Thyroid Disease Specialist in Seattle, WA

Healing Thyroid Disease

Some estimates suggest well over 20 million people suffer with thyroid conditions in the United States. As many as 60 percent of cases go undetected, which is why regular screening – and the right screening with the right doctor – is so important.

Both over function (Hyperthyroidism) and under function (Hypothyroidism) of the thyroid gland affects the performance of your entire endocrine system. Therefore, it is imperative that any thyroid imbalance is corrected in order to achieve optimal health. Untreated, thyroid disease can seriously impact your overall health and in some cases lead to serious cardiovascular disease.

Compile your list of symptoms, and call Water’s Edge Natural Medicine in Seattle, WA at (206) 966-4522 or contact us online.

What is Thyroid Disease?

Your thyroid is a small gland, about the size and shape of a small butterfly, located just under your Adam’s apple. Your thyroid gland is an extremely important player in your overall hormone health and vitality. 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.

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

Thyroid conditions range from milder forms of Thyroiditis to end-stage Thyroid Cancer. The majority of patients experience Hypothyroidism — too little hormone production — while a small percentage suffer from Hyperthyroidism, or too much. There are many different autoimmune diseases which fall into 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.

Thyroid Disease Causes and Risk Factors

The cause of Thyroid Disease is not always clear. From iodine deficiency to autoimmune disease, there are multiple causal factors, but researchers still do not completely understand the precise etiology of thyroid disease in all cases.

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
• Specific medical conditions (e.g., disorders of the hypothalamus or pituitary gland)
• Surgical removal of part or all of the thyroid
• Iodine deficiency, though extremely rare in the U.S.

Some of the risk factors for Thyroid Disease include:

• Age - Incidence increases with age, and nearly 1 in 4 adults over age 65 exhibit some level of thyroid dysfunction.
• Gender - One in eight women will develop a thyroid disorder, and women are five to eight times more likely than men to experience thyroid issues - especially following pregnancy and menopause.
• Family history – A genetic background of Thyroid Disease can be predictive for future generations.
• Autoimmune Disease – Thyroid-related autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s, Graves’ Disease and TED are more likely to develop in patients already suffering with other autoimmune diseases, like Addison’s Disease, Celiac Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Type 1 Diabetes or Lupus.

Symptoms of Thyroid Disease

An underactive thyroid (Hypothyroidism) 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

Less often, we see symptoms of an overactive thyroid gland, which include anxiety, insomnia, weight loss, diarrhea, sweating, etc.

Treatment of Thyroid Disease

At Water’s Edge Natural Medicine, the course of treating Thyroid Disease and its symptoms will vary with each individual patient. We will create a treatment plan designed just for you. We recommend you compile a complete list of your symptoms, medical conditions and medications before your first consultation. We will review your medical history, lifestyle factors, current medications and other health concerns.

Generally, a first-line approach to treating Thyroid Disease and its symptoms involves 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. Then we 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.

There are other approaches to counteract the changes in your body the onset of Thyroid Disease may trigger, including:

• Certain lifestyle modifications that support thyroid health
• Medical nutrition plan to optimize thyroid hormone balance
• 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 imbalance
• Herbal remedies
• Stress management
• Acupuncture
• Medical weight loss plan, together with a customized movement regimen that is appropriate for your physical condition, to help counter the weight gain that is commonly experienced with an underactive thyroid

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.

Request your consultation today!

If you are struggling with the symptoms of Thyroid Disease and have questions, we invite you to reach out to us. We’re here for you, every step of the way, and happy to answer any questions you may have about your symptoms and our methods to restore balance and bring you back to optimal thyroid function.

Compile your list of symptoms, and call Water’s Edge Natural Medicine in Seattle, WA at (206) 966-4522 or contact us online.

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