Thyroid disease is one of the most common medical conditions in the country. In America alone, an estimated 27 million individuals have thyroid disease, which could potentially be as high as 60 million. That’s where thyroid optimization comes into play.
But unfortunately, thyroid disease is also one of the more difficult medical conditions to diagnose and treat. This is exactly why the estimated number of people with thyroid disease could be off by millions. And many people who have thyroid disease may not even know it until it becomes a major and unavoidable problem.
- Why is thyroid disease so hard to pinpoint?
- What are the signs?
- What can you do if you suspect you have a problem with your thyroid?
- How can thyroid optimization help you?
It all starts by understanding the thyroid’s role in the body and reading the signs there’s a problem with your thyroid health.
What Is the Thyroid and What Does It Do?
The thyroid gland is a tiny organ situated in the neck, connected to the windpipe. As a gland, the thyroid creates and releases hormones, which have a wide effect on other functions within your body.
Most importantly, the thyroid gland helps control your metabolism through a few specific hormones:
- T4 – Thyroxine – Contains four iodine atoms.
- T3 – Triiodothyronine – Contains three iodine atoms.
When your thyroid is not working properly and does not produce the correct amount of hormones (which is the condition known as thyroid disease), it can have a long list of impacts and effects on your health and everyday life.
Risk Factors of Thyroid Disease
Many inherent risk factors may increase your chances of developing thyroid disease.
And many of these factors start with your physical and genetic make-up. These inherent traits can increase your risk of thyroid disease and include the following.
- A family history of thyroid disease or other thyroid issues.
- As the majority of thyroid disease patients are female, you are a woman.
- Thyroid disease is more common as we age. You are over 60-years old.
- You have a corresponding and pre-existing medical condition, such as:
- Anemia
- Type 1 diabetes
- Primary adrenal insufficiency
- Lupus
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Sjögren’s syndrome
- Turner syndrome
- You take medications that are high in iodine.
Also, other factors – such as your weight, body composition, and fat distributions – may come into play when it comes to thyroid disease. This is exactly why we use a variety of in-depth diagnostic tools to understand your risk of thyroid disease, as well as your individualized treatment.
Thyroid Disease Symptoms
One of the reasons why thyroid disease can go for years without a proper diagnosis is that providers link thyroid issue symptoms to other conditions.
As such, pay close attention to warning signs. Some symptoms may seem like they are connected to a different or more generalized medical issue, like:
- Mood disorder
- Weight-related issues
- Digestive problems
Clear Indicators
However, they can be a clear indication of thyroid disease, as described below.
- Generalized fatigue, regardless of getting plenty of rest.
- Brain fog and cognitive problems, such as an increase in forgetfulness or a lack of motivation.
- An inability to lose weight despite adjusting your diet or lifestyle includes exercising more, cutting calories, or other traditional weight loss issues.
- Recurring digestive issues, such as constipation.
- A diagnosis of mood disorders, including depression and anxiety.
- Feeling depressed or experiencing mood swings that can range from lethargic to irritable and antsy.
- Fluid retention, and particularly around the face, hands, and feet.
- Poorly regulated blood sugar and insulin resistance.
- A slow metabolism that does not increase with an uptick in exercise or by taking dietary supplements.
As you can likely see by reviewing the list, these symptoms can easily indicate other medical issues. But if you notice any of the above, it’s time to schedule an in-depth consultation with the Lamkin Clinic to determine if the root cause of any of these effects is, in fact, thyroid disease.
How We Can Help You With Thyroid Optimization
There are many potential missteps in traditional medicine when it comes to diagnosing and treating patients’ thyroid issues.
This is exactly why millions of Americans are currently living with thyroid disease but have never been properly diagnosed.
In a traditional doctor’s office setting, they only assess TSH when screening for thyroid problems. This process can omit many individuals who have had low thyroid hormone levels for years.
And providers need to address these thyroid issues immediately! There can often be a disconnect:
- Between what the brain is sensing (TSH)
- What is happening in circulation (T3 and T4 blood levels)
- What is happening in the cells and tissues (receptor sensitivity)
That’s why Dr. Lamkin’s approach is different and much more in-depth.
Our Thyroid Optimization Protocol
At the Lamkin Clinic, our thyroid optimization protocol involves an initial lab assessment, including:
- TSH
- T3 (free)
- T4 (free)
- Reverse T3
- Thyroglobulin antibody
- Thyroid peroxidase antibody
After performing these initial diagnostic tests, a full review and discussion of all treatment options (and a review of the thyroid optimization protocol) will occur. We do all this to ensure we determine the best treatment plan that fits in with your lifestyle.
Thyroid Optimizing Starts With Your T3 Levels
At the Lamkin Clinic, we’ve found the key to helping patients with low thyroid feel their best is to optimize their T3 levels with sustained levels throughout the day.
This practice is leaps and bounds above the traditional method of administering a one-dimensional treatment that only uses synthetic T4 containing treatments, such as Levothyroxine.
Monitoring Your Health
After your prescribed treatment, we’ll monitor your health closely over the following weeks and months, using:
- Basal body temperatures
- Blood pressure measurements
- Heart rate measurements
- Periodic labs
Through our comprehensive treatment plans and diligent follow-up, we find our patients’ thyroid levels ultimately reach optimal physiologic levels, affecting every aspect of their health and their outlook.
Concerned you may have a problem with your thyroid? It’s time to give us a call! At the Lamkin Clinic, we’ll work hard using the most modern and effective diagnostic tools and treatments available to ensure your thyroid optimization and health stays in focus.