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THE HORMONAL CONNECTION: THE HIDDEN PROBLEM OF HYPOTHYROIDISM – HOW TO DETECT HYPOTHYROIDISM
To detect hypothyroidism, most doctors rely on two types of tests. Standard blood tests check levels of thyroid hormone—an iodine-containing compound released by the thyroid gland as thyroxine (T4) and a more powerful component, triiodothyronine (T3). A more sensitive test also looks at levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSN) – a substance released by the pituitary gland that regulates T4 and T3. Unfortunately, both measures pick up only severe deficiencies. Many people experience subclinical levels of hypothyroidism, which these tests do not detect.
In real life, this translates into too many people being told by their doctors that nothing is wrong when searching for answers to chronic problems. One unfortunate result is that Prozac and similar medications are prescribed for growing numbers of depressed patients when proper diagnosis and treatment of hypothyroidism may be all that is needed. Fatigue, common among women after pregnancy, is often due, at least partially, to an underactive thyroid, and it can be missed with the standard diagnostics. Pregnancy puts a great demand on the thyroid; after giving birth, many women experience fatigue, dry hair, thinning hair, and hair loss. Yet the common response by doctors is "You just had a baby. Get more rest." Further, hypothyroidism is a leading cause of infertility that frequently goes unrecognized.
"I classify people with hypothyroidism as the walking wounded," states Dr. Cohen. "They just do not feel well; they're tired; they can't concentrate; and they can't lose weight. They're able to function, but not at their optimal level of health. When they go to their doctor their blood tests are normal, and they're put on medication for depression. But that doesn't get to the underlying cause of the problem."
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