Health Conditions : Thyroid Health

The most important thyroid hormone is thyroxine (also known as T4), which outside the thyroid is converted to T3, which is the active form of the hormone. Basically, the more T3 you produce the faster your metabolism. If you don’t produce sufficient thyroid hormones many systems in your body begin to slow down – heartbeat, circulation, blood pressure, energy levels, metabolism and temperature. Slow metabolism will mean that you don’t burn calories as efficiently as you could so you gain weight more easily. Also, when the body slows down, the body’s ability to detox is greatly impaired.

Symptoms that should make you investigate whether your thyroid may be under active include low energy, mental fogginess, depression, cold hands and feet, weight gain even with a poor appetite, high cholesterol even when you eat sensibly, a slow pulse, low blood sugar, headaches, infertility, dry and sometimes puffy skin, brittle nails, poor vision, thinning hair, low libido and heavy periods.

Recommended tests