Why Am I So Tired?: Is your thyroid making you ill? - Литагент HarperCollins USD

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time they are measured in the blood as free T4 and free T3) that they become chemically active.

      The thyroid is controlled by the pituitary gland. The pituitary responds to a low level of blood thyroid hormones by releasing thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).

      The pituitary gland is under the control of the hypothalamus. This part of the brain releases thyrotrophin releasing hormone (TRH) which regulates pituitary activity.

      Figure 1: Thyroid control

       Calcitonin

      This hormone is also released by the thyroid. Its function is to regulate the blood level of calcium by reducing excessively high levels.

       What are the Symptoms of Hypothyroidism?

      As the thyroid influences every system, organ and muscle in the body, the potential list of symptoms is enormous. The pattern of symptoms a sufferer may experience depends on human individuality, which results from heredity, diet, immune efficiency and stress levels. Our genetic predisposition also plays an important role in influencing the systems and organs that may be disturbed by a thyroid deficiency.

      However, there are certain leading symptoms that are common to the greater majority of patients, these are included in the table below.

       Common symptoms of hypothyroidism

       How is Hypothyroidism Tested?

      Modern blood testing is seen as an essential component in diagnosing hypothyroidism. Doctors measure the amount of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) to assess how well the gland is working. (They also measure free T4 and free T3.) Many doctors and researchers also measure the amount of TSH or thyrotropin in your blood stream. TSH is released when there is too little T4 so the more TSH you have in your body the more underactive your thyroid (and the less TSH the more overactive your thyroid).

      However, blood testing is a controversial method of testing for hypothyroidism as many people experience the symptoms of low grade hypothyroidism, yet show apparently normal blood test results. Moreover, many sufferers do not fit into the medical catagories doctors expect. For example, many young hypothyroid patients are not overweight, but are often underweight. Despite the fact that the majority of patients being treated for hypothyroidism by the medical profession fall into a broad ‘overweight middle-aged female’ category, men and women of all ages can develop thyroid problems at any time in their life. As there are over 100 symptoms caused by thyroid deficiency each patient can show a unique combination of symptoms; even a case of mild hypothyroidism can give rise to between 10 and 20 different symptoms in each patient.

      Blood test results are created by comparing the patient’s amount of thyroxine, triiodothyronine and TSH against standard test ranges. However, the normal ranges do not always reflect what is optimum for the patient.

      In order to explain this clearly let’s look at a fictitious Helen. If Helen has a thyroxine (free T4) level of 12, this would be seen by her practitioner as normal. (The medical standard range for a normal level of thyroxine is between 10 and 25.) However, for Helen to feel healthy and well her optimum level of thyroxine should be 18. This means that her test may meet the medical standard but it is still too low for her. Consequently, Helen continues to suffer from the diverse symptoms of hypothyroidism even though her GP has told her that everything is normal and she does not have a thyroid malfunction.

      The only reliable method to assess and understand the ‘normal’ levels of thyroid hormones for each patient is to request blood thyroid profiles when they are symptom free. This is rarely done. Thyroid testing is not usually required for insurance examinations and healthy patients do not normally request blood tests. I believe that apart from severe thyroid disease, blood test evidence is only of value in thyroid diagnosis when used in conjunction with the elements mentioned below.

      As there is no archetypal patient with ‘typical symptoms’ and the modern blood test is unreliable, many people suffer needlessly from hypothyroid symptoms. If you feel you may be suffering from a mildly underactive thyroid it is important to base any diagnosis on three elements:

      1 Morning temperatures

      2 Symptom assessment

      3 Blood test results

      In Part Two of this book I will show you how to use each of these elements accurately and safely (in conjunction with a health practitioner) so that you can begin to recover from your mild hypothyroidism.

       CHAPTER TWO ‘Why do I Feel so Tired?’

       The Thyroid Gland and Your Fatigue

      ‘Why am I so tired?’ is a question many of you may have asked your doctor or health practitioner. We all feel tired after exercise or a hard day at work — but the constant exhaustion which may lead you to consult a professional is entirely different. This type of tiredness is all-consuming. You may feel completely drained no matter how little physical or mental effort you may have made during the day. You do not even feel better after a good night’s sleep, in fact you may feel worse. This constant fatigue may leave you depressed and anxious, it occupies your mind and embraces your body leaving you confused as to what is wrong with you.

      Fatigue is the second commonest symptom that affects mankind — the commonest symptom being pain — and is also the most frequent symptom of mild hypothyroidism. As outlined in this book, the diagnosis and treatment of this frequently missed problem is an important first step in treating many very tired patients.

      Fatigue itself cannot be treated effectively. In fact any attempt to rev up the body’s energy production is usually doomed to failure. Vitamin and mineral injections and nutritional tonics may be temporarily supportive, but for lasting relief it is essential to uncover and treat the cause, or causes, of your fatigue.

       How Does the Thyroid Cause Fatigue?

      The link between thyroid malfunction and fatigue is well recognized by practitioners and patients. However, it may interest you to know just how a tiny gland weighing between 8gm and 40gm (or less than 2oz) can profoundly influence all our systems and organs.

      The patterns of cause and effect with the thyroid and fatigue are both subtle and complex. Many of the symptoms that develop as a result of a thyroid imbalance contribute to the condition and a vicious circle is established. These symptoms include obesity (causing reduced activity), depression, muscle pain and sugar cravings.

      In order to explain your fatigue, we first need to define ‘fatigue’ itself: What is it? Can it be measured? And how do we know when we are tired?

       Measuring Your Fatigue

      For a variety of reasons, fatigue is difficult to recognize, measure and treat. Perhaps the main cause of this difficulty is the nature of the symptom. Fatigue is essentially a subjective symptom. Subjective meaning, ‘due

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