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Thyroid Specialist
When you feel so fatigued you can barely make it through the day, or you can’t seem to rise above depression, you may have an imbalance of thyroid and adrenal hormones.
Thyroid in Women
Dr. Mirela Cernaianu at Hera Healthcare specializes in diagnosing and treating hormone imbalances and in helping you manage stress, which influences the thyroid and adrenal glands. If you have any questions about your health, contact her office in the Westlake Village are of Thousand Oaks, California, or go online to schedule an appointment for a comprehensive evaluation.
Mirela Cernaianu, MD
Integrative and Holistic Women’s Health & Minimally Invasive Aesthetic Center located in Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, CA
How does thyroid imbalance affect your health and cause weight gain?
Your thyroid gland produces three hormones, then releases them into your bloodstream when they’re needed: triiodothyronine or T3, and thyroxine or T4, and calcitonin. Calcitonin is different from the other two thyroid hormones because it maintains blood levels of calcium.
The two thyroid hormones, T3 and T4, regulate your metabolism and influence virtually every system in your body. When these hormones aren’t produced in the proper amount, two conditions develop:
Hypothyroidism: The thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones. You’ll have symptoms such as fatigue, dry skin, muscle weakness and aches, high cholesterol, and difficulty concentrating. Hypothyroidism causes weight gain and makes it hard to lose weight because your metabolism slows down.
Hyperthyroidism: The thyroid gland produces too much hormone. You’re likely to experience hyperactivity, nervousness, anxiety, hand trembling, and hair loss.
What is adrenal fatigue?
Your adrenal glands produce a variety of hormones, but the one primarily associated with adrenal fatigue is cortisol. Cortisol is released when you’re under stress, then it activates body systems that help you deal with the stressful event. Levels of cortisol drop back to normal once the stress resolves.
Problems develop when you’re under frequent or constant stress, and cortisol levels stay high. Since cortisol affects blood sugar, blood pressure, and the inflammatory response, chronically high levels of cortisol increase your risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, and bodywide inflammation that leads to chronic disease like heart disease.
When stress continues for a long time, the overworked adrenal glands become dysfunctional and adrenal fatigue develops. Then they can’t produce enough cortisol to meet your health needs. Adrenal fatigue causes problems such as foggy brain, body aches, low blood pressure, and loss of body hair.
Why are you likely to have insomnia and depression?
How are thyroid disease and adrenal fatigue treated?
Adrenal fatigue and hypothyroidism share some connections. Hypothyroidism is associated with adrenal fatigue, and adrenal insufficiency may worsen hypothyroidism. The thyroid and adrenal glands can both be affected by stress.
The two conditions also cause similar symptoms, especially insomnia, depression, and chronic fatigue. If you have both conditions, you’re more likely to experience their shared symptoms.
When you’re deficient in thyroid and adrenal hormones, treatment typically consists of hormone replacement therapy. Dr. C. carefully evaluates your levels of thyroid and adrenal hormones so that both conditions are properly treated.
It’s also essential to manage ongoing stress in your daily life. Dr. C. welcomes the opportunity to become your guide and advisor for finding ways to bring your life and health back into balance.