Low Thyroid Symptoms in Women are Widespread
Thyroid symptoms in women are sadly prevalent today. In general, women are more vulnerable to thyroid disorders than men for a variety of reasons. It is estimated that as many as ten percent of women suffer harmful effects from underactive thyroid, a condition also known as hypothyroidism.

Thyroid symptoms in women are more frequently caused by the autoimmune disease Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Up to ninety percent of all cases of hypothyroidism are caused by Hashimoto’s Disease, an autoimmune disorder that is about seven times more likely to affect women than men.

Why are women more prone to thyroid disorders than men?
Women experience autoimmune disease at a higher rate than men due to many factors.  Excessive estrogen levels can lead to autoimmune disease because high estrogen causes immune system problems.  Epstein-Barr virus is a common cause of Hashimoto’s disease and too much estrogen inhibits the body’s ability to fight this virus.

Women also experience higher levels of inflammation compared to men when they are under stress.  Relationship stress, family stress, conflict, lack of sleep, weight gain, and social isolation with loneliness increases inflammation in women to a greater extent than in men.  This causes chronic inflammation which is a key factor in developing autoimmune disease and hypothyroidism.
Common Low Thyroid Symptoms in Women
The most common low thyroid symptoms in women are fatigue, weight gain and depression. Other symptoms include:

Alopecia (Hair Loss)
Muscle Weakness or Pain
Sensitivity to Cold
Dry Skin, Hair & Nails
Constipation
Sleep problems
Joint pain
Heavy menstrual flow
PMS
Puffy face
Hoarse voice
Difficulty swallowing

You will not necessarily have all of these common thyroid symptoms in women. There are many causes of hypothyroidism and each one will lead to different symptoms in different patients.
Causes of Thyroid Symptoms in Women
Dr. Nikolas Hedberg has extensively researched thyroid symptoms in women. His book The Complete Thyroid Health and Diet Guide offers comprehensive information on the thyroid and all of the many factors that cause or contribute to thyroid dysfunction including:

Lyme Disease
Epstein-Barr Virus
Blood Sugar Imbalances
Adrenal Imbalances
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Gluten Intolerance
Heavy Metal Toxicity
Autoimmune Disease
Excess Estrogen
GI Infections
Various Viruses & Bacteria
Vitamin D deficiency
Genetics
Traumatic emotional event

The most common Western medicine approach to treating low thyroid symptoms in women is thyroid hormone replacement. Most physicians prescribe medications that treat or mask symptoms but do not deal directly with any of these underlying causes of disease.

Thyroid medication is prescribed for hypothyroidism that is non-autoimmune in nature as well as for Hashimoto’s disease.  But there is no treatment for the autoimmune component if you have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

This is where functional medicine is extremely valuable because it searches for the underlying causes of the thyroid problem for both types of thyroid issues.
The Functional Medicine Approach to Low Thyroid Symptoms in Women
If you are looking for a natural solution for low thyroid symptoms in women, consult with Dr. Nikolas Hedberg, a practitioner of functional medicine. Functional medicine is a holistic approach to wellness that does not reduce a patient to a single organ, but instead addresses the whole person.

Dr. Hedberg investigates all the possible underlying causes of low thyroid symptoms in women by comprehensively...