Categories

img

Adrenal Fatigue/Thyroid Imbalance

Thyroid hormone therapy is the use of synthetic thyroid hormones to replace and increase excessively low levels of thyroid hormones. This form of therapy is frequently used to treat hypothyroidism, which is when a person’s thyroid is not producing sufficient thyroid hormones.

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
  • Fatigue
  • Cold and heat intolerance
  • Hypo tension
  • Infertility
  • Fluid retention
  • Dry skin
  • Constipation
  • Headaches
  • Low libido
  • Irregular menstrual periods
  • Aching muscles/joints
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Slow metabolism
  • Decreased heart rate
  • Memory impairment
  • Enlarged tongue
  • Swollen neck
  • Hypoglycemia
  • High cholesterol

Other than hypothyroidism, thyroid hormone therapy may also be used to regulate the growth of an enlarged thyroid gland, also known as a goiter, and to regulate the growth of nodules on the thyroid gland. In addition to aforementioned circumstances, this type of hormone replacement therapy may be used to reduce the risk of thyroid tumors and cancer.
(source: Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center)

Thyroid hormone therapy can help maintain or restore the body’s normal metabolism by replacing missing thyroid hormones and can also help to stop or prevent any remaining cancer cells from growing by lowering thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels.

Adrenal Dysfunction & Hormone Therapy

The adrenal glands secrete hormones such as cortisol, estrogen, and testosterone that are essential to health and vitality and significantly affect total body function. Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant adrenal hormones like cortisol help to minimize allergic and negative symptoms. The adrenal glands gradually become the major source of sex hormones in both men and women. Intense or prolonged physical or emotional stress commonly associated with modern lifestyles or chronic illness can lead to adrenal dysfunction, also known as “adrenal fatigue”, which is an important contributing factor in health conditions ranging from allergies to obesity.

Adrenal hormones closely affect the utilization of carbohydrates and fats, the conversion of fats and proteins into energy, and cardiovascular and gastrointestinal function. Proper adrenal support is essential to complete the hormonal pathway to optimal health, and includes proper nutrition, getting plenty of sleep, regular moderate exercise, stress management, slowing down to regain a proper perspective on life, and replacement of deficient hormones.

Resources

  • JAMA. 2002 Jul 17; 288(3):321-33
  • Chem Res Toxicol. 1998; (11) 94-101
  • J Natl Cancer Inst. 1997 Aug 6;89(15):1110-6
  • Steroids 2000 Oct-Nov;65(10-11):659-64
  • Curr Opin Oncol 2001 Sep;13(5):384-9
  • J Womens Health Gend Based Med. 2000 May;9(4):381-7
  • JAMA. 1995 Jan 18; 273(3):199-208
  • J Am Coll Cardiology 36(7), December 2000:2154-9
  • Nature Medicine 3(3):324-7
  • J Am Coll Cardiology March 1, 1997: 671-5
  • J Reprod Med 1999 Feb;44(2 Suppl):180-4
  • Endocr Rev. 2007 Jun;28(4):387-439
  • Obstetrics & Gynecology 1997, 90(6): 995-8
  • Maturitas. 2008 Jul-Aug:60(3-4):185-201
  • Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am 1998 Dec;27(4):969-87
img img