Thyroid Treatment in Erie PA

Natural treatments for hypothyroidism in Erie PA. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the lower front of the neck. It produces hormones that are secreted into the blood and carried to every tissue in the body. Hypothyroidism is a condition where the thyroid gland can’t make enough thyroid hormone to keep the body running normally. Of the 20 million Americans who have thyroid disease, most have hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism is more common in women than in men and can have a number of genetic, nutritional, and immune-related underlying causes and contributing factors.

---

Common Hypothyroidism Symptoms in Erie PA

Thyroid hormones help the body make energy, metabolize food, and regulate temperature, and they keep the brain, heart, muscles, and other organs working as they should. With an underactive thyroid, symptoms can include fatigue, weight gain, thinning hair, dry skin, and depression.

Low thyroid hormone can also cause more serious symptoms like difficulty sleeping, changes in menstruation, or gastrointestinal trouble. Because hypothyroidism symptoms resemble those of other diseases and vary widely from person to person, patients may not recognize them as a problem warranting exploration or treatment. Experts believe up to 60 percent of people with thyroid disease do not know they have it.

---

Diagnosing Hypothyroidism

Blood tests are typically used to diagnose hypothyroidism. Three measurements are often considered: free thyroxine (T4) and free triiodothyronine (T3), both produced by the thyroid, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH, also called thyrotropin), produced by the pituitary gland to regulate the thyroid. While many doctors follow current TSH reference ranges for diagnosis (0.4 to 5.0mU/L), there is controversy about what is diagnosable and treatable as hypothyroidism or sub-clinical hypothyroidism (when blood levels of free T3 and free T4 are normal, but the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone is high).

A blood test measuring thyroid antibodies, anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO), and anti-thyroglobulin (anti-TG) can confirm or rule out autoimmune thyroid disease that causes hypothyroidism.

---

Hypothyroidism: Underlying Causes

Thyroid function regulation can be tricky and requires a whole-person approach. Naturopathic doctors lead with natural therapies that address underlying causes and support the body’s ability to restore healthy function. There are two main types of hypothyroidism, with numerous contributing factors:

Autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s) is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. This is a form of thyroid inflammation caused by the patient’s own immune system. Hashimoto’s is five to eight times more common in women than in men. Elevated levels of anti-TPO antibodies are found in approximately 5 percent of adults and 15 percent of older women. Individuals with other autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes,1 celiac disease,2and rheumatoid arthritis3 have a higher prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disease.

Central or pituitary hypothyroidism, where the thyroid isn’t making enough hormone, is often influenced by environmental and nutritional factors including gastrointestinal system inflammation,4 vitamin and mineral deficiencies5 or imbalances, high levels of cortisol6 (due to prolonged stress or oral steroid use), and/or elevated estrogen.7 Surgery on the thyroid gland (to remove a goiter or nodule) and/or radioactive iodine treatment (to treat a thyroid nodule, hyperactive thyroid, throat cancer, and cancer of nearby sites) can also cause hypothyroidism.

---

Natural Remedies for Hypothyroidism

The current conventional medical treatment for hypothyroidism is daily thyroid hormone supplementation with synthetic levothyroxine (T4), liothyronine (T3), or natural desiccated thyroid (T4 and T3) to correct low levels. While this treatment can be very effective for some patients, for others, taking thyroid hormone alone does not fully address the underlying cause of dysfunction. The medication can create a yo-yo-ing of symptoms while the right dosage is determined. Other individuals don’t tolerate or absorb thyroid hormone well.

Functional Medicine doctors are trained on the pharmacological treatments commonly prescribed by conventionally trained MDs, and in some states, may prescribe pharmaceuticals when necessary.

Functional Medicine treatment protocols often are combining diet, supplementation, botanical medicine, and conventional pharmaceuticals when needed.

If autoimmune disease is the main cause of thyroid dysfunction, we will work to help control inflammation and eliminate autoimmune triggers. Reducing thyroid antibodies, if possible, is the main goal of treatment. If the thyroid is not making enough thyroid hormone, we address lifestyle and environmental factors that may contribute to low production. Every hypothyroid treatment is carefully individualized.