Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that makes hormones. Hormones are chemicals that tell your organs what to do.
If your thyroid makes too much, or too little, it can cause a range of symptoms that may initially seem unrelated: unexplained fatigue or energy, sensitivity to heat or the cold, dry skin, unexplained weight gain or weight loss, muscular weakness, and more.
When you take a deeper look, it’s possible they will tie back to a single cause: your thyroid.
Okay, so let’s explain what your thyroid does.
Put simply, your thyroid plays a major role in regulating your metabolism, which is a fancy word to describe the way your body uses energy.
Thyroid hormones can increase or decrease your heart rate, body temperature, and caloric burn rate, to help you adjust to your environment. It has a big impact on your overall well-being.
Anyone can develop thyroid problems, but they’re most common in women older than 60 with a history of thyroid disease, autoimmune disease, radiation treatment, or certain prescriptions.
How do you tell when your thyroid isn’t balanced?
Hypothyroidism – an underactive thyroid – slows your body down. Generally, you’ll start by gaining a bit of weight and generally feeling tired or unwell. You might also experience depression, sensitivity to the cold, muscle aches, and dry skin.
Hyperthyroidism – an overactive thyroid – speeds your body up. This usually includes weight loss, anxiety, increase appetite, sensitivity to heat, a pounding heartbeat, and trouble sleeping.
However, it’s important to note that this isn’t complete list. Thyroid issues can cause ripples throughout your entire body.
If any of this sounds familiar, it’s time to see a functional medicine doctor. That way, you can work towards restoring your overall health and well-being instead of just masking the symptoms.
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