Thyroid Health
Your thyroid, that small butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, plays a vital role in how you feel each day—from your energy levels to your metabolism. Let’s look at how this small but mighty gland affects your well-being and what you can do to support its optimal function.
Recognizing the Signs: What Your Body May Be Telling You
When your thyroid isn’t functioning at its best, your body sends clear signals. For those with an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), you might experience persistent fatigue, unexplained weight gain, or feeling cold constantly. On the flip side, an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) can leave you feeling anxious, dealing with unexplained weight loss, or experiencing a racing heart.
Standard Medical Testing for Thyroid Function
Traditional medical assessments typically involve two primary tests:
- TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone): Measures the hormone that signals the thyroid to produce hormones.
- T4 (Thyroxine): Assesses the inactive thyroid hormone levels in the blood.
While these tests provide some insight into thyroid function, they may not offer a complete picture of what is happening in the body.
A Functional Approach to Thyroid Testing
From a functional medicine perspective, we can take a deeper dive into thyroid health and include additional tests to uncover the root causes of dysfunction:
- T3 (Triiodothyronine): The active form of thyroid hormone that directly impacts metabolism.
- Free T4 and Free T3: These tests measure the unbound, active hormones circulating in the blood, providing a clearer picture of thyroid activity.
- Reverse T3: Helps identify potential inflammation or stress in the body that may interfere with normal thyroid function.
- Thyroid Antibodies: To detect autoimmune conditions such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Graves’ disease, we can conduct tests for Thyroglobulin Antibodies and Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) Antibodies.
Schedule an Appointment
Our Root Cause Functional Medicine ™ approach looks at the whole picture—from hormone balance to lifestyle factors—to create a personalized plan that works for you. By addressing root causes rather than just managing symptoms, we can help you achieve lasting improvements in your health.
Schedule a comprehensive thyroid evaluation today with Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner Dr. Randi Case.
