Keys to Fixing Thyroid Problems?

Got Thyroid Problems? Here is the Key to Fixing Them

At Omaha Integrative Health Care in Omaha, NE, we practice in a completely different way than most traditional practices in the health field. Instead of just treating the symptoms of the thyroid (or any other condition, for that matter), we find and treat the underlying causes or things that contribute to making the condition worse.

There is certainly value in treating symptoms, after all, who wants to suffer? However, if that is all we treat, the condition is left unabated and tends to get worse over time. The key to getting healthy is to get to the root of the problem.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE A THYROID PROBLEM?

The simple answer is: you don’t…not without testing. However, there are some symptoms that are typical of thyroid problems, such as:

• Weight gain and/or difficulty losing weight
• Weight Loss/difficulty gaining weight
• Always feeling tired
• Always feeling cold
• Thinning hair
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Muscle aches/pains
• Stiff joints
• Knee pain
• Forgetfulness and difficulty/slower thinking
• Enlarged thyroid gland visible in the neck (goiter)

If you exhibit these symptoms, you may have a thyroid that is not producing the proper amount of hormones. It is possible to have an overactive thyroid or, far more commonly, to have an underactive thyroid. Traditional medical practices will, typically, immediately begin masking your symptoms with a synthetic thyroid hormone (usually Synthroid or Levothyroxine), instead of dealing with the underlying causes. However, our integrated health center operates differently.

First of all, we test…a LOT! Tests are like a “cheat sheet” that can tell you what is really going on inside- kind of like sending an inspector to do a walk-through of your house. After thorough consideration of  your medical history and the information gathered from your labs, we look for tangible factors that are causing your thyroid to react in this way. Once the root cause of hypothyroidism has been identified, we begin addressing those causes. We will work to remove whatever obstacle is obstructing your body’s biochemical pathway, returning your body to optimal function.

YOU NEED TO FIND OUT WHY YOUR THYROID IS ACTING CRAZY

The most common cause, by far (especially in women), is an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s, which we will discuss in the next article. Regardless of the reason, traditional medicine seeks to hush the body’s complaints (the symptoms), while the underlying belief of integrative medicine is that the body wants to heal itself and will if you simply find out why the body is “acting up” in the first place and help it do its job when the body can no longer do it on its own. Some potential causes of hypothyroidism include:

• Autoimmune disorders (this is the most common cause, by far)
• Inflamed gastrointestinal system
• Vitamin or mineral deficiency or imbalance
• An elevated level of cortisol due to stress
• Elevated estrogen level
• Other hormonal imbalances
• Medications
• Infections

HYPOTHYROID RELIEF IN OMAHA, NE

At Omaha Integrated Health, we have years of experience addressing bodily ailments including hypothyroidism through integrative care. To learn more about hypothyroidism or if integrative medicine is right for you, schedule an appointment today by calling us at (402) 932-5929.