Thyroid Disease Treatment in Palo Alto, CA

Your thyroid gland is a small gland located just under your Adam’s apple. In appearance, it’s about the size and shape of a tiny butterfly. While small, it has a tremendous impact on your energy levels, physical and mental wellness, and overall hormonal health. Over 20 million people suffer with Thyroid Disease in the United States, but the actual number is estimated to be much higher. It’s believed that as many as 60 percent of cases go undetected.

Left untreated, Thyroid Disease can seriously derail your overall health and can even lead to serious conditions like cardiovascular disease. That’s why regular screening – accurate screening with a doctor experienced in treating thyroid conditions – is so critical.

Don’t allow Thyroid Disease to diminish your quality of life. Compile your list of symptoms and contact Water’s Edge Natural Medicine in Palo Alto, CA, to discuss options for achieving a healthier, more vibrant YOU. Schedule a consultation today with us by contacting us online or calling us at (650) 240-4868!

What is Thyroid Disease?

Your thyroid manufactures specific hormones that play a role in every system throughout your body. Unlike other hormones, receptors for thyroid hormone are found in every cell of your body, regulating the function of every organ and every system in the human body. When your thyroid makes either too much or too little of these important hormones, you are considered to have Thyroid Disease. Both Hyperthyroidism (over function) and Hypothyroidism (under function) of the thyroid gland impact the overall performance of your entire endocrine system and every aspect of your health.

If your thyroid gland malfunctions and over or under produces hormones, the resulting imbalance can range from fatigue on one end of the spectrum to serious heart problems on the other.

If you are struggling with Thyroid Disease, working with a doctor who understands the complexity of thyroid function – as well as the myriad of treatment options that may maximize your healing potential – is essential. At Water’s Edge Natural Medicine, we offer the most up-to-date and comprehensive testing and treatment to bring renewed health and healing from the troubling symptoms of Thyroid Disease.

What are the Different Types of Thyroid Disease?

Thyroid conditions range from milder forms of thyroiditis to end-stage thyroid cancer. The majority of thyroid patients experience Hypothyroidism — too little hormone production — while a small percentage suffer from Hyperthyroidism, or too much.

Also, there are many different autoimmune diseases which fall under the category of Thyroid Disease, including:

• Hashimoto’s - The most common type of thyroiditis, Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune disease that occurs when your body makes antibodies that attack the cells in your thyroid, causing it to produce too little thyroid hormone, leading to Hypothyroidism.
• Graves’ Disease – With this autoimmune disease, your immune system attacks your thyroid, causing it to produce too much thyroid hormone, often leading to Hyperthyroidism.
• Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) – Another autoimmune disease in which your immune system attacks the tissue behind your eyes, which can lead to serious ocular conditions.
• Thyroiditis - Inflammation of the thyroid gland – has many possible causes, including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, De Quervain's (subacute) thyroiditis, infectious thyroiditis and postpartum thyroiditis.

Risk Factors for Thyroid Disease

Some of the risk factors for Thyroid Disease include:

• Gender – Women are five to eight times as likely to develop thyroid issues - especially following pregnancy and menopause. One in eight women are estimated to suffer with thyroid issues.
• Genetics – A family history of Thyroid Disease makes you more likely to develop a thyroid condition.
• Autoimmune Disease – If you are already suffering with other autoimmune diseases, like Addison’s Disease, Celiac Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Type 1 Diabetes or Lupus, you are more likely to develop thyroid-related autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s, Graves’ Disease and TED.
• Age - Incidence increases with age, and nearly 1 in 4 adults over age 65 exhibit some level of thyroid dysfunction.

Causes of Thyroid Disease

From iodine deficiency to autoimmune disease, there are multiple causal factors, but the exact cause of Thyroid Disease is not always clear.

Some of the causes include:

• Congenital Hypothyroidism (present at birth)
• Thyroiditis (inflammation of thyroid)
• Hashimoto’s, an autoimmune disease that attacks the thyroid gland and generally leads to Hypothyroidism
• Radiation treatment of the thyroid
• Certain medications
• Injury to the thyroid gland
• Iodine deficiency, though extremely rare in the U.S.
• Specific medical conditions (e.g., disorders of the hypothalamus or pituitary gland)
• Surgical removal of part or all of the thyroid

Symptoms of Thyroid Disease

There are a wide range of symptoms that could signal the onset of Thyroid Disease, and every individual has his or her own unique experience.

Symptoms of an overactive thyroid – called Hyperthyroidism – may include:

• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Weight loss
• Diarrhea
• Sweating

An underactive thyroid – or Hypothyroidism (which is much more common) – can manifest with many of the following symptoms:

• Fatigue
• Weight gain
• Depression
• Muscle pain
• Hair loss
• Joint stiffness
• Puffy eyes/face
• Dry or thinning skin
• Sexual dysfunction
• Cold hands and feet
• Irregular periods
• Constipation
• Brittle hair and nails
• Poor memory, problems concentrating or brain fog

Diagnosing Thyroid Disease

At your first consultation, we conduct a full assessment of your symptoms and take a complete medical history to properly diagnose Thyroid Disease and rule out other conditions that may have similar symptoms. We recommend that you prepare a list of symptoms prior to your first consultation. We will also review your lifestyle factors, current medications and other health concerns.

At Water’s Edge Natural Medicine in Palo Alto, CA, we understand that your diagnosis of Thyroid Disease is the first step in rebalancing your thyroid hormones and your overall mental and physical health.

Treating Thyroid Disease

A very specialized type of expertise and care is required to address all of the issues that arise from Thyroid Disease. The specific course of treatment will vary with each individual patient, especially since Thyroid Disease symptoms may manifest differently in each person. We will create a treatment plan designed just for you.

As a first step in treating Thyroid Disease and its symptoms, we utilize hormone testing to optimize your hormone levels. Many patients have had their thyroid values tested and been told that they are "normal." Unfortunately, in conventional medicine, the ranges for "normal" thyroid function are very broad. In Naturopathic Medicine, we like to see your thyroid hormones in a much narrower range, as this is a better reflection of "optimal" thyroid function. We use blood tests to determine if you are falling into the optimal range, and also to determine if the cause of your thyroid imbalance is due to an autoimmune condition.

We then proceed to support the thyroid with natural medications including nutrients and glandular medications. We will discuss your individualized Thyroid Disease treatment protocol in detail, including treatment duration, possible side effects, dosing, and a timeline for when you can expect to see effects.

Various approaches used to counteract the changes in your body the onset of Thyroid Disease may trigger may include:

• Targeted vitamins, supplements or IV vitamin therapy
• Identifying and addressing food allergies and sensitivities, as well as environmental allergies that may be contributing to thyroid dysfunction
• Recommended lifestyle modifications that support thyroid health
• Medical nutrition plan to optimize thyroid hormone balance
• Herbal remedies
• Stress management
• Acupuncture
• And more!

At Water’s Edge Natural Medicine in Palo Alto, we take not only your physical symptoms, but your emotional symptoms into consideration as we develop a treatment plan designed for you.

If you are struggling with Thyroid Disease, working with a physician who understands the complexity of thyroid hormones and thyroid health is essential. At Water’s Edge Natural Medicine in Palo Alto, CA, we offer the most up-to-date and comprehensive testing and treatment to bring renewed thyroid health and freedom from the troubling symptoms of Thyroid Disease.

Request Your Appointment Today!

We are happy to answer any questions you may have about your Thyroid Disease symptoms and our array of healing, rejuvenating and balancing approaches to help you recover from Thyroid Disease and restore thyroid function. Compile your list of symptoms and reach out to Water’s Edge Natural Medicine in Palo Alto, CA to schedule a consultation today! Contact us online or call us at (650) 240-4868!

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