Examining Thyroid Function for the New Year
by Dr. Randy Martin, OMD, LAc, CCH, QME
Why Am I Tired, Have Achy Joints & Weight Issues?
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of a thyroid disorder can include “fatigue, increased sensitivity to cold, constipation, dry skin, unexplained weight gain, puffy face, hoarseness, muscle weakness, elevated blood cholesterol level, muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness, pain, stiffness or swelling in your joints, heavier than normal or irregular menstrual periods, thinning hair, slowed heart rate, depression and impaired memory”.
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If you think you have symptoms of a thyroid problem and are a woman over 35, your odds of a thyroid disorder are high-more than 30 percent, by some estimates. At least 30 million Americans have a thyroid disorder and half-15 million-are silent sufferers who are undiagnosed, according to The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.
A simple blood test could help you find out if you have a thyroid disorder. People with symptoms or risk factors may need tests more often.
Dr Martin can provide you with a low cost lab and recommend the correct lab tests and interpretation to determine if your thyroid function is partially to blame for how you feel. It much more common than you may think to have even a slightly low thyroid function which can cause many of your symptoms. Even skin problems or fertility issues can be from a low thyroid. Also libido issues, endometriosis, and fibroids, can in part be from low thyroid. Headaches? They often have a thyroid component.
There are Chinese herbs, Acupuncture points, Nutritional Supplements, Diets and Homeopathy which will help regulate the thyroid if we find it to be low. Diet plays a huge roll, and there are specific foods to eat and not eat when thyroid function is being targeted in treatment.
Contact Dr. Martin for information on how to easily and cheaply test your thyroid function and how to treat it most economically and effectively.