Thyroid Disorders
Dr. Anju Mathur utilizes several Functional and Holistic healing modalities to help men and women suffering from thyroid disorders. While thyroid disorders can occur for a number of different reasons, Dr. Mathur has expertise in pinpointing triggers of thyroid issues and performing the necessary tests to reduce the effects of thyroid imbalances.
Typically, thyroid imbalances occur due to imbalances with thyroid hormone, and Dr. Mathur can help patients determine latent imbalances and which therapies would be most beneficial in treating their specific conditions. Using an all inclusive and comprehensive program, Dr. Mathur has been able to help numerous men and women suffering from thyroid problems.
Thyroid Disorders
The thyroid is a gland located below the Adam’s apple and above the neck. The thyroid is part of the endocrine system, which releases hormones responsible for regulating the body’s metabolism including heart rate and how fast the body burns calories.
The thyroid gland works to synthesize energy from proteins, carbohydrates, and fats and helps the body regulate energy and heat production. There are many different types of thyroid disorders: hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroid cancer, goiter, and thyroid nodules.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid does not produce enough thyroid hormone to keep up with the needs of the body, with Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune disease, being the most common cause. Hashimoto’s disease occurs when the immune system attacks the thyroid until it can no longer produce hormones. This disorder is most common in women, those over 60, and those with other thyroid disorders are also more likely to develop hypothyroidism.
But because the symptoms of hypothyroidism are so varied, the condition can often go undiagnosed. Patients with hypothyroidism will experience at least one of these symptoms, but often a combination of several will be present. The intensity of the symptoms can vary as well, depending on the severity and duration of the condition. Occasionally, some patients with hypothyroidism have no symptoms at all, or the symptoms are so subtle that they go unnoticed.
Are you experiencing any of the following?
- Nervousness or Anxiety
- Palpitations
- Increased Sweating
- Diarrhea
- Hair loss
- Weight loss
- Hand Tremors
- Shaky feeling or trembling inside
- Difficulty focusing
- Foggy memory
- Restlessness
- Irregular menstrual periods
- Muscle weakness
- And more
What testing is necessary?
Basal Body temperature according to Broda Barnes, MD is a useful indicator of thyroid status of a person. Dr. Broda Barnes, a physician way ahead of his time, found over 50 years ago that the body basal temperature was a good indicator of thyroid activity. In particular, the body temperature on rising from sleep. He wrote a book about thyroid activity and the various ills and problems arising from low (hypo) thyroid activity. This test is done at home.
Why Do I have Hypothyroidism?
Starvation or yo-yo dieting can be the culprit in younger patients. Diabetics can also have low thyroid function. Even nasty chemicals in our curtains, bedding, mattress or carpets have a profound effect upon our glands.
In fact, researchers say that perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), chemicals commonly found in carpeting, fabrics, cosmetics, paper coatings, and dozens of other household goods, may be causing permanent damage to your thyroid, leaving you sicker, more tired, and more depressed than ever. Taiwanese researchers learned that high PFC levels can significantly alter your thyroid function. They can even boost the risk of hypothyroidism in women, leading to nasty symptoms including fatigue, depression, obesity, dry skin and hair, constipation, and irregular menstruation.
Or it could simply be that the aging process itself causes hypothyroidism, especially in women older than 60 years.
What are my treatment options?
Standard conventional treatment for Hyperthyroidism is the use of prescription drugs called Anti-Thyroid drugs as well as beta blockers to control symptoms. Often surgery to remove the overactive thyroid gland is recommended or radioactive iodine treatment (which often causes hypothyroidism, also known as underactive thyroid). This approach of surgery or radioactive iodine causes a high risk of hypothyroidism and the start of a vicious thyroid-disorder cycle.
Less conventional treatments include nutritional supplementation such as selenium or iodine and botanicals such as bugleweed and motherwort which can regulate thyroid function and alleviate symptoms without a lifetime of prescription medications.
Also, dietary handlings, such as a trial of total elimination of all gluten/gliadin grains, milk and dairy products to heal gut permeability may be very worthwhile, since Graves’ disease is an HLA-B8 autoimmune disease.
We also support immune system dysfunction using targeted nutrients or IV therapy to stimulate the immune system in the right direction of balancing pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory pathways of the immune system.
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is also known as an overactive thyroid. With this condition, the thyroid gland produces too much thyroxine – accelerating the body’s metabolism and causing a number of uncomfortable symptoms.
The symptoms
Hyperthyroidism can be difficult to diagnose for even the most experienced thyroid specialists, however our doctors here at Angel Longevity Medical Center offer hyperthyroidism treatment. The symptoms can be subtle, and they are often very similar to those of other health problems.
The most common signs include:
- An enlarged thyroid gland
- Sweating and hot flashes
- Anxiety and irritability
- Menstrual changes
- Brittle hair
- Fatigue
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Sudden, unexplained weight loss
- More frequent bowel movements
What causes hyperthyroidism?
In many cases, the thyroid becomes inflamed for unknown reasons, causing the gland to release an excessive amount of thyroxine into the blood.
For other patients, the condition can be triggered by Graves’ disease. With this autoimmune disorder, your body mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland. The condition tends to run in families and is more common among women.
The consultation
If you are interested in a functional medicine approach to hyperthyroidism treatment, your first step is to schedule an initial consultation with our thyroid specialist, Dr. Anju Mathur, at the Angel Longevity Medical Center. During that meeting, Dr. Mathur will examine the different areas of your life that could be contributing to your condition – including your diet, environment and underlying conditions. From there, she will talk to you about your symptoms and run a series of lab tests to determine the root cause of your hyperthyroidism.
Our hyperthyroidism treatment options
While conventional thyroid doctors treat hyperthyroidism with medications, radiation, or surgery, Angel Longevity Medical Center is different. As thyroid doctor, Dr. Anju Mathur strives to understand the underlying cause of your hyperthyroidism – so that she can address the real problem. Armed with the information collected during your initial consultation, she will compose a comprehensive “Back to Wellness Program” that is designed to deliver lasting, sustainable relief from hyperthyroidism. Your custom healing plan will likely involve one, some, or all of the following approaches:
Chelation therapy
Mercury is a heavy metal that is often implicated in hyperthyroidism. In fact, studies have shown that patients with higher mercury exposure are at an increased risk of an autoimmune thyroid disease. As a leading thyroid doctor, Dr. Mathur will test the presence of heavy metals in your body. If they are a problem for you, she will recommend chelation therapy to help remove them.
IV supplementation
A number of supplements can support the immune system and improve the effects of hyperthyroidism. Dr. Mathur commonly recommends glutathione IV therapy to patients with this condition, because it’s a powerful antioxidant that can reduce inflammation and improve detoxification.
Diet changes
Many of our hyperthyroidism patients are sensitive to gluten. As such, Dr. Mathur will likely recommend removing inflammatory foods like gluten, grains, and legumes from your diet to accelerate your path to healing.
