It’s not what you think it is…
If you suffer from Hashimoto’s disease or dysautonomia you may not realize that the symptoms you are currently experiencing may not be due to your thyroid hormone levels! This article is meant to help you to understand how the thyroid and the nervous system are intimately connected. Most of the symptoms you are currently experiencing are probably NOT due to a problem with your thyroid hormone levels. In fact, much of what you are likely suffering from is the impact Hashimoto’s has on your brain, nervous system and the regulation of other hormones in your body.
This autoimmune disease causes problems in the body far beyond your thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is only one part of the body that is being affected. It causes inflammation in the body, affects the digestive system, nervous system (brain), other hormone systems, disrupts metabolisms and energy production…the list goes on and on. This is why it may be critical for you to seek the help of a functional medicine doctor even if you currently have normal levels of thyroid hormone.
Hashimoto’s Disease Symptoms
Hashimoto’s is a complex disease. It’s like a web that touches and entangles other systems in your body. Common symptoms of Hashimoto’s disease or commonly called Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: include fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, constipation, dry skin and hair, muscle weakness, joint pain, depression, menstrual irregularities, hoarseness, and thyroid gland swelling (goiter). Read more about the common disease symptoms from our Hashimoto’s specialist now. Weight gain and Hashimoto’s are commonly experienced concurrently and this is due in part to the fact that thyroid hormone plays a vital role in the regulation of metabolism. Learn more about weight loss solutions from Naperville Integrated Wellness now. Fatigue and Hashimoto’s go hand in hand. Low thyroid function often results in such intense levels of exhaustion that many individuals report that they can’t go a day without taking a nap. Memory issues and brain fog are common symptoms that are experienced by those with Hashimoto’s. Autoimmunity creates an inflammatory state in the body and inflammation can lead to brain fog, memory and concentration problems. Anxiety may happen with Hashimoto’s since thyroid hormone plays a role in the production and regulation of neurotransmitters. These chemical messengers affect mood and well-being. Learn more about the natural solution towards anxiety now. Depression and Hashimoto’s disease are linked through thyroid dysfunction’s impact on neurotransmitters, crucial for mood regulation. Underactive thyroid due to Hashimoto’s alters neurotransmitter levels, potentially causing symptoms like sadness, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. Addressing thyroid health, especially in Hashimoto’s patients, is vital to alleviate depressive symptoms and enhance mental well-being. Insomnia can occur with Hashimoto’s due to the fact that thyroid hormones can throw the whole body chemistry out of balance. This can lead to several scenarios by which the sleep cycle can be thrown off. Get your sleep cycle back on track and learn more about the natural solution to insomnia now. Digestive issues can occur with Hashimoto’s disease because thyroid hormones regulate digestion. When the hormones are out of balance, digestion and gastric emptying time are affected and bloating and impaired motility occur. Hashimoto’s affects other hormones, and this can lead to PCOS, menstrual cycle problems, scanty or heavy menstruation, infertility, etc. Hashimoto’s results in impaired thyroid function and this can affect a person’s insulin and blood sugar levels. Trying to lose weight with hypothyroidism can necessitate a custom approach. This can also correlate to the symbiosis of weight loss and blood sugar levels. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis can increase the risk of liver inflammation and dysfunction. Since the liver is the major organ of detoxification, impaired function may impact the body’s ability to detoxify harmful products ingested, but also the toxic compounds produced in the body. See picture below. “The traditional teaching that the cerebellum is purely a motor control device no longer appears valid, if, indeed, ever it was. There is increasing recognition that the cerebellum contributes to cognitive processing and emotional control in addition to its role in motor coordination. There are also reciprocal connections between the cerebellum and hypothalamus. These pathways facilitate cerebellar incorporation into the distributed neural circuits governing intellect, emotion and autonomic function in addition to sensorimotor control.” https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/129/2/290/292272 Here we will look at one aspect of Hashimoto’s and its impact on the brain. How does this happen? First, we must understand what is happening with Hashimoto’s and the thyroid. One of the antibodies used to diagnose Hashimoto’s is called TPO antibody. This antibody is made by your immune system which causes your immune system to attack and destroy your thyroid gland. This active process is more specifically referred to as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. (Note: New treatments for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are constantly being explored in the field of functional medicine.) The same antibodies from your immune system that are causing the damage to your thyroid can also damage your brain. This is where we begin to understand how autoimmune thyroid and dysautonomia (an immune and brain-based condition) are interconnected. Dysautonomia is a condition that causes dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). This system controls the aspects of our nervous system that are not under voluntary control. Some examples include: heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, digestion, body temperature and stress response. We now know this same antibody can cause your immune system to attack other parts of your body; in particular, the area of your brain called the cerebellum. So, now we can see one way in which the brain is impacted by an antibody that is typically only associated with the thyroid gland. Your cerebellum plays a vital role in regulation of another part of your brain called the hypothalamus. Your hypothalamus plays a pivotal role in the regulation of your autonomic nervous system (ANS), the part of central nervous system (CNS) that is associated with dysautonomia. *Simplified schematic to reflect just one target dysfunction “Initial brain MRI was normal, but follow-up MRI showed diffuse cerebellar atrophy. Similar outcomes have been reported… and anti-TPO antibodies have been shown to bind to cerebellar glial cells.” https://n.neurology.org/content/82/10_Supplement/P6.023 You may have noticed my focus on the nervous system impact of Hashimoto’s disease. This is because your nervous system is responsible for the control of so many functions in your body. Thyroid hormones, hence autoimmune thyroid, directly impacts aspects of the nervous system (parasympathetic thyroid, sympathetic thyroid) however, the effects are also experienced via the brain (cerebellum, hypothalamus and pituitary gland in your head). Your primary care physician or endocrinologist is not going to do anything for your Hashimoto’s other than prescribe thyroid medication. This only treats one aspect of this complex disease – low thyroid hormones. Getting your thyroid hormones in balance is only the start of managing this complex illness. This is why it is important to seek a consultation with a functional medicine doctor if you have Hashimoto’s disease. Your doctor is NOT addressing Hashimoto’s disease which is not synonymous with hypothyroidism. “These connections provide evidence for the key role of the cerebellum and hypothalamus in physiological regulatory processes such as autonomic and endocrine homeostasis.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14964685/ This means your cerebellum is intimately involved in the regulation of your autonomic nervous system and your endocrine system (the hormone system…estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, thyroid, insulin, etc.) This is because your cerebellum affects your hypothalamus…the part of your brain that regulates the autonomic nervous system and the regulation of your hormones. “The pituitary gland is often portrayed as the “master gland” of the body. Such praise is justified in the sense that the anterior and posterior pituitary secrete a battery of hormones that collectively influence all cells and affect virtually all physiologic processes. The pituitary gland may be king, but the power behind the throne is clearly the hypothalamus. As alluded to in the last section, some of the neurons within the hypothalamus – neurosecretory neurons – secrete hormones that strictly control secretion of hormones from the anterior pituitary. The hypothalamic hormones are referred to as releasing hormones and inhibiting hormones, reflecting their influence on anterior pituitary hormones.” http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/endocrine/hypopit/overview.html We don’t normally think of our brains controlling our hormones, but it that is exactly what is happening. Don’t get me wrong, it is a bit more complex than this, but regulation begins in your hypothalamus, which then sends directions to your pituitary gland, which communicates directions to the endocrine glands, which we call “target glands” ( examples: thyroid gland, ovaries, testicles, etc.). Summary: Hashimoto’s disease can have a negative impact on your brain, when this happens it can affect virtually any system in your body. One of the known targets of the brain is the cerebellum. Even subtle compromise of cerebellum function can alter another part of your brain called the hypothalamus. This part of your brain is the origination point of regulation of your autonomic nervous system and your endocrine/hormone system. Hashimoto’s disease and/or dysautonomia does more than destroy your thyroid gland, it affects your entire body. This is why taking a functional medicine approach is so important. Having your thyroid hormones in balance is just the start…you need to get your immune system in a state of better regulation and protect your brain and the rest of your body. This is what we do! At Naperville Integrated Wellness, we see many patients who suffer from Hashimoto’s Disease. Many of these individuals have already been to conventional doctors prior to coming to see us. These doctors don’t care if you have Hashimoto’s autoimmunity because it doesn’t change how they treat a patient. The standard treatment for hypothyroid is to prescribe thyroid hormone. If you merely have symptoms but not low thyroid hormones, they do nothing! My patients have told me that they have left a doctor’s appointment feeling ignored and dismissed. Or, if they have been prescribed hormones, many have reported they feel no better. There are definitely situations where thyroid medication is necessary, but this is not always the answer. Here at Naperville Integrated Wellness, we specialize in functional medicine and the treatment of autoimmune thyroid. If you are looking for a Hashimoto’s Functional Medicine Specialist or are concerned about your thyroid health and how best to treat it. At a Hashimoto’s functional medicine specialist appointment, expect a thorough assessment of your medical history and symptoms, along with a physical examination. The specialist will explore root causes beyond conventional medicine, possibly recommending diagnostic tests to identify factors like thyroid function and nutrient deficiencies. Following this, a personalized treatment plan will be devised, including dietary changes, supplements, and lifestyle adjustments. Follow-up appointments will monitor progress and make any necessary modifications to the plan. We are here to help! Please feel free to give us a call for a free phone consultation: 1-630-210-8391. We look forward to hearing from you. Functional medicine aims to comprehend bodily functions, investigate health concerns effectively, identify pertinent factors, interpret findings meaningfully, and devise strategies to rectify underlying health issues. Wishing you improved health, happiness, and an enhanced quality of life! For further insights into functional and integrative medicine, or to learn more about Dr. Sharon Borkowski or Dr. Sexton, visit napervilleintegratedwellness.com. Conduct thorough research, educate yourself, and inquire extensively. When gathering information, it’s crucial to scrutinize its source. The healthcare landscape is rife with misinformation, outdated data, profit-driven agendas, and biases, even within esteemed sources and organizations. Please note that this healthcare approach is not aimed at diagnosing, treating, curing, mitigating, or preventing any disease. This article serves informational purposes only and does not replace professional healthcare services. For further details, reach out to our office. Bowen, R. (n.d.). Overview of Hypothalamic and Pituitary Hormones. Retrieved 11 6, 2020, from http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/endocrine/hypopit/overview.html Onat, F., & Çavdar, S. (2003). Cerebellar connections: hypothalamus. The Cerebellum, 2(4), 263-269. Retrieved 11 6, 2020, from https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14964685 Schmahmann, J. D., & Caplan, D. (2006). Cognition, emotion and the cerebellum. Brain, 129(2), 290-292. Retrieved 11 6, 2020, from https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/129/2/290/292272 The post Hashimoto’s New Treatment Update Why you still have symptoms. appeared first on Naperville Integrated Wellness.Hashimoto Disease symptoms that occur may include:
Weight gain or inability to lose weight
Fatigue
Brain fog / problems concentrating or remembering information
Anxiety
Depression
Insomnia
Problems with digestion
Problems with other hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, etc.)
Difficulty regulating blood sugar (high or low blood sugar)
Compromised detoxification
Cerebellum dysfunction
Autonomic nervous system dysfunction…and can result in dysautonomia.
See attached chart.
Hashimoto’s attacks your brain
TPO antibody 🡪thyroid gland destruction
What is dysautonomia?
What is the connection between Hashimoto’s thyroid and dysautonomia?
TPO antibody🡪cerebellum destruction🡪hypothalamus dysregulation🡪dysautonomia*
Are you experiencing any of the following symptoms?
Cerebellum, hypothalamus…hormone regulation
Your Hormone Perspective
HASHIMOTO’S SPECIALIST IN NAPERVILLE
Schedule Consultation with our Hashimoto’s Functional Medicine Specialist In Naperville
Bibliography