The thyroid produces hormones that help to control and regulate your body, it sets the body's speed limit if you will.

• If you are cold the thyroid steps on the gas to create more body heat
• If you have a virus the thyroid revs up your immune system
• If you are stressed from long days fueled by coffee and bagels the thyroid hits the brakes so you don't blow a gasket.
• If you are tired from a long day the thyroid helps make energy to keep you going and going.
• When you eat food the thyroid helps to produce the energy needed for digestion.

There are three conditions of the thyroid that can drastically affect your health. The first is a low functioning or hypothyroid. The second is a thyroid that is overworked also known as hyperthyroid. The final is Hashimoto's disease which is an auto-immune disease in which the body mistakenly attacks the thyroid.

The most common symptoms of a low functioning thyroid are:

• Shaky, lightheaded, or irritable between meals
• Fatigue
• Cold hands, feet, all over
• Weight gain despite low calorie diet and/or exercise
• Morning headaches that wear off as day progresses
• Depression
• Constipation

Signs of too high functioning thyroid are:

• Heart palpitations
• Inward trembling
• Increase pulse rate, even at rest
• Feelings of nervousness and emotional distress
• Insomnia
• Night sweats
• Difficulty gaining weight

Hashimoto's Disease symptoms

• Feeling tired or sluggish
• Cold hands and feet
• Require high amounts of sleep to function well
• Weight gain despite diet and exercise
• Difficulty, infrequent bowel movements
• Depression
• Mornign headaches that wear off as the day progresses
• Mental Sluggishness
• Dry skin and./or scalp
• Out third of eyebrow thins

All patients with thyroid problems should have their Thyroid Antibodies tested especially those whose labs/medication fluctuates up and down. Hashimoto's disease is the thyroid condition that a large majority of patients suffer from and is undiagnosed. The problem with this disease is that it does not respond well to traditional medical treatment. Hashimoto's disease is an auto-immune disease in which the body recognizes its own thyroid as being abnormal and attacks it. This is similar to how it attacks bacteria and invaders.

The goal of the treatment is to slow down the attack on the thyroid and not to balance thyroid hormones and TSH on labs. TSH will go up and down on these patients' labs at an unpredictable rate. The elevations in TSH are seen when the thyroid is being attack, putting more hormone in the blood. This will cause symptoms of hyperthyroidism which can produce hot flashes, nervousness and irritability. When the attack is over TSH will lower. The patient could have no symptoms at all for the first 5-10 years of the disease. Eventually they have one week tired, have headaches, constipation, low libido, and depression. Another week they can't fall asleep, their heart races, are anxious, and may have tremors.

If would like to be tested for, or have been diagnosed with Hashimoto's, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism - call today to schedule a visit in our office and find out if there is a natural approach. Save 20% on your first visit by mentioning you were referred by the web. I recommend reading Dr. Datis Kharrazian in his book "Why do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms? When My Lab Tests are Normal". This is where a majority of this information initiated.