The thyroid has a really important role in the body as it has numerous interactions with other organs and glands- it’s super complex, so heres some of the basics that you need to know about.
If you either have a thyroid issues, or think you may have, obviously you need to see your GP as a first port of call and get some tests done (see here for the tests to ask for) or DM me for details of private testing. But, there are lots of ays that you can support your thyroid function holistically.
But like anything it’s not a one size fits all philosophy. However, being committed and consistent in your approach can do lots to restore optimal function, and/ or limit further issues, leading to symptom reduction.
So you know the thyroid is a small gland at the front of the neck, but despite its size, it has a lot of functions:
It takes the iodine from our food and makes thyroid hormones
Regulates your metabolism- the rate which we turn our food into useable energy
Controls your body temperature
Stimulates the production of protein
Balances blood calcium levels
Influences your heart rate
Influences your mood
Affects hormone balance- especially the sex steroids progesterone, oestrogen and testosterone!
So how does it work?
The thyroid part of the Hypothalamus- pituitary- thyroid axis (HPT).
The hypothalamus release hormones that tell the pituitary gland what to do, the pituitary glad then releases hormones that tell they thyroid and adrenal glands what to do. Under normal circumstances the pituitary release TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) to stimulate the thyroid into releasing hormones. When we are under high stress, our ‘flight or flight’ mode kicks in and the pituitary releases ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic hormone) tells the adrenal glands to release cortisol.
The TSH level is measuring what the pituitary is telling the thyroid to do!
The thyroid releases the T4 hormone, an inactive form of thyroid hormone and a smaller amount of T3, the active thyroid hormone. T4 can be converted not T3 when it is needed, though can also be converted into reverse T3, in different areas of the body, including the liver, muscles, gut and brain. However, T3 and reverse T3 are in competition for the receptor sites in the cells- essentially reverse T3 blocks T3 from binding with the cells and prevents it from doing its job.
The pituitary gland needs to end the appropriate signals to the thyroid and this needs to release adequate T4, this needs to be converted to T3, rather than reverse T3 and the cell needs to receive the T3 and utilise it. The thyroid influences the body when the T3 hormone is received and put to use by the cell.
So now you know what the thyroid does, how do you know if you have a thyroid issue? Well, theres no easy answer, especially in chronic issues, its not like you cut yourself and it heals up.
If your GP is only measuring TSH and T4 levels, more information is needed to tell whether your thyroid is doing its job and the cells know it!
References
http://www.thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/About_Us/study-report-5.01.12.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30224316
https://academic.oup.com/bmb/article/99/1/39/298307
https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/99/3/923/2537300
https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/thyroid-disease
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8051643
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23998691
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3113168/
Disclaimer: It is obviously important to be assessed by a physician who can make a diagnosis. This is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice and treatment from your personal physician. Readers are advised to consult their own doctors regarding the assessment of medical conditions, so as there is no misunderstanding or misuse of the information provided and discussed here- this is for information purposes only.
Please reach out or enquire if you need more support and guidance.
