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Thyroid and Sleep
Paula Gallagher on
Your thyroid is that butterfly shaped gland in your neck that produces hormones that regulate metabolism and energy. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland produces too little thyroid hormone. Symptoms may include extreme fatigue, depression, weight gain and sleep problems. I was diagnosed with it in my late 20s when I stopped sleeping well and my energy levels dropped. For me, a combination of natural supplements, diet and prescription worked best. The American Thyroid Association estimates that as many as 60 million Americans are unaware that they have some sort of thyroid issue.
There is a connection between thyroid and sleep. Research has shown that both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism have been associated with sleep conditions such as insomnia, restless legs syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea. Although more research is needed to determine the exact reason, if you suffer from insomnia or irregular sleep patterns, then you may want to have some lab work done. This may be the first step in getting a good night’s sleep.
Approaches for Thyroid Imbalance
So how do you fix it? There are many solutions and finding the one that works for you is very personal. Here are some options.
Synthetic Thyroxine
Thyroxine (T4) is the major hormone produced by the thyroid gland and pure synthetic T4, taken once daily by mouth, has been the go-to solution for years. For some this works well.
Desiccated Animal Thyroid
Desiccated (dried and powdered) animal thyroid, now mainly obtained from pigs, was the most common form of thyroid therapy 40 years ago, before T4 was able to be synthesized in a pure form. Some people find that this version is better tolerated. It is also available as a compound.
Iodine
Iodine is the key to a healthy thyroid and efficient metabolism, and even comprises a large part of the thyroid hormone molecule itself. Consuming sea vegetables like kelp can help increase your iodine levels.
Support Your Adrenals
Adrenal health plays a huge role in thyroid function and vice versa. If your adrenals have been overworked because of ongoing stress, it may time to start supporting the adrenal glands.
Ashwaganda
In addition to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and stress adaptation actions, ashwaganda has shown improvement in hypothyroidism by increasing circulating T4.
Selenium
Selenium is an essential mineral for thyroid hormone health. Once the T4 hormone gets into a cell, it is converted to T3 with the help of selenium. Adding selenium in the diet has demonstrated benefits in the adjunctive treatment of Hashimoto’s autoimmune thyroiditis.
Before you start taking iodine or adrenal support products, I would strongly recommend seeing a natural health care practitioner who can help you determine what solution is best for you based on a health history questionnaire and comprehensive laboratory tests.
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Paula Gallagher
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