Thyroid Disorders

Hormone CareImmune & Inflammation Support Care
Written By Jennifer Tang

Overview

Thyroid disorders occur when the thyroid gland produces too much or too little thyroid hormone. Because thyroid hormones help regulate how the body uses energy, thyroid dysfunction can affect energy, weight, heart rate, digestion, mood, temperature regulation, menstrual cycles, fertility, and overall health.¹˒²˒³

At Tangible Health, we take an individualized, evidence-informed approach to thyroid care. We review your symptoms, thyroid testing, medications, nutrition, lifestyle, and overall health to identify where supportive naturopathic care may be helpful alongside appropriate medical treatment and monitoring.

What Are Thyroid Disorders?

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland at the front of the neck that produces hormones involved in metabolism, energy use, body temperature, heart function, digestion, and other body processes.¹ Two common types of thyroid dysfunction are:

  • Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, where the body does not have enough thyroid hormone²

  • Hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid, where there is more thyroid hormone than the body needs³

Common autoimmune thyroid conditions include Hashimoto’s disease, which commonly leads to hypothyroidism, and Graves’ disease, the most common cause of hyperthyroidism.⁴˒⁵ Because symptoms can overlap with many other health conditions, thyroid disorders cannot be diagnosed based on symptoms alone. Appropriate medical assessment and blood testing are important.⁶

Common Symptoms of Thyroid Disorders

Symptoms vary depending on whether thyroid hormone levels are too low or too high.²˒³

Hypothyroidism may cause:

  • Fatigue or low energy

  • Feeling unusually cold

  • Weight gain

  • Constipation

  • Dry skin or thinning hair

  • Brain fog or difficulty concentrating

  • Low mood

  • Slower heart rate

  • Heavy or irregular periods

  • Fertility difficulties

Hyperthyroidism may cause:

  • Anxiety or irritability

  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat

  • Unexplained weight loss

  • Feeling unusually hot

  • Increased sweating

  • Trembling or shaky hands

  • Difficulty sleeping

  • Frequent bowel movements

  • Muscle weakness

  • Changes in menstrual periods

Some thyroid disorders may also cause an enlarged thyroid or thyroid nodules. Graves’ disease can cause eye irritation, bulging, or vision changes in some people.⁵

Causes & Contributing Factors

Thyroid disorders can develop for several different reasons.

Autoimmune Thyroid Disease
Hashimoto’s disease occurs when the immune system attacks and damages the thyroid, which can gradually reduce thyroid hormone production. Graves’ disease occurs when antibodies stimulate the thyroid to produce excess thyroid hormone.⁴˒⁵

Other Thyroid Conditions
Other causes of thyroid dysfunction can include thyroiditis, thyroid nodules, thyroid surgery, radioactive iodine treatment, and certain medications or medical treatments.²˒³

Iodine Intake
Iodine is necessary for thyroid hormone production, but both too little and too much iodine can affect thyroid function. High-dose iodine or kelp supplements should not be used routinely without an appropriate clinical reason.⁷˒⁸

Nutrition, sleep, stress, and lifestyle can influence overall health and how someone feels while living with thyroid disease, but they should not be presented as universal “root causes” of thyroid dysfunction.

Our Approach to Thyroid Disorders

At Tangible Health, thyroid care begins with understanding your diagnosis, current treatment, symptoms, and overall health rather than assuming every concern is caused by the thyroid.

Your Thyroid Function
We review your thyroid history, laboratory results, medications, symptoms, and any known diagnoses such as Hashimoto’s disease or Graves’ disease. We can also help you understand commonly used thyroid tests and how they fit into your care.⁶˒⁷

Your Symptoms & Overall Health
We may also look at nutrition, sleep, stress, menstrual and reproductive health, metabolic health, digestive health, nutrient status, and other conditions that could contribute to symptoms such as fatigue, hair changes, constipation, mood changes, or weight concerns. Naturopathic care is designed to complement appropriate thyroid treatment, not replace medication when it is medically necessary.²˒³

Your Goals
Your priorities may include improving energy, understanding persistent symptoms, supporting nutrition, living well with an autoimmune thyroid condition, preparing for pregnancy, or gaining greater clarity around your thyroid health and treatment options. Your care plan is developed around the outcomes that matter most to you.

Treatments That May Be Included

Your individualized thyroid support plan may include:

  • Clinical Nutrition to support nutritional adequacy, metabolic health, cardiovascular health, and overall well-being

  • Nutraceuticals & Supplements when there is an individualized nutritional or clinical indication

  • Lifestyle Medicine to support sleep, movement, stress management, and sustainable health habits

  • Botanical Medicine when clinically appropriate, with careful consideration of thyroid function, medications, and the available evidence

  • Naturopathic Counselling to support stress management, behavioural changes, and living with a chronic health condition

  • Medication & Supplement Review to identify possible interactions or factors that may affect thyroid treatment

  • Collaborative Care with your family doctor, endocrinologist, fertility specialist, or other healthcare providers when appropriate

Thyroid supplements are not automatically beneficial. In particular, excessive iodine supplementation can worsen thyroid dysfunction in some people and should be used cautiously.⁸

What to Expect

Initial Assessment
We begin with a comprehensive review of your symptoms, thyroid diagnosis, previous laboratory results, medications and supplements, medical and family history, nutrition, sleep, stress, reproductive health, lifestyle, and treatment goals.

Targeted Testing
Thyroid testing is selected based on your symptoms, diagnosis, and clinical history. TSH is generally the first blood test used to assess thyroid function, with free T4 commonly added when TSH is abnormal or when the clinical situation warrants it. T3, thyroid antibodies, imaging, or other tests may be appropriate for specific thyroid conditions rather than being ordered routinely for everyone.⁶˒⁷

Personalized Plan
You’ll receive a personalized care plan designed around your thyroid diagnosis, symptoms, laboratory findings, medications, overall health, and goals.

Ongoing Support
Thyroid levels and medication needs can change over time. Follow-up allows us to review your symptoms and relevant laboratory results, adjust supportive care, and coordinate with your medical team when needed.

When to Seek Support for Thyroid Disorders

Consider speaking with a healthcare provider if you experience:

  • Persistent or unexplained fatigue

  • Unexplained weight gain or weight loss

  • Feeling unusually cold or hot

  • Hair thinning or significant skin changes

  • Persistent bowel changes

  • Anxiety, irritability, or low mood

  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat

  • Menstrual changes or fertility difficulties

  • Swelling or a lump in the neck

  • Abnormal thyroid blood-test results

Thyroid health is particularly important before and during pregnancy. People with known thyroid disease who are pregnant or planning pregnancy should discuss appropriate testing, medication, and monitoring with their healthcare provider.⁹

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Common symptoms include fatigue, weight changes, feeling unusually hot or cold, hair or skin changes, bowel changes, mood changes, and changes in heart rate. Symptoms vary depending on whether thyroid hormone levels are too low or too high.²˒³

  • Hypothyroidism means the body does not have enough thyroid hormone, which tends to slow body functions. Hyperthyroidism means there is too much thyroid hormone, which tends to speed them up.²˒³

  • Both are autoimmune thyroid disorders. Hashimoto’s commonly leads to an underactive thyroid, while Graves’ disease usually causes an overactive thyroid.⁴˒⁵

  • Diagnosis uses your symptoms, medical history, physical examination, and thyroid blood tests. TSH is commonly the first test, with additional testing selected according to the results and suspected condition.⁶˒⁷

  • It depends on the condition. Overt hypothyroidism is generally treated with thyroid hormone replacement, while hyperthyroidism may be treated with antithyroid medication, radioactive iodine, or surgery depending on the cause and individual circumstances.²˒³

  • Yes. Both underactive and overactive thyroid function can affect menstrual cycles and fertility, and thyroid health is particularly important during pregnancy.²˒³˒⁹

  • Symptoms such as fatigue, hair changes, constipation, mood changes, and weight concerns can have many possible causes. If thyroid testing is normal, it may be appropriate to look for other explanations rather than assuming that thyroid dysfunction is being missed.⁶

  • Naturopathic care can support nutrition, sleep, stress management, lifestyle, appropriate supplementation, and other health concerns alongside thyroid treatment. It should not replace thyroid medication or specialist care when these are medically indicated.

 

Related Care

Thyroid disorders can overlap with several areas of health. You may also benefit from:

Jennifer Tang
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