Underactive thyroid disease (hypothryoidism) is very common amongst men and women especially as they age. Common symptoms of hypothyroidism include: intolerance to heat and cold, weight fluctuations, enlarged thyroid, hoarse voice, fatigue, forgetfulness, depression, mood swings, muscle weakness, changes in hair and skin texture, sleep disturbances, anxiety or irritability, palpitations, and irregular periods.

These symptoms are often construed as depression and patients are put on antidepressants. Another reason for some of these symptoms is the hormonal fluctuations of perimenopause, but that is a different story!

The active form of the thyroid hormone circulating in your body is T3. The inactive form is T4. Measurement of the free T3 as well as T4 is an important part of the testing. T3 is a neurotransmitter (a hormone substance that controls the communication between the cells of the nervous system). It regulates the action of serotonin, the hormone we all have heard about that Prozac regulates. If you don't have enough T3, serotonin levels are lower, many other neurotransmitters are affected and mood changes, decreased energy and depression result.

What makes the thyroid function improperly? Deficiency of iodine; exposure to radiation including the fall out from Chernobyl which had world wide effects; family history; drugs: antidepressants have been found to cause hypothyroidism but no one knows why, and other drugs such as steroids, cholesterol lowering drugs, Dilantin and beta blockers such as propranolol also block thyroid function; and according to Dr. Christine Northrup it is our fifth emotional centre that is influenced by our ability to "have our say".

Treatments for hypothyroidism include: regulating other endocrine hormones such as progesterone, in the case of women; using natural treatments of kelp, tyrosine, and thyroid glandulars to stimulate the thyroid to action; the old time Nature Cure doctors use hydrotherapy recommending cold showers to stimulate the thyroid; including sea weed products such as sushi in your diet; start to have your say; and of course hormone therapy using thyroid hormones. The best to ask for include Cytomel and desiccated thyroid, which includes both T3 and T4. Synthroid is most commonly prescribed, however may not work well for many as it only contains T4 and not T3. After successful treatment your core body temperatures do rise a degree or so and of course many of the above symptoms are alleviated. Before your take antidepressants or start hormone replacement therapy for menopause, you may want to consider having your thyroid evaluated in a more complete fashion to further assist you in aging healthfully and gracefully!