Monday, 02 January 2012 08:39
a common cause of fatigue and slow metabolism is hypothyroidism, which involves the thyroid gland; a small, butterfly shaped gland that sits at the base of your neck and controls your metabolism or the speed at which your body operates. If functioning properly, secretions from the thyroid gland can elevate your mood and energy. However, when it is not producing enough hormones, such as in the case of hypothyroidism, it can lead to fatigue and many other symptoms.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism include:
* Fatigue
* Increased weight gain, even with a low-calorie diet
* Depression
* Constipation
* Overly sensitive to cold weather
* Poor circulation and numbness in hands and feet
* Muscle cramps at rest
* Itchy, dry skin
* Hair falls out easily
* Low basal body temperatures
Some 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease, and up to 60 percent of those with thyroid disease are unaware of their condition. Women are five to eight times as likely to develop this problem, and the most prevalent cause of thyroid disorders is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This condition causes the body to destroy the cells responsible for producing thyroxin and other hormones secreted by the thyroid gland. This will result in a hypothyroid or a slow metabolism.
Some thyroid disorders are overlooked because many patients who suffer from “hypothyroid symptoms” may not have a problem with their actual thyroid, but rather with the glands that control the thyroid such as the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, which are located in the brain. The hypothalamus and pituitary gland secrete hormones that control the thyroid.
The process of creating these active hormones is quite complex, so the first thing everyone must understand is that your hormone system or endocrine system is like an intricate web. If one hormone is in excess or is diminished, then it will affect another, creating a domino effect. Your hormones are messengers that tell different cells in your body what to do. Your active thyroid hormones go to each cell and tell them to take up more oxygen and burn more fuel, which gives you energy just like stepping on a gas pedal will accelerate your car.
Diagnosis of hypothyroid is usually based on lab results with corresponding signs and symptoms. If the lab test shows a high TSH level, then you will most likely be diagnosed as hypothyroid (because your body is trying to make more thyroid hormones to compensate for already low levels). Current medical treatment for elevated TSH levels includes prescription thyroid medication which may increase your metabolism and energy levels, but may not address the underlying disorder(s) and thus will not restore health and balance to the body. Other important lab tests for the thyroid include free T3 and T4, free thyroxin index, T3 uptake, and thyroid antibodies. These tests can rule out disorders of other glands in the body that control the thyroid and help focus treatment on the root cause.
Dr. Naota Hashimoto
