Hypothyroidism refers to an
under-active thyroid gland that does not produce a sufficient amount of
hormones. Thyroid hormone replacement therapy is an effective treatment option
to compensate for the body's reduced hormone production to restore proper
thyroid function and alleviate the symptoms of hypothyroidism.
What are Thyroid Hormones?
Thyroid hormones are responsible for increasing
cellular metabolism that's responsible for growth, maintaining brain function,
regulating body temperature and much more. When thyroid hormone levels fall too
low, you may notice a range of symptoms, including thinning hair, pain and
swelling in your joints, a high blood cholesterol level, weakness, unexplained
weight gain, sensitivity to the cold, fatigue, depression, impaired memory and
more. These symptoms will gradually worsen if the hypothyroidism is not
treated.
T3 (triidothyronine) and T4 (tetraiodothyronine)
are two important thyroid hormones that control your metabolism. T3 is the more
active of the two hormones and the stronger. Most of the T3 produced by the
body used to be T4. Bio-identical hormone therapy to treat hypothyroidism
usually involves replacing the T4 hormone. This is because high levels of T3 can
be harmful to the bones and heart, and taking T3 can easily lead to high levels
that result in side effects like anxiety and insomnia. The body can naturally
convert T4 to T3 as needed to regulate its supply of both hormones.
Benefits of Thyroid Hormone Replacement Therapy
Thyroid hormone replacement typically involves
taking a daily dose of the T4 hormone in pill form. The goal of the treatment
is keeping your thyroid function within the normal range to reduce the symptoms
of hypothyroidism.
Because every patient is different, you will work
with your doctor to develop a personalized hormone replacement plan,
which will require some trial and error to find the right dosage. When
prescribed properly, it's a very effective treatment for hypothyroidism that
can help you live a healthy and normal life, free of the many devastating and
sometimes painful symptoms of low thyroid function.
If you have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism or
another type of thyroid disorder, bio-identical hormone therapy may be the best
way to live a healthy and fulfilling life.
