The Skinny on Hashimoto"s Symptoms & Hashimoto"s Treatment
Ever since Oprah's diagnosis of Hashimoto's it's been the buzz word with the low thyroid hormones audience.
Yet the majority of specialized endocrinologists are unclear about the primary causes of Hashimoto's and the wide variety of Hashimoto's symptoms.
Most physicians also remain uninformed about effective Hashimoto's treatments which are clearly noted in our medical research.
In this first article I'll explain the most plausible research about the causes of Hashimoto's and the logics behind Hashimoto's treatments.
First, some essential biochemistry to help you understand this autoimmune condition.
When thyroid hormones (primarily the one referred to as T4) decline in the blood stream your pituitary gland produces a hormone called TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone).
TSH stimulates your thyroid to make more T4 and it does this by activating thyroid cells to make hydrogen peroxide.
Hydrogen peroxide converts iodide into iodine which is an essential step in the making of T4 (the 4 stands for atoms of iodine).
As long as there is plenty of iodide your thyroid can make plenty of T4.
When this T4 enters your blood stream it will cause the production of TSH to slow down.
BUT if there is not enough iodide the thyroid cannot make enough T4.
This leads to low levels of thyroid hormones in the blood with more TSH being produced in an attempt to get the thyroid to make more T4.
As you can see, this is a vicious cycle.
When TSH remains high the thyroid cells continue making hydrogen peroxide which leads to inflammation, scarring and some destruction of thyroid cells.
This leads to a variety of Hashimoto's symptoms as the thyroid cells go through various stages of inflammation throughout the day.
Hashimoto's symptoms vary from one individual to the next, from hyper to hypo.
Hashimoto's symptoms cannot be used to diagnose Hashimoto's.
Lab tests are absolutely essential.
If you have thyroid symptoms you MUST be working with a professional who uses lab testing and has the most current knowledge including the most up to date research.
Now that you understand the underlying biochemistry that leads to Hashimoto's symptoms you can now grasp the goals of Hashimoto's treatment.
Getting TSH to come down into the low range of normal is the foundation of Hashimoto's treatment.
Lowered TSH will lower hydrogen peroxide production and inflammation.
The second focus of Hashimoto's treatment is to reduce the inflammation in thyroid cells.
Hashimoto's treatment is primarily through the use of trace minerals and vitamins, a specific dosing of a thyroid prescription, the avoidance of allergenic foods including gluten, including antioxidants such as glutathione and selenium, and to avoid iodine.
Of course the primary goal of Hashimoto's treatment is to reduce the thyroid antibody load far enough to break the vicious cycle and to heal the thyroid.
Eventually complete recovery must involve the introduction of iodine and potassium iodide.
Iodine and potassium iodide are absolutely essential for optimal health including the prevention of breast disease.
Yet iodine must be avoided in the first stage of Hashimoto's treatment since it stimulates the production of TSH.
More on this fascinating subject in future articles.
Dr.
Alexander Haskell http://advancingthyroidcare.
wordpress.
com/
Yet the majority of specialized endocrinologists are unclear about the primary causes of Hashimoto's and the wide variety of Hashimoto's symptoms.
Most physicians also remain uninformed about effective Hashimoto's treatments which are clearly noted in our medical research.
In this first article I'll explain the most plausible research about the causes of Hashimoto's and the logics behind Hashimoto's treatments.
First, some essential biochemistry to help you understand this autoimmune condition.
When thyroid hormones (primarily the one referred to as T4) decline in the blood stream your pituitary gland produces a hormone called TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone).
TSH stimulates your thyroid to make more T4 and it does this by activating thyroid cells to make hydrogen peroxide.
Hydrogen peroxide converts iodide into iodine which is an essential step in the making of T4 (the 4 stands for atoms of iodine).
As long as there is plenty of iodide your thyroid can make plenty of T4.
When this T4 enters your blood stream it will cause the production of TSH to slow down.
BUT if there is not enough iodide the thyroid cannot make enough T4.
This leads to low levels of thyroid hormones in the blood with more TSH being produced in an attempt to get the thyroid to make more T4.
As you can see, this is a vicious cycle.
When TSH remains high the thyroid cells continue making hydrogen peroxide which leads to inflammation, scarring and some destruction of thyroid cells.
This leads to a variety of Hashimoto's symptoms as the thyroid cells go through various stages of inflammation throughout the day.
Hashimoto's symptoms vary from one individual to the next, from hyper to hypo.
Hashimoto's symptoms cannot be used to diagnose Hashimoto's.
Lab tests are absolutely essential.
If you have thyroid symptoms you MUST be working with a professional who uses lab testing and has the most current knowledge including the most up to date research.
Now that you understand the underlying biochemistry that leads to Hashimoto's symptoms you can now grasp the goals of Hashimoto's treatment.
Getting TSH to come down into the low range of normal is the foundation of Hashimoto's treatment.
Lowered TSH will lower hydrogen peroxide production and inflammation.
The second focus of Hashimoto's treatment is to reduce the inflammation in thyroid cells.
Hashimoto's treatment is primarily through the use of trace minerals and vitamins, a specific dosing of a thyroid prescription, the avoidance of allergenic foods including gluten, including antioxidants such as glutathione and selenium, and to avoid iodine.
Of course the primary goal of Hashimoto's treatment is to reduce the thyroid antibody load far enough to break the vicious cycle and to heal the thyroid.
Eventually complete recovery must involve the introduction of iodine and potassium iodide.
Iodine and potassium iodide are absolutely essential for optimal health including the prevention of breast disease.
Yet iodine must be avoided in the first stage of Hashimoto's treatment since it stimulates the production of TSH.
More on this fascinating subject in future articles.
Dr.
Alexander Haskell http://advancingthyroidcare.
wordpress.
com/