It is common for thyroid problems to begin to appear at menopause. Your ovaries have thyroid receptors. Your thyroid gland has ovarian receptors. Therefore the loss of estradiol and testosterone from your ovaries that occurs at menopause can change your thyroid status.
An imbalance of your thyroid hormone can affect every metabolic function in your body. Your thyroid gland is your body regulator. It regulates energy and heat production, growth, tissue repair and development, and stimulates protein synthesis. Furthermore, thyroid hormone modulates carbohydrates, protein and fat metabolism, vitamin uses, digestion, function of the mitochondria (energy makers of your cells), muscle and nerve action, blood flow, hormone excretion, oxygen utilization, and sexual function to list just some its uses.
The following are symptoms of low thyroid production (hypothyroidism):
- Depression
- Weight gain
- Constipation
- Headaches
- Brittle nails
- Rough, dry skin
- Menstrual irregularities
- Fluid retention
- Poor circulation
- Elbow keratosis
- Diffuse hair loss
- Slow speech
- Anxiety/panic attacks
- Decreased memory
- Inability to concentrate
- Muscle and joint pain
- Reduced heart rate
- Slow movements
- Morning stiffness
- Puffy face
- Swollen eyelids
- Decreased sexual interest
- Cold intolerance
- Cold hands and feet
- Swollen legs, feet, hands, abdomen
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Low body temperature
- Hoarse, husky voice
- Low blood pressure
- Muscle weakness
- Agitation
- Sparse, coarse, dry hair
- Dull facial expression
- Yellowish color of skin
- Muscle cramps
- Drooping eyelids
- Carpel tunnel syndrome
Other interesting facts about hypothyroidism:
- Thyroid hormones also affect muscle metabolism. If your thyroid is not functioning optimally them you do not build muscle.
- Low thyroid hormone levels directly cause low Pregnenolone levels in hypothyroid patients.
- Mild thyroid dysfunction is associated with heart disease.
- Decreased T3 production will cause less cholesterol to be removed from your blood which causes an elevation of LDL (bad cholesterol). People with low thyr0id levels have raised cholesterol levels 10 to 50% higher than people with normal thyroid function.
- Many people with fibromyalgia have hypothyroidism.
At the Harding Anti-Aging Center, Dr. Harding includes your entire thyroid panel including your free T3, free T4, TSH, and thyroid antibodies.
Important facts:
- Hypothyroidism (low thyroid) frequently appears at menopause.
- Your thyroid is your body regulator, therefore it needs to be functioning at an optimal level.
- If you are taking thyroid replacement, you need T3 as well as T4.
- Nutrition is a very important part of how well your thyroid functions.
- Medications can affect your body’s ability to make thyroid hormone.
- Toxins can affect thyroid function.
- Your other hormones greatly affect how your thyroid hormone is working.
- It is important that your doctor test your entire thyroid panel and not just your TSH to see if you are hypothyroid.
