Dr. Kristin L. Jones Medical Minutes
Medical Minute by Dr. Kristin L. Jones (Well Oiled PhD)
Thyroid Health
An estimated 20 million Americans have thyroid disease, and 60% do not know they have it. Women are 5 to 8 times more likely to have thyroid problems than men. One in 8 women will develop a thyroid disorder during her lifetime. Undiagnosed thyroid disease can put one at increased risk for other medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and infertility.
Thyroid, What’s That and What Does It Do?
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of your neck. It is an endocrine gland that produces hormones that regulate your body’s metabolic rate. The thyroid plays an important role in metabolism, controlling fat production, regulating the menstrual cycle, regulating heart and cholesterol levels, regulating body temperature, mood management, bone management, brain development, and muscle control.
The thyroid produces 3 hormones. Two thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (known as T3) and thyroxine (known as T4) are made from iodine in food. The third hormone is calcitonin which primarily affects calcium and bone metabolism. A small gland located at the bottom of the brain called the pituitary gland sends out a hormone called thyroid-stimulating hormone (known as TSH) which tells the thyroid how much hormones to produce.
What Can Go Wrong with the Thyroid?
When the thyroid isn’t functioning properly, it can impact the entire body. When your body makes too much thyroid hormone, a condition called hyperthyroidism can develop. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include weight loss, fast heart rate, anxiety/irritability/nervousness, muscle weakness, irregular or infrequent menstrual periods, sleep problems, vision problems/eye irritations, enlarged thyroid gland known as a goiter, and sensitivity to heat. When your body doesn’t make enough thyroid hormone, a condition called hypothyroidism can develop. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include weight gain, slow heart rate, fatigue, more frequent and heavier menstrual periods, forgetfulness, dry skin and hair, hair loss, hoarse voice, and intolerance to cold. People with hypothyroidism may also have an enlarged thyroid gland known as a goiter.
What Causes Thyroid Disease?
Hyperthyroidism is often caused by:
- Graves’ disease – a condition where the entire thyroid gland is overactive and produces too much hormone
- Thyroiditis or inflammation of the thyroid gland
- Excessive iodine
- Nodules that are overactive in the thyroid
Hypothyroidism is often caused by:
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis – a genetic disorder caused by disease of the immune system
- Postpartum thyroiditis that can occur in women after giving birth
- Iodine deficiency
- A non-functioning thyroid gland from birth
How Do I Find Out if I Have Thyroid Disease?
The most definitive way to determine if you have thyroid disease is through a blood test to test levels of T3, T4, and TSH thyroid hormones. Sometimes an imaging test, thyroid scan, or ultrasound will be done to allow the doctor to see the size and shape of the thyroid and determine if any growths or nodules are present. A doctor will also feel your neck to determine if there are any nodules or enlargement of the thyroid.
How Is Thyroid Disease Treated?
Treatment options for hyperthyroidism include anti-thyroid drugs which stop your thyroid from making hormones, radioactive iodine which damages the cells of the thyroid so it won’t prevent high levels of hormones, beta blockers to control symptoms, and surgical removal of the thyroid will stop it from producing hormones. However, if the thyroid is removed, thyroid replacement hormones will be needed for the rest of your life. Treatment for hypothyroidism is thyroid replacement medication (a synthetic way to add thyroid hormones back into your body).
Is There Any Thing I Can Do to Improve the Health of My Thyroid?
There are several foods that help support a healthy thyroid: ginger, brussels sprouts, olive oil, free range poultry, broccoli, seaweed, walnuts, spirulina, turmeric, avocado, and more. Exposure to sunlight or vitamin D are thought to help the thyroid. Hydrate or aim to drink at least half of your body weight in ounces per day to help flush toxins out of the body. Get adequate sleep. Incorporate 30-60 minutes of exercise daily because sweating releases toxins from your body. Laughter is good medicine, so laugh out loud. Laughter not only gets rid of toxins but it also lifts your mood.
doTERRA Essential Oils can also be used to support proper thyroid function. For hyperthyroidism, apply 10 drops of juniper berry, myrrh, and lemongrass in a 10 mL roller bottle diluted with fractionated coconut oil down the back of your neck, front of your neck. and bottoms of your feet. For hypothyroidism, apply 10 drops of lemongrass, clove, myrrh, and peppermint in a 10 mL roller bottle diluted with fractionated coconut oil down the back of your neck, front of your neck. and bottoms of your feet. To improve energy, take Mito2Max capsules. To detox from chemical stressors, add a drop of doTERRA’s lemon, ginger, or turmeric in a glass of water or juice or take Zendocrine softgels.
My Journey
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism after graduating from college and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis when I was pregnant with my son. I suffered from chronic fatigue and had a goiter on my neck. It’s been over 20 years since my diagnosis but incorporating a healthy diet, regular exercise, proper stress relief, use of essential oils, and thyroid hormone supplementation has enabled me to continue to live a vibrant life.
Dr. Kristin L. Jones (Well Oiled PhD) earned her PhD in Cancer Biology from Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
Email: welloiled.phd@gmail.com
