Dr Stone and I sat down to talk about everything thyroid. 

You can watch the video here or listen to the podcast here

This is what I learned:

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland at the neck’s base. This gland plays a crucial role in our overall health and well-being. It produces hormones that regulate our energy levels, metabolism, and even our mood. When the thyroid functions properly, we feel energized, maintain a healthy weight, and experience a sense of emotional balance. However, when the thyroid is not working as it should, it can lead to troubling symptoms.

Hypothyroidism: When the Thyroid Underperforms

Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, is a common condition that affects millions of people, particularly women. When the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough of the essential hormones T4 and T3, it can result in a range of symptoms, including low energy, weight gain, anxiety, depression, constipation, and hair thinning. Traditionally, the medical approach to hypothyroidism has been to prescribe synthetic thyroid replacement medication, such as levothyroxine or Synthroid, to supplement the body’s natural thyroid hormone production.

The Limitations of the Traditional Approach

While thyroid replacement medication can be helpful in some cases, it often fails to address the underlying causes of hypothyroidism. Many patients find that even after taking these medications, their symptoms persist or worsen over time. This is because the root of the problem may lie in an autoimmune condition called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, which is responsible for up to 98% of hypothyroidism cases.

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: The Autoimmune Connection

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and damages the thyroid gland. This ongoing assault on the thyroid can lead to a gradual decline in its ability to produce sufficient hormones, resulting in hypothyroidism. Interestingly, Hashimoto’s is often accompanied by other autoimmune conditions, such as lupus, Sjögren’s syndrome, or rheumatoid arthritis.

Addressing the Root Causes

To effectively manage Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism, it’s crucial to address the underlying factors that are driving the autoimmune response. This requires a more comprehensive, functional medicine approach that looks beyond just the thyroid and considers the whole body. Some of the key factors that can contribute to Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism include:

• Insulin Resistance and Blood Sugar Imbalances:  this is because chronic high glucose and  insulin levels can trigger the immune system and exacerbate autoimmune conditions. (1)
• Adrenal Dysfunction: Chronic stress and burnout can impair the adrenal glands, leading to hormonal imbalances that impact the thyroid. (2)
• Gut Health Issues: Leaky gut, dysbiosis, and other gastrointestinal problems can contribute to developing autoimmune disorders. (3)
• Environmental Toxins: Exposure to heavy metals, mold, and other toxins can trigger an autoimmune response and disrupt thyroid function. (4)
• Food Sensitivities: Certain foods, such as gluten, dairy, or soy, can cause inflammation and further aggravate the immune system in those with Hashimoto’s.(5)

A Personalized Approach to Thyroid Health

A personalized, holistic approach is essential to effectively managing Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism. This involves comprehensive testing to identify the underlying triggers, followed by a customized treatment plan that addresses each individual’s unique needs. The plan may include dietary changes, targeted supplements, stress management techniques, and other lifestyle modifications to support the body’s natural healing processes.

The Power of Lifestyle Interventions

While medication may play a role in managing thyroid dysfunction, the real key to long-term health and wellness lies in addressing the root causes through lifestyle interventions. This is a key piller of my philosophy by using “You Lifestyle As Your Medicine”.  By optimizing factors like blood sugar levels, adrenal health, gut function, and environmental exposures, many individuals with Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism have been able to significantly improve their symptoms and even achieve remission of their autoimmune condition.

Embracing a Holistic Approach to Thyroid Health

The journey to optimal thyroid health is not a quick fix but a lifelong commitment to self-care and wellness. It will involve experimentation and persistence, but by understanding the complex interplay between the thyroid, the immune system, and the body’s various systems, we can empower ourselves to take control of our health and find lasting solutions to even the most stubborn thyroid problems. With the proper support and guidance, it is possible to overcome the challenges of Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism and reclaim a vibrant, healthy life.

I hope you found this information helpful. If you want my help to see if we can use specific exercises and lifestyle medicine to help you recover from pain, injury, or illness please reach out to me via ed@edpaget.com

1. https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/the-connection-between-autoimmune-disease-and-metabolic-health#:~:text=Their%20studies%20are%20beginning%20to,diabetes%20than%20the%20general%20population
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4430608/
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9271567/
4. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2019.03094/full
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9101513/

I’ve been helping people take a whole-body approach to their scoliosis for years. 

One of the reasons for this is that we can’t ignore the rest of the body when dealing with scoliosis. Dentists and researchers have long postulated imbalances in the teeth (1) may play a role in idiopathic scoliosis, and many other disciplines have good theories about what causes scoliosis. There is, currently, no ‘smoking gun’ when it comes to the cause of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. However, it is worth looking at the rest of the body for anything that could contribute to scoliosis or prevent it from improving. 

One area I’m particularly interested in is the pelvis.

I view the pelvis as the foundation of the spine. If we drop a midline or ‘plumb line’ down the front of someone’s body it would follow their spine and then dissect the pelvis in half. However, my scoliosis patients often have their pelvis rotated or shifted to one side.

Often, this is an adaptation to scoliosis, but what if it’s an adaptation to something with the feet or hips that is actually making the scoliosis worse?

Let’s look at some common causes of pelvic imbalance and see what we can do about them. 

• Apparent Leg Length Deficiency: This condition arises when postural muscle imbalances cause one side of the body to draw up the leg despite equal lengths. The solution is to find which muscles are tight and how they affect the joint. For example, tight hip external rotators will externally rotate the hip, making the hip a little longer. Tight hamstrings, popliteus, and calf muscles can flex the knee, causing the leg to appear shorter. Stretching and mobilizing the joints and muscles will help in these cases.
• A collapsed arch on one foot pulls the hip down on the same side. Foot strengthening exercises and, in some cases, orthotics can help with this. 
• True Leg Length Deficiency: There is an actual difference in bony length between the left and right sides. This is best corrected with a lift on the shorter side. 

However, sometimes, the anatomy of the scoliosis can also drive the pelvis into rotation and an oblique tilt. This has to do with the weight shift that happens when scoliosis isn’t balanced. In an S-curve, this occurs when one curve is larger than the other, but it’s also common in adult degenerative lumbar spine scoliosis. But this is then compounded by postural habits that tighten up muscles. Assessing the hips in all six cardinal directions is essential before starting any corrective-type exercise.

In the Scoliosis Correction Protocol, we use 22 different body tests to build a picture of imbalances in our patients before we get them to do any specific scoliosis exercises. This allows the scoliosis exercises to be more effective as they are not ‘fighting’ against muscle imbalance elsewhere in the body that could be adding to their scoliosis. 

Understanding the interconnectedness of pelvic and lower extremity imbalances with scoliosis progression underscores the holistic approach required for effective management. By addressing these contributing factors through tailored interventions, we can optimize postural alignment and mitigate the impact of scoliosis on overall spinal health. As healthcare practitioners, we must learn to recognize and address these intricate relationships to provide comprehensive care for individuals with scoliosis.

I hope you found this information helpful. If you want my help to see if we can use specific exercises and lifestyle medicine to help you recover from pain, injury, or illness, please reach out to me via ed@edpaget.com

1. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/7842106_The_Influence_of_an_Experimentally-Induced_Malocclusion_On_Vertebral_Alignment_in_Rats_A_Controlled_Pilot_Study