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Thyroid Hormone Basics

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You might have a thyroid gland problem if…

If you regularly suffer from any of these symptoms, then you might have a thyroid hormone problem:

  • Symptoms of too little thyroid hormone: Abnormal or sudden weight gain, tiredness, constipation, heavy menstrual bleeding, hair loss, cold intolerance, and a slow heart rate
  • Symptoms of too much thyroid hormone: weight loss, increased appetite, insomnia, decreased tolerance of heat, tremor, palpitations, anxiety and nervousness.

    What is your Thyroid Gland?

    The thyroid gland, or thyroid, is a hormone-producing gland located on the front of your neck right below your Adam’s apple. The thyroid gland secretes three hormones into your bloodstream:

    • Thyroxine (T4) – a thyroid hormone with a role in metabolism, development, and more
    • Triiodothyronine (T3) – a thyroid hormone with a role in metabolism, development, and more
    • Calcitonin – a hormone with a role in calcium balance

    What is the function of the thyroid gland?

    The two tiny hormones released by the thyroid gland, T3 and T4 have a number of important functions throughout the body, including metabolism, nutrient absorption, cardiovascular health, sleep, mood, development, and more.

    Optimal thyroid hormone levels support metabolism, nutrient absorption, cardiovascular health, sleep, mood, development, and more.

    Healthy thyroid hormone levels support body functions such as:

    • Metabolism: The thyroid hormones increase the basal metabolic rate and have effects on almost all body tissues.
    • Appetite, nutrient absorption, and gut motility: The thyroid hormones increase the absorption of nutrients in the gut, generation, uptake by cells, and breakdown of fats and sugars. Thyroid hormones also decrease cholesterol levels. You can test you cholesterol with the Bloodscore Health Check test kit.
    • Cardiovascular: Thyroid hormones increase heart rate, rate of breathing, intake and consumption of oxygen, and increase the activity of mitochondria. Combined, these factors increase blood flow and the body’s temperature.
    • Development: Thyroid hormones increase the growth rate of young people and play a crucial role in brain maturation during fetal development and in the first few years of childhood.
    • Sleep, Sex, Mood: Increased thyroid hormone levels are associated with increased speed of thought generation but decreased focus. Sexual function, libido, and maintenance of a normal menstrual cycle are influenced by thyroid hormones.

    What causes thyroid gland problems?

    If your thyroid gland releases too much of the thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism) or too little of the thyroid hormones, then you will suffer from a variety of symptoms.

    Hyperthyroidism (high thyroid hormone) occurs when the thyroid gland releases too much of the two thyroid hormones. The most common cause is Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder. Some medications can cause hyperthyroidism through high iodine levels, including some cough syrups as well as amiodarone, a medication used to treat heart arrhythmias.

    Hypothyroidsim (low thyroid hormone) occurs when the thyroid releases insufficient levels of the two thyroid hormones. The most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune disorder. Postpartum thyroiditis is a temporary form of thyroiditis that may develop in some women after childbirth. Worldwide, the most common cause of hypothyroidism is iodine deficiency, but developed nations fortify salt and other foods with iodine, preventing the problem.

    Postpartum thyroiditis is a temporary form of thyroiditis that may develop in some women after childbirth.

    Additionally, the thyroid gland can develop nodules or cancer which can lead to thyroid hormone imbalances.

    Why do we test Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)?

    The thyroid gland relies on Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) to regulate its release of the three hormones mentioned above. The Bloodscore Thyroid Test measures TSH so you and your doctor can determine whether additional testing or treatment might be necessary.

    TSH comes from the anterior pituitary gland, located in the brain. And, TSH is actually regulated by another hormone called thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), produced by the hypothalamus. All of these tiny glands– and the even tinier hormones that they release– are interconnected. A problem with one gland causes a cascade of problems throughout the body.

    High TSH levels indicate low thyroid gland function

    TSH levels are high in a person who has hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone). When the thyroid gland is under-secreting thyroid hormones, the body continues to release more and more TSH to try to get the thyroid gland to release more thyroid hormone.

    Low TSH levels indicate high or overactive thyroid gland function

    Conversely, when TSH levels are low, the body is in a state of hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone). There is so much of the thyroid hormones in the blood that the body stops releasing TSH so as to stop stimulating the thyroid gland to release more hormones.

    Is “Normal” really the same for everyone?

    If your TSH test results come back as “normal,” but you are still suffering from symptoms of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, then you made need additional blood tests. Additionally, clinicians are beginning to narrow the “normal” range and also further narrow ranges based upon age, sex, and other factors.

    For additional information, a great book recommendation is The Thyroid Connection, by Amy Myers, MD, a functional medicine physician.

    Sources:
    https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/thyroid-nodules/thyroid-gland-controls-bodys-metabolism-how-it-works-symptoms-hyperthyroi
    https://www.webmd.com/women/guide/understanding-thyroid-problems-basics#1
    https://www.healthline.com/health/tsh

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