Hypothyroidism, also known as (underactive thyroid) is a condition in which your thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. When the thyroid gland is functioning properly, the metabolic rate is maintained at a consistent level – not too fast and not too slow. When the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone, it is called hypothyroid and the metabolic rate is generally slowed down.
Hypothyroidism, like most diseases or disorders, is a spectrum disorder. Meaning, that there are various phases or degrees of hypothyroidism. You can move up and down the spectrum or in and out of different phases.
Many people struggle with symptoms of hypothyroidism and yet are told by their doctor that they do not have hypothyroidism because their Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and Thyroxine (T4) levels are within lab range. The current allopathic medical model does not diagnose a patient as having a hypothyroid condition, or in need of treatment, until their TSH rises above lab range and their T4 drops below lab range. This is a condition called Primary Hypothyroidism. Once a patient is diagnosed with primary hypothyroidism, thyroid hormone is provided to raise T4 and lower TSH.
For most patients, hypothyroidism starts long before lab values leave the “normal” lab range. For many, signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism are present for years or even decades before their TSH and T4 values showed out of lab range.
The allopathic medical model believes when the thyroid gland becomes diseased, this results in insufficient levels of thyroid hormone in the blood, reaching the cells or the receptors in your cells. This process results in hypothyroid symptoms. The theory is that putting more thyroid hormone in the body via medication, a patient’s broken thyroid physiology will be restored.
Unfortunately, for many patients, thyroid hormone medication alone does not improve their wide array of hypothyroid symptoms or quality of life. Many continue to experience the same symptoms they had before starting medication, including fatigue or low energy, gut problems, weight challenges, thinning hair or hair loss, low libido, brain fog, anxiety and depression, sleep challenges and a host of other symptoms and health challenges.
After 20+ years of analyzing scientific research and helping patients recover from chronic hypothyroidism, Rejuvagen believes a hypothyroid condition does not start at the thyroid gland. For most patients, hypothyroid symptoms start long before they are diagnosed with primary hypothyroidism or their thyroid gland becomes dysfunctional.
