Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Treatment Houston: A Functional Medicine Approach

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, named after the Japanese physician Hakarou Hashimoto in 1912, was recognized as a chronic autoimmune disorder of the thyroid gland in 1957. In this, the immune system does not recognize the thyroid gland cells as its own, attacks them, and gradually destroys them, leading to hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroid hormone production). Hashimoto’s disease is the leading cause of hypothyroidism in the USA and areas with insufficient iodine intake. It affects more women than men, with an estimated occurrence rate of 3.5 per 1000 women and 0.8 per 1000 men annually. This highlights the prevalence of Hashimoto's disease. The best thyroid specialists in Houston strives to manage and reverse the symptoms of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis using natural remedies, such as functional medicine. 

 

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What Causes Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?

The exact cause of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is non-definitive. There are specific triggers that set off a chronic immune system inflammation that attacks the tissue cells in your thyroid gland, causing it to swell. The triggers result from an interplay between your ’genetic makeup and the environmental factors’.

These environmental factors include:

• Food sensitivity: The foods that we eat that eventually impact our gut health. Eating healthy is good, but eating healthy foods that are incompatible with ‘your’ body can trigger autoimmunity issues. 
• Poor mental health: Stress, anxiety, emotional upheavals, and depression are common triggers for any autoimmune condition.
• Toxin exposure: Toxins are the biggest drivers for those with Hashimoto’s disease. Inadvertent microexposures to lead, mercury, aluminum, or pesticides (in the form of glycosides), insecticides, cigarette smoke, air pollution, chemicals from regular household products and gadgets, and mold toxins inside our houses, offices, bathrooms, etc. 
• Nutritional deficiencies: Research suggests there is a ‘nutrient collapse’ in modern food. Researchers have found a decline in micronutrients like iron, vitamins, and zinc in fruits and vegetables over time, using food tables as a historical data source. 

So if the ‘healthy food’ is itself deficient,  it has little to offer our hormonal health.

• Infections: Lastly, reactivation of latent infection from viruses such as Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), Lyme disease, Bartonella infections, etc. have been linked to Hashimoto’s disease.  

Middle-aged women between 30-60 years are the most prone to Hashimoto’s disease; however, the latest studies highlight that stressful lifestyles and changing food patterns can trigger the disease quite early in life, in both men and women.

Signs and Symptoms of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

Antibody production against the thyroid gland begins fairly early; symptoms do not appear until the thyroid glands are destroyed to the point where they can no longer produce enough thyroid hormones. Hashimoto’s disease progresses slowly over time, causing chronic damage to the thyroid. Early symptoms are often subtle and similar to those of an underactive thyroid, making it hard to detect at first. Common signs include weight gain, fatigue, brain fog, constipation, hair loss, feeling cold, mood changes (like anxiety or depression), menstrual irregularities, infertility, muscle and joint pain, dry skin, and facial swelling. These symptoms reflect the thyroid’s inability to function properly due to the autoimmune attack.

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Hashimoto’s Treatment Houston—The Functional Medicine Approach

First, it is important to understand how the conventional medicine approach to hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis differs from what we, as proponents of Functional Medicine say.

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is by far one of the most underdiagnosed causes of low thyroid hormone levels. Conventional medicine often relies on testing only thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and inactive thyroid hormone (T4) levels, which may overlook key issues related to Hashimoto’s disease. This approach can miss the autoimmune aspect of the condition, potentially leading to an incomplete diagnosis or treatment. Though the same blood samples can be used for a few additional tests to detect the presence of antibodies to thyrocytes (the thyroid cells), the anti-TPO antibody, the traditional methods often fall short of this. 

In conventional medicine, once the thyroid cells are destroyed, there is nothing medications can do to reverse it. Thus, they start with a ‘bandaid approach’ of supplementing the thyroid approach with a medicine to be taken for a lifetime as a substitute for the thyroid hormone. 

The Functional Medicine approach for Hashimoto’s Treatment Houston begins at this juncture. It aims to reach 2 targets:

• Reducing the antibodies to safeguard the thyroid gland
• To resolve the quality of life through natural remedies

The thyroid gland specialist Houston, TX,  with a Functional Medicine approach, aims to target a large cohort of people who are suffering from underdiagnosed hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s disease on regular medicines with normal test values but continue to suffer from the symptoms. 

Early diagnosis is a game changer: 

In Functional Medicine, a comprehensive thyroid panel is conducted as lab tests. This measures TSH, T3, T4, reverse T3, and elevated anti-TPO and/or anti-TG levels. These tests help identify Hashimoto's disease by giving a detailed view of thyroid function and autoimmune activity. Thus, the testing approach and its role in detecting Hashimoto's are crucial.

Personalized root cause analysis: 

This involves a comprehensive assessment that includes certain tests:

• Thyroid profile: Standard reference ranges are useful for detecting obvious thyroid problems, but thyroid autoimmunity can develop quietly for years before routine lab testing flashes Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Moreover, many people may experience hypothyroidism symptoms even if their lab results are within the "normal" standard reference range. Assessing thyroid function using optimum or functional reference ranges may help detect early thyroid changes, initiating a proactive treatment approach.
• Other Hormone profiles: Hypothyroidism and its triggers impact other hormones related to menstrual cycle reproduction and stress. Thus, a comprehensive hormone panel for estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and cortisol is critical to planning the treatment for Hashimoto’s disease.
• Stool tests: This is based on the ‘gut-thyroid axis’, a pivot in Functional Medicine. Communication between the gut microbiome and the thyroid occurs through the metabolic activities of good gut bacteria. A thorough stool analysis can evaluate digestive health, gut inflammation, and microbiome composition. It also helps detect infections, imbalances (dysbiosis), or other gastrointestinal factors that may affect the gut-thyroid connection. This assessment can be crucial in understanding and addressing issues impacting thyroid function.
• Nutrition profile: A nutritional assessment evaluates the levels of essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, and fatty acids in the body. The findings can help tailor therapies to achieve specific nutritional and clinical objectives.
• Food sensitivities: The best functional medicine doctor Houston works closely with a dietician to develop a personalized nutrition plan to enhance thyroid health and minimize inflammation. This may involve an elimination diet to pinpoint any food sensitivities that could worsen symptoms of Hashimoto's.

Click here to book a free 15 minute evaluation call with Dr. Gupta.

Patient education:

As one of the best functional medicine doctor in USA, we encourage open dialogue and transparent communication with every patient. Based on the test results, the dos and don’ts are clearly conveyed to the patient in terms of their diet and lifestyle. Thus, going forward, when they step out of the Functional Medicine program, they know that these are the few things they must cut back on, or must eat, should do, etc. to sustain a healthy thyroid. In case of relapse, they know the protocol and can immediately work towards reversing it.

Supplements

This involves following the diet plan as suggested and using supplements like 

• Omega-3: This healthy fat contributes to chemical processes in the brain cells. Thus, Omega-3 fatty acids may enhance brain function, easing brain fog and depression in hypothyroidism by supporting cognitive and emotional health.
• Magnesium: Most of the chemical and electrical processes in the body use magnesium as a cofactor. Low magnesium increases the risk of developing the antibodies in Hashimoto’s disease, making it a must-have supplement.
• Selenium: Selenium is an antioxidant that supports metabolism, immunity, and thyroid function. Its potential effects on TPO antibodies, thyroid hormones, and hypothyroid symptoms are crucial.
• Zinc: When used in combination with selenium, zinc can boost thyroid function and resolve the symptoms of hypothyroidism.
• Vitamin D as prescribed: Studies have found many Hashimoto's patients were low in vitamin D, and supplementation improved levels and impacted anti-TPO antibodies. Various studies have also linked vitamin D to better self-tolerance and the ability to combat inflammation, showing an inverse connection between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and thyroid antibodies.

Gut health

For optimal gut health, it is critical to eat the right foods at the right time, in the advised combinations, and in the correct order. 

Stress management

Next would be stress management techniques like breathing exercises, yoga, meditation, etc. Good quality and sufficient sleep is also a vital factor.

 

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Hashimoto’s Treatment Houston with Dr Anshul Gupta

Functional medicine takes a tailored approach to treating Hashimoto's, adapting care to each patient's specific needs by addressing underlying triggers and imbalances. This holistic approach not only treats symptoms but also promotes long-term wellness, thereby preventing future autoimmune flare-ups.

As one of the best functional medicine doctor Houston, Dr Anshul Gupta, a Functional Medicine practitioner with years of experience, begins by designing a roadmap for recovery from Hashimoto's disease. The team of the Functional Medicine clinic ensures that you are well-informed at every stage of the treatment. We work to empower you to manage your condition independently, freeing you from the need to keep visiting us multiple times. 

Many of our patients are surprised to learn they can live symptom-free, with ‘complete reversal’ from Hashimoto's disease, without regular tablets. 

Through functional medicine, we provide the knowledge and tools necessary to understand your disease and take charge of your health moving forward. If you or a loved one is battling thyroid issues for a while, feel free to contact us. Let’s see how best we can support you.

 

To get started you can click here for a free 15 minute evaluation call.