Thyroid and Cholesterol, Estrogen

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http://www.alternativemedicine.com/digest/issue22/22003R00.shtml

Reviving the Thyroid

Problems an Underactive Thyroid Can Generate

“Chronic fatigue syndrome, with its long list of viruses and other infections, is one direct outcome of low thyroid function,” says Dr. Lee.

A dysfunctional thyroid can produce serious health problems in the body’s organs and physiologic processes, such as cholesterol levels that are too high or too low, chronic infections, and weight fluctuations.

For example, cholesterol levels can rise because there is inadequate thyroid hormone to convert cholesterol to bile salts and key anti-aging steroids such as pregnenolone, progesterone, and DHEA, explains Lee, Ph.D., an enzyme therapist based in Lowell, Oregon, who frequently treats thyroid-generated problems. “High cholesterol is a good indicator of hypothyroidism, but hypothyroid people can also have low cholesterol because of immune suppression or a diet high in starches,” Dr. Lee says. “That’s why low thyroid function has so many varied and broad-spectrum symptoms.”

SYMPTOMS OF AN UNDERACTIVE THYROID

Since adequate thyroid hormone is required for proper immune system function, frequent infections are common in people who have an underactive thyroid. It is not surprising, says Dr. Lee, that hypothyroid people are subject to chronic infections, including frequent colds, respiratory infections, bronchitis and pneumonia, chronic sore throats, sinusitis, recurrent otitis media (middle ear infection), tonsillitis, and recurrent bladder infections. “Chronic fatigue syndrome, with its long list of viruses and other infections, is one direct outcome of low thyroid function.”

Female problems—infertility, miscarriage, fibrocystic breast disease, ovarian fibroids, cystic ovaries, endometriosis, PMS, menopausal symptoms—are usually caused or aggravated by hypothyroidism which leads to hormonal imbalances such as estrogen dominance. This means there is too much estrogen in relation to progesterone (the primary female hormone). Generally, a woman needs about ten times more progesterone than estrogen to avoid the toxic side effects of estrogen dominance. This can occur even with a normal estrogen level if progesterone is low, or with normal progesterone if estrogen is high, says Dr. Lee.

What is the thyroid-estrogen connection? “Estrogen inhibits thyroid secretion. Progesterone stimulates it. Progesterone is made in the body from cholesterol if there is adequate thyroid hormone. Low thyroid function and the resulting estrogen dominance, no matter what the cause, has far-reaching consequences,” Dr. Lee explains.

The list of other health complaints consistently associated with an under-functioning thyroid is long and shocking: • depression • weight gain • low body temperature • infertility • rheumatic pain • menstrual disorders (excessive flow, cramps) • repeated infections • colds • upper respiratory infections • skin problems (itching, eczema, psoriasis, acne, skin pallor) • memory disturbances • concentration difficulties • paranoia • migraines • oversleeping • “laziness”

• muscle aches and weakness • hearing disturbances • burning/prickling

sensations • anemia • slow reaction time

and mental sluggishness • constipation,

labored, difficult

breathing • hoarseness • brittle nails • poor vision