By Dr. Michael Badanek, BS, DC, CNS, CTTP, DMM, DACBN, DCBCN, MSGR/CHEV
One of the most misdiagnosed and mistreated organs in our bodies today is the Thyroid Gland. It is estimated that 1 in 6 Americans have thyroid disease or dysfunction. If thyroid disease is left unattended, it leads to much more life-threatening illnesses and health challenges.
Thyroid hormone resistance does not elevate TSH (thyroid stimulating Hormones) in the blood but instead are only detectable in the tissues. For this very reason, many people are suffering dangerous disorders and symptoms with no treatment plan. Furthermore, the standard treatments are not getting to the root cause of the hormonal imbalance.
The functional and integrative medicine approach to thyroid disease is distinguished by an understanding of the interrelationship between the thyroid and the rest of the body. The cause or “etiology” of most chronic conditions is multi-factorial, and thyroid disease is not different. There is rarely a “single smoking gun;” more commonly there is a cache of “smoking guns.” While many physicians consider the cause of thyroid diseases to be unknown (idiopathic), this claim of ignorance ignores the thousands of studies that inform us of how the thyroid is injured by multiple genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors.
The Female Thyroid Disorder Connection
Today, we are facing an ever-increasing incidence of women who suffer with reproductive issues that are in direct relationship with thyroid issues. From puberty to menopause, women’s bodies and brains are influenced by continuous cycles of hormones. These hormones are crucial not only for reproduction but also for the nature of a woman’s feminine identity. Sex hormones – including estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and DHEA – also play an important role in thinking and memory, and they interact with chemicals in the brain that regulates mood, emotions, and sex drive.
Thyroid hormones affect the levels of sex hormones and the way they work in your body. A thyroid hormone imbalance frequently causes either heavy, prolonged menstrual periods (especially in hypothyroidism) or brief menstrual periods, or even cessation of menstrual cycles (in hyperthyroidism and also in severe hypothyroidism).
Sex hormones seem to play a role in the occurrence of thyroid disease. In females, autoimmune thyroid disorders become more common at puberty. As a woman enters her reproductive years, the frequency of both Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease increases sharply. At menopause, the frequency of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and low-grade hypothyroidism also increases, with 13 to 15 percent of postmenopausal women having some thyroid hormone deficit. One study showed that Hashimoto’s thyroiditis occurred more frequently in women who had a longer reproductive span (that is, more years between puberty and menopause).
Sex hormones have a significant effect on how a thyroid imbalance is manifested physically and mentally. The chemistry of both brain and body is influenced in normal and abnormal conditions by the thyroid and sex hormones. A thyroid hormone imbalance will exacerbate the symptoms of hormonal shifts, so a woman who usually has few or no symptoms related to hormonal changes will begin to experience more symptoms when a thyroid imbalance occurs.
These complex ways in which thyroid problems cause an escalation of symptoms are most apparent during three critical periods of the hormonal cycle: the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (after ovulation, when an egg is released—the time when most women experience premenstrual syndrome or PMS) the postpartum period, and menopause.
Fluctuations of hormone levels affect neurotransmitters and may make you more susceptible to depression and anxiety. Vasomotor instability may make you experience hot flashes and night sweats. Your sleep may become disturbed, and your sexuality may change. You are at a higher risk for bone loss, impaired cognition, and cardiovascular disease. Your metabolism slows down, and you may begin to gain weight.
Dr. Badanek—37 Years of Active Clinical Practice Treating Thousands of Patients in Central Florida
Dr. Badanek’s office looks at sickness and disease in a totally different perspective. We address the cause (s) of all conditions, test for them, and treat the cause(s) not just the symptoms. It is a new paradigm shift of conscientiousness for the new patient. To input knowledge to the patient, which is most lacking today in our health care delivery system, is empowering the patient to be successful with their health challenges presented.
If you or someone you know are experiencing poor results with your current care for your thyroid condition or any current health challenge we urge you to contact our office for a courtesy consultation.
Contact Dr. Badanek at 352-622-1151 or go to the website at Dr. Badanek or www.alternativewholistichealth.com
352.622.1151 | DrBadanek.com
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