Sick and tired of being sick and tired?
If your energy is way down, if your mood has changed, and if excess weight is an issue, then read on.
Thyroid and depression: What is the Link?
Mood change is a very common symptom when the thyroid hormones start to increase or decrease, and most people will ignore it, or just put up with it – to a point.
The prevalence of depression in hypothyroid patients is as high as 36.67%. Subclinical hypothyroidism is more prevalent than clinical hypothyroidism, and scientists have concluded that depression and hypothyroidism have a strong relationship.
Hypothyroid patients frequently experience problems such as apathy, depression, psychomotor slowing, and cognitive dysfunction. Patients with severe hypothyroidism often exhibit clinical symptoms that are strongly similar to those of melancholic depression and dementia.
Hypothyroidism is linked with lower levels of serotonin due to the thyroid hormones influence on noradrenergic and serotonergic neurotransmission which are responsible for our moods. Studies have shown that administration of the active thyroid hormones – T3 – leads to an increase in “serotonin levels in the cerebral cortex.” which results in lifting depression.
If you experience changes in mood, then it is wise to also check the full function of your master hormone in the body – Triiodothyronine – a.k.a. active T3. Even suboptimal thyroid hormones can be the reason for feeling more depressed, anxious, blue or flat.
Why can’t I lose WEIGHT???
Weight loss is a dynamic physical process that actually uses a lot of ATP – which is the bodies energy currency.
(ATP) Adenosine triphosphate, is the primary carrier of energy in cells – so it is super important. And if your piggy bank is low, your body won’t lose weight – it will prioritise keeping you alive first.
How do we get more ATP? We need optimal levels of THYROID hormone. If you are cold all the time, tired, putting on weight, then your body sounds like it doesn’t have optimal thyroid hormones to make APT and fuel your bodies many functions. That’s where we come in!
Energy = ATP
Because thyroid hormones stimulate ATP – energy – the way we correct fatigue is by treating thyroid hormone function. If you try to circumnavigate this foundational aspect, you won’t have lasting energy or weight loss – it will all be a band-aid approach.
For example. You are so tired, that you rely on caffeine to give you energy. This is a band-aid that will actually end up causing more damage down the track. Caffeine doesn’t help thyroid hormone production at all – it gives you energy by producing adrenaline and cortisol – adrenal hormones.
Another example – you are so desperate to lose weight that you take a prescription drug that stimulates cortisol/adrenaline. This doesn’t treat the thyroid, so results will not be long term.
If you are struggling with energy and weight issues, thyroid needs to be at the top of the priority list to investigate.
Unfortunately, standard thyroid test ranges in Australia are too wide to pick up sub-optimal levels. The Lucy Rose Clinic’s testing views thyroid hormones through optimal parameters, picking up sub-optimal hormone levels, and guiding corrective treatment.
Common Symptoms…
- Tiredness & Sluggishness
- Dryer Hair or Skin
- Sleep More Than Usual
- Weaker Muscles
- Constant Feeling of Cold
- Frequent Muscle Cramps
- Poorer Memory
- More Depressed
- Slower Thinking
- Puffier Eyes
- Difficulty with Math
- Hoarse or Deeper Voice
- Constipation
- Coarse Hair/Hair Loss/Brittle
- Muscle / Joint Pain
- Low Sex Drive / Impotence
- Puffy Hands and Feet
- Unsteady Gait
- Gain Weight Easy
- Outer Third of Eyebrows sparse hair
- Menses More Irregular
- Heavier Menses
- Carpel Tunnel Syndrome
- Decreased appetite
- Heart palpitations
- Bad Digestion and bloating
- Loose bowels, especially when under stress
- Anxiety
- Sweaty palms and armpits
- Insomnia
- Increased irritability
- Brittle Nails
- Shakiness
Thyroid Testing
A full thyroid panel should cover these factors, then corrective treatment can be given. Please note, GP’s and endocrinologists are not trained in nutritional medicine, therefore can’t offer the same type of treatment as a naturopath. If you have been told your labs are normal by your GP, that means you need someone who can treat suboptimal imbalances with correctional doses of nutrients.
Thyroid must have testing: TSH, fT4, fT3, rT3, Anti-TPO ab., Anti-TG ab., SHBG
To get a complete picture of the thyroid story, other factors to check include; inflammatory markers, methylation status, detoxification status, nutritional testing and cardiovascular risk factors.
Adrenal health and stress hormones generally need to be assessed, but will be recommended on a patient-to-patient basis depending on their health case.
Other tests regularly needed include estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, full blood sugar panel, and food intolerances.
You can find out more about these tests by clicking HERE, or book a call with a thyroid expert and we can answer any questions on the phone.