Have you ever wondered what your thyroid is??  Your thyroid is two inches long and its “wings” are wrapped around your windpipe.  It’s an important little gland that produces several hormones including two that are key in regulating growth and metabolism: T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine).

T3 and T4 hormones are essential because they:

• Help cells convert calories and oxygen into energy
• Determine growth and development of many tissues in the body, including the brain and skeleton
• Work to increase Basal Metabolic Rate—the amount of energy you burn just sitting still

So what happens when the thyroid gland produces too much or too little T3 and T4 hormones?

Hypothyroidism: Underactive Thyroid Disease

When your thyroid gland doesn’t make enough of the essential thyroid hormones (either one or both T3 or T4), symptoms of hypothyroidism eventually pop up. Hypothyroidism can be caused by removal of the thyroid gland, a hypothyroid condition present at birth, inflammation of the thyroid gland, radiation exposure, or an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s Disease.

You’re more likely to develop hypothyroidism if:

• You’re a woman
• You’re over age 60
• You have a family history of thyroid disease
• You have another autoimmune disease such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus
• You’ve been pregnant in the last six months

Symptoms of hypothyroidism include weight gain, difficulty metabolizing carbohydrates and sugars, joint pain, depression, infertility or irregular periods, tightness in the throat, sensitivity to heat and cold, panic attacks, high cholesterol, memory loss, vision problems, dry skin and hair loss.

Diagnosis for hypothyroidism is made by measuring blood levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Generally, if the TSH level is above normal, it means hypothyroidism. A low T4 level also indicates hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroid treatment includes taking a synthetic hormone replacement (identical to T4). To determine the dosage, blood levels of TSH are tested regularly.

Hyperthyroidism: Overactive Thyroid Disease

When the thyroid gland makes more thyroid hormone than you need, many bodily functions speed up—including metabolism.

You’re more likely to develop hyperthyroidism if:

• You’re a woman
• You’re over age 60
• You have a family history of thyroid disease
• You have type 1 diabetes
• You’ve been pregnant in the last six months
• You have a vitamin B12 deficiency

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include: insomnia, nervousness, weight loss, mood swings and irritability, rapid and irregular heartbeat, heat intolerance and the development of a goiter (an enlarged, swollen thyroid gland). Hyperthyroidism can be caused by Graves’ disease, thyroid nodules (lumps in the thyroid), inflammation of the thyroid, consuming too much iodine, or taking too much synthetic thyroid hormone to treat hypothyroidism.

Diagnosis for hyperthyroidism is made after your doc does a few blood tests. The following factors point to hyperthyroidism:

• TSH levels are very low
• T3 and T4 levels are high
• Radioactive Iodine Uptake is abnormal

Radioactive Iodine Uptake (RAI-U) testing is just what it sounds like: the test shows how much radioactive iodine your thyroid can absorb four to six hours and then 24 hours after consuming a dose of iodine.  This is important because it helps determine what exactly is sending your thyroid into overdrive. Health professionals will also feel for an enlarged thyroid, listen for heart palpitations, and measure for weight loss as they diagnose hyperthyroidism.

Treatment of hyperthyroidism is trickier and more individualized depending on the cause of the hyperthyroidism and the severity of it. Treatment often includes radioiodine therapy, surgery, and/or medication to ease the many health challenges that arise from an overactive thyroid. Although there may not be holistic treatments for hyperthyroidism, there are still many diet and lifestyle upgrades you can make to improve your overall thyroid gland health.