That is a very common question. I also think it’s a GREAT question. Especially if you consider that thyroid problems are one of the fastest growing medical problems in our country. If we know what causes problems, we can be proactive about them. For the sake of this article, we are going to discuss what causes an underactive thyroid. The Thyroid can be overactive, but most frequently, it becomes underactive, which is known as Hypothyroidism. Many of the causes of Hypo and Hyper Thyroidism overlap, however.
Here’s a great graphic that I think paints the picture nicely…
As you can see, there are many reasons for a thyroid disorder to show up. Anything from a nutrient deficiency (Iodine happens to be common, but there are others) to inflammation, to toxic exposure from things like harmful chemicals or radiation.
Something missing from the above graphic is autoimmunity. I believe it’s not in the “Thyroid” chart because it’s not actually a thyroid issue, but rather an issue with the immune system. But, it’s important to talk about… 90% of thyroid disorders are autoimmune in nature. Meaning that the thyroid gland is being broken down by the immune system. Again, that is an immune system issue and not a true thyroid issue. The thyroid gland just so happens to be the target. It is not uncommon for someone with an autoimmune thryoid condition to go on to develop another autoimmune condition like Rheumatoid arthritis or Lupus if the underlying issue is not resolved.
That might seem like a big list of potential reasons why a thryoid begins to slow down. That is why the “One size fits all” answer of a synthetic thyroid hormone like Synthroid or Levothyroxine is very seldom the answer. If the answer is a nutrient deficiency or autoimmune condition, the medication, could in fact, cause the gland to slow down even more by down-regulating in response to the large amount of synthetic thryoid hormone being given. This is exactly what you don’t want to happen. That’s why I believe a deep dive into the the root cause provides so much value and makes people feel so much better.
Let’s talk for a minute about genetics. I often get asked if thyroid conditions are genetic, or inherited from a relative. I wrote an article specifically on that. You can click here to read that. The short answer, however, is that although a person has a pre-disposition, if you control the triggers, you can usually prevent that problem from expressing. Or, if it has shown up, you can often times use lifestyle to help reverse the issue. It’s my understanding based on Functional Medicine training that 90% of your health is a result of your lifestyle and only about 10% due to your genetics. That’s good news if you want to be in control of your health destiny.
I hope you found this article helpful. Please help me spread the word that there is hope for those dealing with thyroid issues or concerned because a family member has had them and they would like to make sure they don’t go down the same path. I believe the first step is a proper thyroid evaluation. This is different from a quick look at a TSH value on a lab test interpreted through the lens of the standard “Reference Range”. That misses so much of the picture. You can click here to read an article I wrote detailing how a thryoid should be properly evaluated to get a true picture.
If you have a specific condition that you would like to talk to me personally about, please reach out to me and set up a time to chat. You can use this link. I’m happy to help however I can.
To your health,
Dr. Jeni
