your body starts breaking down or getting overwhelmed, it’s a definite sign you need to take better care of yourself. Go easy, advises Shames. Back away from overly ambitious plans. “If you’ve been working with no break for months at a time, schedule a vacation. Get out of your body’s way and let it heal.”
Treatment for Life
The good news about hypothyroidism along with other thyroid diseases is that they are treatable. When lifestyle changes fail to help (and in many cases, before they are tried), most doctors treat thyroid problems with both synthetic and natural prescription hormones.
The standard therapy for hypothyroidism is really a synthetic hormone called thyroxine, sold under the brand name Synthroid. An alternative natural product, sold by prescription under the brand name Armour, is made of desiccated animal thyroid. It is popular among many alternative and complementary doctors because they believe it most closely resembles our body’s own natural thyroid hormone. There is little convincing evidence that one kind of product is consistently better or even more effective than the other: It simply depends on the individual’s condition and the body chemistry.
“There is no one best medicine for those low-thyroid sufferers,” says Shames. He explains that finding the right drug and the correct dosage can be a frustrating process of trial and error that can take doctor and patient months or longer to understand. Sometimes a combination of two drugs may be the optimal solution. Sometimes one drug works well for five years and then is no longer as effective.
There is a generalization that can be made, however: Once you start taking any prescription thyroid medication, you’ll likely have to keep on taking it. Most thyroid medications are made to supplement or replace naturally occurring thyroid hormones – not to strengthen or “cure” the thyroid gland itself. Over time, thyroid medication effectively shuts the thyroid gland, causing it to slow or halt production altogether, creating a lifelong dependence on supplemental hormones. This phenomenon has made thyroxine one of the most prescribed drugs in the United States. It’s additionally a consideration that encourages some hypothyroid patients to research alternative treatments, including naturopathic and Traditional chinese medicine, before turning to prescription hormones.
In many cases, particularly when thyroid disorders are caught early on, alternative and integrative methods prove extremely effective in rebalancing the body’s chemical and hormonal activity. In other cases, they don’t.
The key, based on Shames, is to listen to your body, respect your instincts and take charge of your health. “You need to be as active regarding your medical care as you are about going to the gym,” he says.
Shames encourages patients to complete their research, weigh their options and come to their appointments prepared to talk openly about their concerns and priorities. “Should you don’t feel like you are being paid attention to,” he insists, “fire your doctor!”
Fortunately, Heidi Raschke didn’t have to take Shames’s advice. After a couple of months of tinkering with her dosage, she found that Synthroid did the trick. Now an editor at a major metropolitan newspaper and the mother of a toddler, she’s busier than ever before and feeling fine.
“It’s a minor issue in my life now,” she says. “Having a thyroid condition is awful when it’s not properly treated. But for me, the medication was a miracle. It made me feel like myself again.”
How's Your Thyroid? A Self-Test
The symptoms below may suggest low thyroid function. If you experience any combination of these, you should talk to your doctor about obtaining a thyroid function test.
Do you …
- have unusual fatigue unrelated to exertion?
- feel cold constantly?
- have feelings of anxiety that sometimes lead to panic?
- have trouble with weight, often eating lightly, yet still not losing a pound?
- experience aches and pains in your muscles and joints unrelated to trauma or exercise?
- feel mentally sluggish, unfocused, or unusually forgetful?
- know of anyone in your family who has ever had a thyroid problem (even you in an earlier age)?
- suffer from dry skin, or are you prone to adult acne or eczema?
- go through periods of depression, and/or lowered sex drive, seemingly out of proportion alive events?
- have diabetes, anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, or early graying hair? Does anyone inside your family?
- experience significant menopausal symptoms, including migraines, which other therapies do not relieve?Reprinted with permission from Thyroid Power: 10 Steps to Total Healthby Richard L. Shames, MD, and Karilee Halo Shames, RN, PhD. For more information, visit www.thyroidpower.com.
Be Kind For your Thyroid
- Stop smoking. Smoking increases your risk of developing thyroid problems.
- Avoid fluoride. Fluoride depresses thyroid function.
- Go easy on soy and cabbage-family vegetables. They inhibit thyroid hormone function.
- Be careful about radiation. Avoid direct radiation for your neck. Make sure your dentist utilizes a thyroid shield when taking X-rays.
- Green your cleaning supplies. Replace your “extra strength” cleansers with less toxic options. Because chlorine suppresses thyroid function, minimize cleansers with bleach and heavy-duty chemicals.
- Increase your iodine intake. Sushi and iodized salt are a couple of good sources.
- Reduce stress. Exercise, sleep and contacting others can help ease stress. Build relaxation into your schedule.
The Numbers Game: How to Get an Accurate Thyroid Diagnosis
The consequences of the thyroid misdiagnosis can be huge, since the longer thyroid disease remains untreated, the greater the metabolism gets out of whack. That means a person will not only be more depressed, more tired and gain more weight, he or she will also be increasingly prone to the severe effects of thyroid disease, such as heart disease and difficulties conceiving and bearing children.
Unfortunately, test results aren't always clear. “When you've got a thyroid situation, testing isn't monochrome,” says Richard Shames. “If you've got a lot of symptoms, even if you test in midrange, you need to be suspicious.”
Here are a few suggestions to help you get the right diagnosis on the first try.
1. GET TESTED REGULARLY: The American Thyroid Association recommends that ladies over 35 get their thyroids tested every 5 years, and that people with a family good reputation for thyroid disease or other autoimmune diseases get checked more regularly. A thyroid test ought to be part of your prenatal plan. Not only can thyroid disease make it difficult to get pregnant, an undiagnosed thyroid problem in the mother can have severe consequences for a baby, including low birth weight, low IQ and stillbirth.
2. BE SPECIFIC Regarding your SYMPTOMS: “It's more common for a hypothyroid person to go to a doctor and leave with a prescription for Prozac compared to a thyroid treatment,” says Mary Shomon, who places area of the blame for improper treatment around the bureaucracies of managed healthcare. “It costs added money to buy a blood test,” she says. “But it is nothing to write a prescription to have an antidepressant.”
Shomon also thinks that the communication style between patient and doctor is partly to blame. “Doctors don't understand concepts like 'I feel fat' and 'I feel tired' because they do not translate into actual symptoms.” What patients need to do, in Shomon's view, is to quantify, quantify, quantify. “Instead of saying 'I'm always sleepy,' tell your doctor that you used to sleep 8 hours a night and have energy during the day. Then explain that you now sleep 11 hours a night and feel like you are walking around half dead,” she says. “Give specific numbers for that calories you eat, the hours each week you exercise, the pounds you have gained in the last month or year.” (For additional ideas on how to successfully work with your doctor, see the “Empowered Patient.”)
3. KNOW YOUR NUMBERS: The most typical way that physicians diagnose hypothyroidism is by using a blood test that measures thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), the messenger chemical that instructs a thyroid problem gland to produce the T4 thyroid hormone. Both Shameses and Mary Shomon say that relying on a blood test alone is problematic. Not only can the results be misinterpreted, but blood tests often miss borderline low-thyroid sufferers who might be helped if properly diagnosed. Until recently, physicians accepted the normal TSH range of 0.5 to 5.0 mIU/L. But new clinical guidelines published at the end of 2002 by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) demand the “normal” range to be between 0.3 and three.04. AACE anticipates that the new guidelines can lead to millions of new hypothyroid diagnoses.
