Your thyroid is hardly the largest part of your anatomy, but it has one of the largest impacts on your health. The small, butterfly-shaped gland at the front of your neck secretes hormones that regulate everything from your metabolism and body temperature to your brain development and moods.
That’s why Dr. Michael Skardasis and our Optimal Performance Medicine team have made treatment for underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, a key part of our comprehensive wellness services. Here’s a closer look at how hypothyroidism can affect your health — and how we can help you improve your well-being.
Your body’s built-in energy production process, your metabolism, runs on thyroid-sourced hormones. If your body can’t produce enough thyroid hormones to fuel your metabolism to produce energy efficiently, you feel chronically run down and fatigued.
A slow metabolism is the first domino to fall, impacting other areas of well-being, including maintaining a healthy weight.
Your metabolism processes the carbs, fats, and proteins that you eat and turns them into energy. If hypothyroidism has slowed down your metabolism, you don’t process your food properly, which can lead to sudden weight gain or difficulty losing weight.
To top it off, your lack of energy makes it tougher to get up, get out, and get exercise, leaving you stuck in a cycle of stubborn weight and no energy to try to lose it.
Digestion is another major function under your thyroid’s jurisdiction. A sluggish thyroid can significantly slow down how things move through your gut, leading to a slew of stomach and intestinal issues.
You’re constipated if you have fewer than three bowel movements weekly. Make an appointment with us as soon as you notice a backup in your bowels, as constipation is rarely a stand-alone issue. It can lead to problems including hemorrhoids, anal fissures, incontinence, and abdominal discomfort.
Your body may also respond with physical changes because thyroid hormones are essential to the growth and development of your hair follicles and healthy skin. You might notice:
Your hair may also start to fall out or become thin and dry.
Your brain is another significant part of your anatomy that relies on a steady supply of thyroid hormones. These hormones support your mood regulation, memory, and even your speech. Without enough thyroid hormones, your brain structure can change and cause problems such as:
Talk to us at the first sign of changes in your mental and emotional well-being. Many of our patients see significant improvement with treatment.
An underactive thyroid can seriously affect your health and wellness, but you don’t have to live with the symptoms forever. Dr. Skardasis thoroughly evaluates you and makes a diagnosis so he can create a customized treatment plan that improves your health.
Hormone replacement therapy is one of the most effective treatments for hypothyroidism. We use bioidentical hormones that most closely match your body's natural hormones, reducing the risk of side effects and maximizing the results.
We also guide you through lifestyle changes that support your overall well-being and help you manage symptoms. Diet and exercise changes are some of the best ways to support hormone replacement therapy, and they also increase your energy, help you shed stubborn weight, and get you feeling better.
If you suspect that you have an underactive thyroid, now is the time to get the help you need. Call the team at Optimal Performance Medicine in Woodstock, Georgia, today to schedule an appointment, or use our convenient online booking.
