As America gets sicker, fatter, and more depressed could it be that we are missing an important piece of the puzzle? As it turns out, hypothyroidism has reached epidemic proportions , causing lowered metabolism and body temperature, disease, fatigue, and depression. "Other symptoms include inexplicable weight gain, painful premenstrual periods, fertility problems, muscle weakness and cramps, dry skin, yellow bumps on the eyelids, hair loss that includes the lower third of the eyebrows, susceptibility to infection, migraines, hoarseness, constipation, depression, difficulty getting words out when speaking, and goiter.

Miscarriage, fibrocystic breast disease, ovarian fibroids, cystic ovaries, endometriosis, and PMS are caused or aggravated by hypothyroidism, especially when it's coupled with estrogen dominance, a condition of hormone imbalance that happens as progesterone levels decline starting as early as the late 20s. This is because estrogen inhibits thyroid secretion, while progesterone stimulates it."

One reason for this trend is the propensity for hypothyroidism to be misdiagnosed .

The problem with this approach is that thyroid physiology is complex. The production, conversion and uptake of thyroid hormone in the body involves several steps. A malfunction in any of these steps can cause hypothyroid symptoms, but may not show up on standard lab tests. It’s incorrect and even negligent to assume that all cases of hypothyroidism share the same cause and require the same treatment. Yet that’s exactly what the standard of care for hypothyroidism delivers. 

The Healthy Skeptic  has an ongoing series to help you understand this complex condition, how to get it properly diagnosed, and how to combat it.

Thanks to Mark Sisson