thyroid
Ask the Doctor Series 1 – Thyroid Dr. Leila Kirdani: ASKS?
- Do you feel tired all the time?
- Do you have mental fog?
- Do you feel depressed?
- Are you constipated?
- Are you sensitive to temperature extremes?
- Is your hair falling out?
- You could have thyroid disease!
Dr. Leila Kirdani Explains: WHAT IS THE THYROID? The thyroid is a gland that sits at the base of our necks that is responsible for controlling the metabolic rate of our entire bodies. Thyroid hormone controls how fast our cells work, how much work our cells do, and how many molecules of energy our cells produce. Without an optimally working thyroid gland we feel sluggish, we may have trouble loosing weight or our thought processes may become more difficult. In essence, we believe we “slowed down” or started that “adult aging” process. Thyroid hormone is required for the proper functioning of all cells, including the brain and the heart. Low thyroid has been implicated in heart disease, especially congestive heart failure. Dr Leila Kirdani Educates: HOW DOES THE THYROID WORK? As with all glands and hormones, the thyroid gland is a finely tuned organ that responds to feedback mechanisms from throughout the body. Here’s how it works: the pituitary gland in the brain produces thyroid stimulating hormone, or TSH. This travels through the blood to stimulate the thyroid to produce thyroxine, or T4. T4 is a protein with four iodine molecules attached to it, and is not the active form of thyroid hormone. It needs to be taken up by the cells in the body and have an iodine molecule cleaved off, converting it to T3. The conversion of T4 to T3 takes zinc, selenium and iodine, so if you are low in minerals this conversion will not be adequate. T3 is the active form of thyroid hormone that travels through the body stimulating the metabolic rate of all of our cells. Here’s the kicker: T4 can also be converted to a molecule called REVERSE T3. Reverse T3 is the MIRROR IMAGE of T3, and as such, can bind to the T3 receptor sites. Instead of producing stimulation, reverse T3 just sits there and does nothing. It actually prevents T3 from binding, so reverse T3 makes your entire metabolism slower. If you have a lot of reverse T3, even if your TSH looks good, you will still feel hypothyroid (slow thyroid). Reverse T3 is caused by three things: stress, heavy metal toxicity, and an elevated serum insulin level. Dr. Leila Kirdani Offers: WHY ARE THYROID PROBLEMS SO PREVALENT? Our 21st century world is very hard on our thyroid glands. We are all over-stressed, which affects our thyroids. Toxins in our environment also affect the thyroid. These include heavy metals and bromide. Bromide is a chemical used in fabrics as a fire-retardant, and it displaces iodine in the thyroid which inhibits thyroid function. Dr. Leila Kirdani Offers : HOW CAN I FIX MY THYROID? Because most doctors do not recognize reverse T3, it is important to work with a doctor who is trained in anti-aging or functional medicine. It is very important to look at your level of stress treatment. Minerals and especially iodine are also extremely helpful for correcting thyroid function. Detoxifying heavy metals in the system. A complete review along with saliva and blood work gives a better direction to pursue for each individual is unique and reacts differently.