021: Menopause or Thyroid Disease: How To Know?

Are your weird and new symptoms menopause or thyroid disease?

According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), millions of women with menopausal-like symptoms, even those who take estrogen, may suffer from undiagnosed thyroid disease.

Contrary to this statement, in my practice, many of my patients are hyper aware of thyroid issues because of the internet and greater coverage on this topic.  They come in to see me convinced their thyroid may be the cause of their symptoms.

So let’s look at the thyroid.

The thyroid gland takes the shape of a butterfly with the two wings being represented by the left and right thyroid lobes which wrap around the trachea. The sole function of the thyroid is to make thyroid hormone. This hormone has an effect on almost every tissue in your body where it increases cellular activity.

Many menopause symptoms like fatigue, hair loss, changes in skin, brain fog, heart palpitations, depression, achiness, and loss of libido are also symptoms of thyroid disease.

So what’s the best approach to find out where you stand? Don’t guess, test!

It is imperative to get connect with your healthcare practitioner to determine what tests are necessary in your situation to evaluate your thyroid. Identifying the imbalance if it exists, and treatment steps to take through lifestyle or medication, make a world of difference in how you feel.

Your thyroid gland has a huge job!  It produces hormones which regulate the body’s metabolic rate as well as heart and digestive function, muscle control, brain development and bone maintenance.

At menopause, as with other times when as women we have massive hormonal fluctuations (like puberty and pregnancy), thyroid issues may appear.

In This Episode

• Symptoms of Thyroid Imbalance;
• Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism – What’s the difference?
• Who should check their thyroid levels and why;
• How your adrenal system and thyroid work together.
• What’s a T3 and T4 level and why these matter;
• Why the TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) Test doesn’t measure enough.
• What supplements you need to try for balance,
• Why detoxing might be a solution for you and;
• Take it easy with that iodine!

And more goodies on the inside!