Hypothyroidism

HYPOTHYROIDISM TREATMENT TUCSON, AZ

Hypothyroidism occurs when you have low levels of thyroid stimulating hormone, and it can affect both women and men. Thyroid disorders are common, but many times they are underdiagnosed and undertreated. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is a pituitary hormone that stimulates the production of thyroxine through the thyroid gland and triiodothyronine, which stimulates the metabolism of almost all the tissues that are in your body.

Hypothyroidism can affect the number of thyroid hormones the thyroid gland produces, which can result in weight gain, an increase in body fat, excessive tiredness, muscle weakness, trouble concentrating, feelings of depression, joint aches, irregular menstrual cycles, a higher sensitivity to cold, dry skin, hair loss, constipation, and mood swings.

Your thyroid function can be easily compromised by hormonal imbalance, adrenal fatigue, insufficient nutrition, high inflammatory diet, stress, and medications. We have found that many people have a hard time losing weight or gaining energy if their thyroid function is compromised. Many people have symptoms of hypothyroidism, but find that their symptoms are overlooked if their lab results for TSH levels are “within normal limits.” The majority of these people could be suffering from what is known in functional medicine as subclinical hypothyroidism, and as time goes by, if left untreated, they will find that their conditions can get worse.

Causes of Hypothyroidism

If your thyroid gland isn’t working properly, the balance of chemical reactions in your body can be disturbed. This can happen for many reasons, including autoimmune thyroid disease, hyperthyroidism treatments, radiation therapy, thyroid surgery, or certain medications.

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the front of the neck, just below the Adam’s apple. Triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) are two hormones produced by the thyroid gland, and they have a huge impact on your health. These hormones affect all aspects of the body’s metabolism, and they are also responsible for controlling vital body functions like temperature and heart rate.

Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones, leading to problems like low energy levels, weight gain, and other symptoms.

Some of the factors responsible for causing hypothyroidism are:

Autoimmune disease – Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. It is an autoimmune disorder in which your immune system produces antibodies that attack the thyroid gland. These antibodies affect the ability of the thyroid gland to produce hormones.

Over-response to treatment for hyperthyroidism – Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland overproduces the thyroid hormones. Hyperthyroidism is often treated with radioactive iodine or by administering anti-thyroid medications. However, while trying to reduce the overproduction of hormones, the treatment may sometimes end up lowering thyroid hormone production more than required, resulting in permanent hypothyroidism.

Thyroid surgery – Removing a portion of the thyroid gland or complete removal of the thyroid gland can have an adverse impact on hormone production, leading to hypothyroidism.

Radiation therapy – Radiation therapy used for treating cancers affecting the head and neck area can impact the thyroid gland, leading to hypothyroidism.

Medicines – Many types of medicines can result in hypothyroidism. Lithium is one such medicine. It is used for treating certain psychiatric disorders.

In some instances, hypothyroidism can also be caused by congenital diseases, where babies are born with a defective gland or no thyroid gland, or the thyroid gland doesn’t develop normally. Infants with congenital hypothyroidism may appear normal at birth, and their hyperthyroidism may go untreated.

In very few cases, hypothyroidism can be caused due to the failure of the pituitary gland to produce enough thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).

Some women develop hypothyroidism during or after pregnancy (postpartum hypothyroidism) as their bodies produce antibodies that affect their thyroid gland.

Iodine deficiency can also lead to hypothyroidism, and too much iodine can worsen hypothyroidism in people who already have the condition.

Treatment for Hypothyroidism at WildBerryMD Tucson, AZ

At WildBerryMD in Tucson, AZ, our team of experienced healthcare professionals offers comprehensive and personalized treatment for hypothyroidism. We believe in treating hypothyroidism after considering the various aspects of thyroid health. We use state-of-the-art diagnostics to diagnose correctly and then offer evidence-based therapies suitable to each patient’s health conditions and requirements.

Thyroid Function Assessment: The first step in our hypothyroidism treatment process is conducting a thorough evaluation of the patient’s thyroid function through blood tests. The thyroid function tests help measure the T3 and T4 balance along with the levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). This comprehensive assessment helps determine the severity of the thyroid health condition and determine the treatment plans accordingly.

Synthetic Thyroid Hormone Replacement: In most cases of hypothyroidism, Levothyroxine — a synthetic thyroid hormone — is prescribed. These synthetic thyroid hormones help replace the thyroid hormones that the body is lacking, helping to restore the thyroid function to normal levels.

TSH Normalization: Our hypothyroidism treatment aims to help normalize the TSH levels in the blood. Normalization of TSH levels indicates that the thyroid hormones are within the optimal range. This helps improve overall health and alleviate symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, and mood swings.

Iodine Supplementation: Iodine deficiency has been identified as a major factor in causing thyroid disorders like hypothyroidism. Our evaluations include assessing the iodine levels and, if necessary, providing iodine supplementation to support thyroid function.

T3 and T4 balance: Achieving the perfect T3 and T4 balance is essential for optimal thyroid health. Our hypothyroidism treatment plans are designed to ensure the T3 and T4 hormone balance is maintained.

Thyroid Health and Diet: We emphasize the importance of having a well-balanced diet to manage hypothyroidism. A few nutrients, like iodine and selenium, are very important for optimal functioning of the thyroid gland. We also offer dietary guidance.

At WildBerryMD, we understand that each patient is different and what they experience is different. Our customized treatment plans aim to address the specific needs of each patient and improve their overall well-being. With our comprehensive approach to thyroid hormone therapy and continuous monitoring, we aim to help our patients regain control of their thyroid health and lead a better quality of life. Call us today to find out more about our hypothyroidism treatment plans.