Fwd: [S-A] How the Body Works: The Thyroid

[Guest guest]

" Misty L. Trepke "

Thu, 18 Sep 2003 22:02:36 -0000

[s-A] How the Body Works: The Thyroid

 

I particularly love this article because of how it describes the

many facets of one's life that are affected by the thyroid- sleep,

mood, general temperature, metabolism, even swelling and edema...

As a homeopath, we want to know in great detail about what the

patient as a whole is experiencing, how is their sleep, their mood,

their digestion, do they tend to be chilly or warm, are they

energetic or sluggish, are there any unique particulars such as

swelling, etc... By taking this comprehensive approach we are able

to find their unique remedy that represents most closely the

totality of their case, wholistic medicine at it's best... Nice

when things come together, eh?

Other comments?

Misty L. Trepke

http://www..com

 

How The Body Works: The Thyroid

 

The thyroid gland is located just below the larynx and in front of

and to the side of the trachea.

 

We will be discussing three major hormones secreted by the thyroid.

The first two - thyroxine and triiodothyronine are primarily

controlled by TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) secreted by the

anterior pituitary gland. The third calcitonin does not seem to be

under pituitary control.

 

Thyroxine and triiodothyronine perform almost identical functions.

Triiodothyronine is a more potent hormone (approximately four times

as strong) but thyroxine is much longer lasting. Both hormones after

being secreted into the circulation attach to protein molecules and

are then released very slowly into the tissues. Thyroxine once

secreted into the bloodstream takes 10-12 days to reach its maximum

activity and will continue to remain active for about sixty days. On

the other hand, triiodothyronine reaches peak activity in about 60

hours. The thyroid gland needs about 1/5000th of a gram of iodine

daily to be used in formation of these two hormones.

 

The functions of thyroxine and triiodothyronine are as follows.

 

1) They increase the basal metabolic rate of the body by up to 100%.

In other words, they set the rate of the chemical reactions that

occur in the body.

2)They increase the rate that the body uses food for energy (they

thus play an important role in determining your caloric

requirements).

3) They increase the rate that the body both makes and breaks down

glucose (gluconeogenesis and glycolysis). They increase the

absorption of glucose by the cells in general and by the

gastrointestinal tract.

4) Increases insulin secretion by the pancreas.

5) Increases respiration rate and depth of each breath.

6) Increases rate of both protein synthesis and breakdown.

7) Increases the growth rate of adolescents while quickening the

closing rate of epiphyses in bones.

8) Increases fat deposition into the circulation to be burned for

energy.

9) Increases appetite.

10) Increases urinary excretion of calcium and phosphorus.

11) Increases secretion of digestive enzymes and peristalsis in the

gastrointestinal tract.

12) Dilates blood vessels thus increasing blood flow.

13) Increases heart rate and systolic blood pressure while

decreasing diastolic pressure.

 

Calcitonin is secreted by the parafollicular cells of the thyroid

gland.

 

When levels of calcium in the blood are too high calcitonin is

secreted and has the following effects: it increases the activity of

bone forming cells (osteoblasts) and decreases the activity and

formation of cells that break down bone (osteoclasts). This process

helps build new bone and lower serum calcium which in turn stops

calcitonin secretion.

 

Symptoms of Thyroid Dysfunction

 

The person secreting too little thyroxine and / or triiodothyronine

can exhibit some of the following symptoms:

 

1) Due to a decreased metabolic rate the person will often be

overweight and have a hard time losing weight even with a restricted

caloric intake.

 

2) This decreased metabolic rate will also make them require more

sleep and even when awake they will be tired and exhibit very little

motivation and ambition. They will tend to have difficulty getting

out of bed in the morning and can exhibit a poor memory.

 

3) Due to a decrease in the burning of fats, they may tend to build

up cholesterol deposits and be more prone to heart troubles. The

sluggish circulation will also manifest in having cold hands and

feet.

 

4) Too little thyroid hormone production can lead to an imbalanced

output of estrogen and progesterone by the ovaries, leading to

prolonged and painful periods, with an increased tendency toward

water retention.

 

5) A decreased depth of respiration will make it easy for the person

to get out of breath with just a little exertion.

 

6) Decreased peristalsis may lead to constipation.

 

7) The person with hypothyroidism will get depressed easily and

often cry or go to pieces from situations that do not warrant these

reactions.

 

8) Other symptoms observed with this condition include - balding or

thinning of hair, brittle nails, hands and feet that tend to peel or

crack, chapped lips, decreased resistance to infections, tendency to

get muscle cramps easily.

 

9) Because sudden temperature or seasonal changes put the thyroid

under stress, in hypothyroid people, they will exhibit increased

health problems at these times.

 

The person oversecreting thyroid hormones can exhibit some or all of

the following:

 

1) Have trouble putting on weight (they will often be quite thin and

wiry).

2) They will be nervous, worry a lot and have a hard time falling

asleep (even when tired).

3) They will tend to sweat most of the time and dislike the heat.

4) Have a tendency toward diarrhea.

5) More severe cases will possibly exhibit hand tremors and

protrusion of eyeballs.

 

Causes of Thyroid Dysfunction

 

1) Increased exposure to the cold especially without properly

clothing the extremities will via the hypothalamus and pituitary

cause an increase in thyroid hormone output which over time can

overwork the thyroid thus leading to dysfunction.

 

2) Various strong emotional states can also affect TSH and thus

cause thyroid hormone output to change. If this emotional state

isn't properly dealt with, thyroid dysfunction will eventually

result. Other causes of pituitary dysfunction can cause thyroid

disturbances secondary to pituitary malfunction. In these cases the

pituitary must be restored to normal function for the thyroid to be

also restored.

 

3) Nerve pressure at the mid cervical spine can cause thyroid

dysfunction. I have seen time after time in patients of mine

involved in car accidents with resultant whiplash and cervical nerve

dysfunction, that they will go into a state of hypothyroidism and

put on 10-30 pounds over the next 3-4 months.

 

4) If you suffer from hypoadrenia, the thyroid will often slow down

to decrease your metabolic rate and give the adrenals a chance to

rest.

 

5) Because of the thyroid's effect on insulin secretion, prolonged

intake of refined carbohydrates and sweets can cause the overtaxing

of your thyroid gland and lead to dysfunction. Our bodies were not

designed to handle large amounts of refined products and

physiologically we pay the consequences when overindulging.

 

6) Because of the resultant change in endocrine output taking birth

control pills, epinephrine, cortisone, can lead to thyroid

dysfunction.

 

7) Taking synthetic thyroid hormone for an inactive thyroid gland

will tend to make your thyroid rely more on this outside source and

will thus lead to further inactivity. It makes so much more sense to

the author to find out and correct the cause of the dysfunction thus

allowing the thyroid to heal and return to normal functioning.

 

8) Overeating, especially fats and sugars over prolonged periods

will make the body produce more thyroid hormones (to increase fat

burning and glucose uptake) than it can comfortably produce. This

can lead to hypothyroidism.

 

9) X-rays striking the thyroid (including dental x-rays) can damage

the thyroid.

 

10) Prolonged intake of vitamin A supplements and also zinc can lead

to hypothyroidism.

 

11) A lack of iodine in the diet can lead to dysfunction.

 

12) An imbalance in the amount of estrogen in the body (be it due to

pituitary, liver, ovary, or adrenal malfunction) can alter thyroid

function.

 

 

 

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