Is Your Thyroid Causing Low Energy? 

Your thyroid gland can have a tremendous effect on how your body functions. Your thyroid gland is a small gland located in the neck that stores hormones that regulate functions throughout the body, including your metabolism, heartbeat, and body temperature.

Up to about 30 percent of women over the age of 35 suffer from a thyroid disorder and many go undiagnosed. According to one study, about one in eight women will develop thyroid problems at some point in her lifetime and are more likely than men to have thyroid disease.

One of the main roles of the thyroid is to manage the body’s ability to break down food and convert it to energy. The thyroid keeps the metabolism in check through a hormone that extracts iodine from the blood. Unfortunately, when the thyroid doesn’t absorb enough iodine to manage your metabolism, you experience low energy and struggle with weight management.

Your thyroid secretes hormones into the bloodstream in order to control the rate that other organs turn nutrients into the energy your body needs. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland is unable to produce enough of these hormones or there is a problem with conversion of less active thyroid hormones to more active hormones that the body needs for proper function. Because the thyroid plays a role in regulating energy levels, dysfunction often results in sluggishness and constant fatigue. An underactive thyroid also produces symptoms, such as hair loss, dry skin and hair, and constipation.
Solutions to Thyroid Dysfunction

Thyroid disorders often go untreated—more than 13 million Americans do not even know they have a problem. This happens for two reasons: 1) the symptoms of thyroid dysfunction vastly resemble the side effects of stress and aging and 2) many doctors will incorrectly assess and diagnose thyroid function as normal.

Unfortunately even those properly diagnosed with thyroid function may not treated optimally.  Without attention to and replacement of the main thyroid hormones, including both T3 and T4, many patients continue to suffer from the symptoms of hypothyroidism.  This can happen even when the TSH seems optimal on traditional thyroid hormone replacement medication.

The first step to treating and, in many cases, resolving thyroid issues is to recognize the symptoms and seek the help a physician that specializes in hormonal imbalances and thyroid dysfunction. If you have been feeling sick and tired, moody, or have noticed unwanted changes in your hair, skin, or weight—schedule an appointment with a medical practitioner specializing in hormone health.

Advanced diagnostic lab testing is the next step. If your practitioner is not testing a broad number of factors, you may not uncover the issue. Most practitioners will test TSH, but leave out assessment of free T3, free T4, and cortisol—all hormones that also affect thyroid function. Assessing only TSH can give you (and your primary care doctor) the impression that all is “normal.” Following complete lab testing, you and your physician should discuss your results, medical history, symptoms and lifestyle to develop a comprehensive treatment plan that address your specific condition and helps you reach your health goals. At Orlando Vitality, every physician is a member of the esteemed BodyLogicMD network of physicians specializing in functional medicine and bioidentical hormone therapy. You will get the advanced lab testing and comprehensive care for your total health, including thyroid dysfunction.

Schedule your first consultation with expert medical team at Orlando Vitality. The physicians of Orlando Vitality are among the top physicians in Florida specially certified to help you achieve your health and wellness goals, including treating thyroid disorders and fatigue. Get started on a customized treatment plan designed to fit your lifestyle and ensure you reach optimal wellness. Begin your journey now, contact Orlando Vitality.