Many of you have reported complaints about hypothyroidism to my office, but only your primary care provider tells you that you are normally tested. guess what? They are right!! But, you too. However, they have not gone too far to record the real situation you know. Your thyroid gland produces a sufficient amount of thyroid gland most of the time. However, after it leaves the gland, the brain takes over and responds to environmental cues, sleep, stress, exercise, and so on. This reaction alters the activity of an enzyme that controls the conversion of thyroid hormone to a more active form, called T3. This must be evaluated to fully determine your true thyroid activity. I have listed this physiology feedback chart below.

The following is a review of the thyroid axis:

Hypothalamus-> TRHfrom

[Thyrotropin-releasing hormone – reduced during stress time] ->pituitary ———> TSHfrom

[Thyroid stimulating hormone – will also decrease under pressure] ->Thyroid [Glands produce 4 thyroid hormones, T1-4from

– 90% of the output is T4from

10% of the output is T3from

. T2 and T1 from

 <Output <1%].

T3 from

 5 times effective T4from

. That's 50-80% T4 from

 Being converted into a stronger opponent, T3from

. Transformation occurs through the activity of an enzyme called DEIODINASES. They are called D1-3 from

 Enzyme. This is why the brain controls thyroid activity and why thyroid activity decreases during stress.

D1 and D2 from

 Controls the conversion of muscles and nerves. However, when stress occurs, the D3 enzyme is activated and transformed. T4from

-> from

rT3- reverseT3. Reverse T3 from

 It does not bind to thyroid receptors and acts as a "thyroid brake" that limits thyroid metabolism.

The main stress hormone that controls all of this is CRHfrom

[corticotropin releasing hormone]. This is also released by the hypothalamus in the brain. It stimulates the release ACTHfrom

[Pro-adrenal hormone]. It stimulates the adrenal glands to release adrenaline and cortisone, which are the main stress hormones. When CRHis is released, TRH from

 Then TSH from

decreased. Think about it this way. The main function of the thyroid is to set the metabolic rate and oxygen consumption in the body. When the thyroid is reduced, fatigue, body temperature drops, weight management problems, constipation, hair loss, etc. follow. This happens under stress because the brain thinks it must prioritize fueling to provide a stress response that may require running or fighting to escape danger. Lowering your metabolic rate by lowering your thyroid activity will help your body maintain enough fuel to cope with stress/evasion. When your primary care provider evaluates your thyroid, they usually only measure TSH from

Maybe T4from

. They don't look at the rest of the chemical reactions.

So, when they tell you that your thyroid is producing normally, they are technically correct, but they don't explain the environmental impact we can endure these days. Needless to say, the presence of micronutrient problems/defects in our food supply has prevented us from obtaining sufficient micronutrient support to support the normal transformation of the thyroid gland. No assessment T3 from

 with rT3 from

Levels, without recognizing environmental/nutrition issues, may miss the source of hypothyroidism symptoms. But this is key point! If your brain doesn't allow conversion to T3 from

And diversion rT3 from

Instead, it is doing this to compensate for your lifestyle and stress to protect you. In many cases, trying to supply T3 from

The conversion of the compensation change does not solve the problem because the brain thinks this is against its programming. In my experience, most of the time, some improvements in this chemical reaction can be obtained. However, if you do not pay tribute to the stressors, you may not be able to achieve full rebalancing. Sorry, this is just the reality of this working principle. This is a very complex chemical reaction that requires a more thorough assessment of low activity symptoms. More and more doctors are beginning to study this issue in more depth. I hope this primer will teach you something you should look for and ask your doctor. Unfortunately, your inquiry may not receive a satisfactory response. Remember, there are more people listening there.

Hope this helps…..

Introduction to thyroid hormone physiology was originally published on Spring