Thyroid problems have become a prevalent topic in health discussions, often surrounded by myths and misconceptions. From weight gain to mood swings, thyroid issues are often blamed for a myriad of health concerns without a full understanding of the complexities involved. Sure, thyroid hormone is produced in the thyroid but how much of it is released and how much of it is active is dictated elsewhere.
Let’s understand the thyroid's role in the body. Situated in the neck, this butterfly-shaped gland produces hormones that regulate various bodily functions, including metabolism, energy production, and growth. These hormones influence nearly every organ system, making the thyroid a critical component of overall health.
There are two forms of thyroid hormone: T4 (which is inactive and ineffective) and T3 (which is active and highly effective). Around 80% of the thyroid hormone that gets released from the thyroid gland is in the form of T4. It is up to the rest of the tissues in the body to convert T4 into T3 as those tissues need it.
Factors which affect the conversion of T4 into T3?
1. Stress: Cortisol (stress hormone) is necessary for this conversion. If one is chronically stressed and cortisol levels are low, your body will struggle to convert T4 into T3.
2. Liver dysfunction: Our livers process drugs, chemicals, cholesterol, glucose, proteins, and, not to mention, hormones. Our livers are bombarded with more chemicals than ever before and if it fails to function up to it’s necessary potential, the conversion of T4 to T3 slows.
3. Zinc and Selenium levels: Zinc, especially Selenium are absolutely essential in the conversion of T4 to T3.
If your thyroid levels are indeed abnormal, the relation of T3 to T4 to TSH on top of the symptoms you are having are important when determining who is the culprit.
Furthermore, even if your thyroid hormone levels are normal, you could very well still have a problem affecting thyroid function. Diseases and disorders are diagnosed all of the time based upon symptomology alone. For example, people with high blood pressure often have normal sodium levels and after examining their hearts, little can be found. Regardless, a blood pressure reducing medication will be prescribed on top of being told to reduce their salt intake. Blood values can be valuable for a functional medicine provider however when it comes to truly understanding what is going on, symptoms are king.
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