Hyperthyroidism • Hypothyroidism • Hashimoto's • Grave's Disease
A thyroid diagnosis of Western medicine typically leads to prescription medications designed to manage the function of the thyroid. Conventional doctors look at the symptoms without asking the more critical questions: WHY is the body experiencing an autoimmune response that results in a thyroid condition?
Functional medicine digs deeper for the root cause and can help with all types of thyroid disease, including Hashimoto’s, Graves’ disease, hypothyroidism, hypothyroidism, and more. Through this our lifestyle medicine services, a functional medicine provider assists with a personlized plan that addresses modifiable factors in your lifestyle. Changing these seemingly small habits can have a profound impact on healing – and restore your hope of good health in the future.
More than
0%
of the populationwill develop a thyroid condition during their lifetime. 1
An estimated
20 million
Americans have some form of thyroid disease. 1
0%
of those with thyroid disease are unaware of their condition. 1
Symptoms are minimal in the earliest stages of thyroid disease. As this condition progresses, patients can experience a variety of concerning symptoms: hair loss, weight gain, fatigue, muscle cramps, and more. Whether you have early-stage thyroid disease or the symptoms have progressed, you don’t want to leave it untreated.
- https://www.thyroid.org/media-main/press-room/
"I want people to know that blood tests alone won't always detect thyroid disease. My blood panels were normal. I think a lot more people have this disease than are diagnosed."
- Kim Alexis
Our Approach
Healthcare services through a functional medicine provider give you a full-service plan that addresses six key factors for healing from thyroid disease:
Physical Activity & Exercise
Exercise can be beneficial in combating specific symptoms associated with thyroid diseases, such as stiffness, body aches, weight gain, and muscle weakness. Additionally, researchers have found that regular exercise can improve thyroid functions, including TSH, T3, and T4 levels.
diet & nutrition
Eating inflammatory foods can be like throwing fuel on the fire. Dietary choices play a foundational role in healing by helping to reduce the autoimmune response by decreasing inflammation. The right food choices not only minimize inflammation, but also provide your body with the essential nutrients needed to heal.
Sleep
Imbalance in thyroid function can cause sleep problems – including fatigue during the day and difficulty sleeping at night. At the same time, poor sleep habits can increase the risk of developing thyroid conditions. Since endocrine functions are connected to hormonal balance and thyroid function, it’s essential to improve sleep hygiene to promote healing.
Stress reduction & Mental health
Stress increases cortisol, and these hormonal changes can interfere with hormones produced in the thyroid. These imbalances can cause a domino effect and overall imbalance in the body. Addressing stress is an essential step in the healing process.
Harmful substance reduction
If you have a thyroid condition, then the body can be more sensitive to the use of harmful substances, including alcohol and drugs. The consumption of alcohol can damage the thyroid, resulting in fewer cells to produce T3 and T4. Minimizing or eliminating the use of these substances can help to restore thyroid function and improve overall health.
Healthy Relationships
When relationships are a source of stress, they can lead to the imbalanced hormone and thyroid issues mentioned above. Improving relationships is an essential element in optimizing health and improving overall happiness.
This approach with functional medicine is designed to help patients take back control of their health once again. We provide step-by-step solutions that are always personalized to match the unique needs of each person. We’ll help you address the root problem so you can restore your health.
Thyroid-Immune Connection
A healthy thyroid plays an essential part in immune function. Recent evidence shows bidirectional crosstalk between the immune system and thyroid hormones, affecting adaptive immunity when exposed to potential health threats. Optimizing the thyroid through Lifestyle Medicine can improve balance in thyroid hormones, boosting immune function throughout the body.
Thyroid-Brain Connection
The brain and nervous system are closely connected with thyroid function, which is why thyroid problems can lead to cognitive issues, brain fog, and more. Not only do thyroid hormones affect brain development, but normal thyroid secretion is also essential for balancing the nervous system. Functional Medicine addresses the root issues that are affecting thyroid performance, which also impacts brain health.
Thyroid-Hormone Connection
Hormones are an underlying factor that can affect weight, energy levels, and many other aspects of your health. Normally, a decrease in T3 & T4 thyroid hormones causes the pituitary gland to produce Thyroid Stimulating Hormones (TSH) – which boost hormone production in the thyroid. Functional Medicine helps resolve health issues with the thyroid gland, which can have a positive impact on balancing hormones.
Thyroid-Gut Connection
Did you know that the thyroid plays a role in your digestion? When the thyroid isn’t functioning correctly, it can have a domino effect on bile flow, stomach acid, bowel motility, pancreatic enzymes, and more. This two-way connection can also result in gut imbalances that affect thyroid hormone levels. Lifestyle Medicine helps by restoring function in the thyroid and the gut, which improves overall health.
Thyroid-Stress Connection
Could stress and thyroid function be the underlying cause of weight gain and other health issues? When the body is under stress, thyroid function slows – causing T3 & T4 levels to fall. Lifestyle modifications can help by managing stress and improving thyroid function, which can have a positive impact to rebalance hormones and overall health.
You can improve your thyroid function without relying solely on medication.
If you’d liked to learn more about how you can benefit from functional medicine, then schedule a consultation with our experienced team.