ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN

Ask yourself some of the following questions and tell me if this describes you: Are you always complaining of the cold- cold hands or cold feet- but others in the room are comfortable? 

Do you have low energy- despite taking vitamins and sleeping well? Do you exercise, but feel tired by mid-afternoon? Are you having trouble losing weight even after intense workouts and weeks of jailhouse diets? Are your fingernails paper-thin or your eyebrows thinning on the outer third, (but not because you pluck them)? 

Quite possibly you have LOW THYROID or "Hypothyroidism." 

Don't dismiss this even if you have gone to your doctor and had a blood test. I have 15-plus years of experience diagnosing this condition and have found that blood tests don't always tell the story. 

First let me explain what your thyroid is. Your thyroid gland is located in the middle of the lower neck and manufactures thyroid hormone, which regulates the rate at which your body carries on its necessary functions. 

You can think of your body as like a car engine. It burns carbon with the use of oxygen, producing heat and other forms of energy. The rate at which this engine burns its fuel is called "basal metabolism." (I often talk about "basal metabolic rate" when discussing weight loss.) If the rate of burning is higher than normal, one is called hyperthyroid, and if the rate is lower than normal, one is said to be hypothyroid. Think of your thyroid therefore, as your body's master regulator. 

So how do you know if you have an over or under active thyroid? I recommend the underarm temperature test or a very accurate saliva test (which you can get by calling my office at (888- 297-4457) 

Here is how you take the underarm temperature test: 

Use a glass thermometer. Place the thermometer in your armpit the first thing in the morning. (Note that this test should not be done during the week before your period, but if you are on the pill it doesn't matter.) Be sure to shake the thermometer down past 96 degrees. (TIP: Leave the thermometer on your bed stand the night before.) Place the thermometer in the fold of your armpit. Hold it there for 10 minutes. 

If it is less than 97.6 you are highly suspect for being low thyroid. Record your findings by date. Over a period of a week or so, you will begin to notice some ups and downs, but not much. If the temperature is consistently between 97.8 and 98.2 then you are "normal," meaning don't worry about your thyroid. If your temperature is above 98.2, then you are hyperactive (too much thyroid being produced), and you should consult your doctor. If your temperature is below 97.8 you are hypothyroid (too little thyroid being produced.) If you decide to also use the saliva test, have my office compare your temperature test results with your saliva test results to best diagnose your condition. 

If in fact you do have low thyroid condition ask your doctor for NATURAL thyroid. I don't like synthetic thyroid. The clinical studies such as those at The Medical School at North Carolina have indicated that natural is much better. 

Rest assured that an under active thyroid- hypothyroidism- is a very common problem, particularly among women. In fact, it's estimated that as many as 10 percent of all women may have some degree of thyroid deficiency. So if you feel that your skin is dry, rough and pale, or you are noticing hair loss, have constipation, depression, irritability or memory loss, the culprit MAY be hypothyroidism. 

You'll probably be amazed at how quickly your symptoms disappear once your hormone levels return to normal after taking natural thyroid. I have seen too many patients on antidepressants, forced to have hysterectomies, or placed on cholesterol lowering drugs for no reason other than the low thyroid condition was not properly diagnosed. Get the help you need! 

Howard E. Hagglund, M.D.