Although the symptom list above may not seem serious, untreated hypothyroidism can result in serious health consequences including hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, cardiac dysfunction, congestive heart failure, diabetes, hypo and hypercoagulability. All of which are risk factors for stroke.

Hypothyroidism is a disease that occurs when the thyroid is underactive. Because the hormone produced in the thyroid gland regulates metabolism in every organ and cell in the body an underactive thyroid leads to many body functions slowing down.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism occur slowly and can be overlooked or mistaken for other conditions such as depression, arthritis or dementia in older adults.

Hypothyroidism occurs in children and men but is more common in women between the ages of 30 to 50 years. Women are 4-10 times more likely than men to be diagnosed with hypothyroidism than men. 

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

Most cases of hypothyroidism are caused by a condition called Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. This is an autoimmune disorder where your immune system damages or destroys your thyroid gland. The damaged thyroid gland is then unable to produce sufficient levels of thyroid hormone to keep your body functioning properly. The word hypo means less than normal so in the case of hypothyroidism, less than normal function of the thyroid gland.   

Postpartum Thyroiditis

Postpartum thyroiditis occurs in women after childbirth. Postpartum thyroiditis is also thought to be an autoimmune disorder but is often brought on by depleted thyroid stores and often resolves and is not a permanent condition.  

Thyroid Surgery

Hypothyroidism can result from radioactive iodine treatment and surgery for hyperthyroidism or thyroid cancer. In both cases hypothyroidism can occur. 

Iodine Deficiency 

Severe iodine deficiency can cause hypothyroidism although this is very rare in first world countries. Your thyroid needs iodine to make the thyroid hormone thyroxine. Therefore severe iodine deficiency can cause hypothyroidism. 

Age and thyroid function

Individuals over the age of 60 years are more likely to present with what is called ‘sub-clinical’ hypothyroidism which is characterized by elevated TSH with normal free thyroid concentrations. The clinical picture in older adults is more subtle than in younger individuals but thyroid issues can progress and affect health and cognitive function. So it is important that your health provider is knowledgeable and skilled in picking up on these nuances in the older adult population. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of fatigue and mental decline, book a consult and get tested!

At the Integrative Health and Preventive Medicine Clinic we specialize in treating individuals with hypothyroidism. 

What to expect

NP Michelle Martin will listen to you and take your symptoms seriously. 

She will conduct laboratory testing that includes seven biomarkers in your thyroid function testing. This is more thorough and accurate in the diagnosis and treatment of hypothyroidism than the usual TSH only testing. 

She will conduct a comprehensive thyroid evaluation including your personal account of symptomatology, diet, lifestyle and stressors to assist you in creating a long-term plan of care to manage symptoms of low thyroid and autoimmune flares if your thyroid condition is determined to be the result of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. 

NP Michelle will test your blood levels six weeks after you start on thyroid replacement therapy, then again in another six weeks. After that your thyroid levels will be tested every three months for the first year to ensure your thyroid replacement dose is right for you. Once your dose is stable she will conduct blood work every six months. 

Yes we can. 

If you have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and are receiving thyroid replacement therapy and still have symptoms associated with low thyroid, we can help. 

Approximately 15 percent of individuals who require thyroid replacement therapy do not respond to conventional thyroid medication. 

Conventional thyroid medication is synthetically made and contains a substance called thyroxine four or T4. In order for T4 affect metabolism it needs to be converted by an enzyme in the body into the active form of thyroid hormone called T3. So if you are in that 15 percent of individuals with hypothyroidism, receiving conventional thyroid treatment, you may still be experiencing symptoms for this reason. We can help.   

At Integrative Health and Preventive Medicine we conduct comprehensive thyroid testing to determine the right thyroid replacement medication for you. We take into consideration not only on the lab test findings but on your reports of symptom cessation and wellbeing in determining treatment outcomes. Your link to wellness and treatment of thyroid symptoms may only require and change in your medication. We do use conventional therapies but also use natural desiccated thyroid hormone which works better for some people. Contact us for a consultation.

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition where your immune system attacks the cells in your thyroid gland. This immune response causes damage to thyroid cells through inflammation and buildup of white blood cells. Because Hashimoto’s is often slow to progress treatment of autoimmunity using LDN may help to decrease flare-ups and result in preservation of some thyroid function. 

The exact mechanism of LDN is not well understood but it has shown to suppress inflammatory cytokines that cause inflammation in the thyroid gland. By decreasing the autoimmune inflammation the thyroid gland may be able to produce more thyroid hormone. 

LDN is also thought to increase endorphin levels which helps to improve mood, pain and overall lethargy in thyroid sufferers. Book a consult to learn more.