Do you feel more sluggish and tired each year as winter approaches?
Many people attribute this seasonal fatigue to the changing seasons (i.e. shorter days, colder weather, and less outdoor activity).
But there’s often something else going on here: thyroid dysfunction.
Your thyroid gland has to work harder during colder weather to maintain your core body temperature. And if it’s already struggling, winter can push things over the edge in terms of causing symptoms.
Your Body’s Thermostat
Your thyroid gland can be thought of as your body’s thermostat. As such, it’s essentially your body’s metabolic control center.
This small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of your neck produces important hormones that regulate your body temperature, metabolism, heart rate, mood, cognitive function, digestion, weight management, and energy production.
When your thyroid functions properly, these systems work smoothly. But when thyroid production is off, everything can feel wrong.
Why Winter Challenges Your Thyroid
Your thyroid gland has to work harder during cold weather for one simple reason: keeping you warm requires more metabolic energy.
In cold temperatures, your body needs to generate more internal heat to maintain your core body temperature and keep blood flowing efficiently; and this requires adequate thyroid hormone production.
If the system of hormones associated with your thyroid gland is already compromised, the increased demands of winter can push it beyond its capacity. The result? Symptoms that become more noticeable.
This is why many people first discover that they have thyroid problems during the winter months. The cold weather simply unmasks issues that were previously borderline or subclinical.
Winter Hypothyroid Symptoms
Watch for these signs that your thyroid might be struggling, especially as the weather gets colder:
- Temperature regulation issues like feeling cold all the time, having cold hands and feet, needing extra layers when others don’t, and difficulty warming up after being outside.
- Persistent fatigue, afternoon energy crashes, difficulty getting out of bed, and needing extra sleep all point to issues with energy production.
- Metabolic changes like weight gain, difficulty losing weight, increased appetite, and constipation.
- Mental and emotional changes like brain fog, difficulty concentrating, depression, anxiety, irritability, and memory loss.
- Physical changes like dry skin, brittle hair and nails, hair loss, facial puffiness, muscle aches, stiffness, and joint pain.
- Other miscellaneous symptoms include a slower heart rate, hoarse voice, and decreased libido.
If you’re experiencing any of the above—especially if symptoms worsen during colder weather—thyroid dysfunction could be the culprit.
Why Thyroid Problems Often Go Undiagnosed
Many people with thyroid dysfunction aren’t properly diagnosed for one or some combination of the following:
- When testing thyroid levels, most providers only test TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) and/or T4. But these two tests do not tell the whole story when it comes to thyroid function. At a minimum, TSH and T3 Free should be tested. In the absence of testing T3 Free, a substantial portion of thyroid function is missed. If an autoimmune condition is suspected (like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis), more comprehensive testing that includes T4, Free T4, Reverse T3 and thyroid antibodies may be warranted.
- Laboratory reference ranges for thyroid hormones are quite broad, and even people who fall within the “normal” range can have symptoms. Optimal ranges (where most people feel their best) are often narrower than standard lab reference ranges (and tend to be toward the top of the scale).
- Many symptoms of thyroid dysfunction overlap with other conditions. For example, fatigue is often attributed to aging, weight gain is blamed on diet or a lack of exercise, and depression is just treated with antidepressants (without consideration being given to an underlying cause).
Thyroid Health and Other Hormones
Your thyroid hormones don’t work in isolation. They are part of your endocrine system as a whole, and can be impacted by other hormones in the following ways:
- Elevated cortisol that occurs as a consequence of chronic stress can suppress TSH production, reduce the conversion of T4 to T3, and increase the production of reverse T3.
- Women will often notice that thyroid symptoms get worse during perimenopause and menopause, as progesterone and estrogen levels drop.
- Men and women both need optimal testosterone levels for proper thyroid function. So much so that when low testosterone is replenished via testosterone replacement therapy, thyroid function will often improve without any further intervention.
- Insulin resistance can impair thyroid hormone conversion and cellular uptake.
The interconnectedness between hormones means that properly addressing thyroid issues often requires looking at the entire endocrine system, not just thyroid hormones in isolation.
Supporting Your Thyroid During the Winter Months
If you suspect you may be having issues with thyroid dysfunction, here’s what you can do:
- Get comprehensive thyroid testing. Don’t settle for just a TSH or a T4 test. Ask for TSH and T3 Free at a minimum. And work with a provider who understands what optimal means when it comes to thyroid levels, rather than simply deferring to lab reference ranges.
- Since hormones work together, work with a provider who can address deficiencies in other hormones like DHEA, testosterone, and estrogen. And make sure your provider is evaluating and addressing insulin resistance and adrenal dysfunction, if appropriate.
- Your thyroid needs specific nutrients to function optimally, including iodine, selenium, zinc, vitamin D, B vitamins, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids. Make sure your provider is taking nutritional supplementation into account.
- Because stress can have a profound and negative affect on thyroid function, stress management through regular exercise, adequate sleep, meditation, relaxation practices, time in nature, and social connection is essential.
When Other Interventions Aren’t Enough
Sometimes, even after implementing these other interventions, thyroid dysfunction persists.
That’s where thyroid hormone replacement comes in. Properly prescribed thyroid medication can be life-changing for people with hypothyroidism. The key is to work with a provider who orders the right testing, interprets the results correctly, and can prescribe the right kind of thyroid medication in the correct amount.
The Renew Youth Approach to Thyroid Health
At Renew Youth, we understand that thyroid health is an important part of the big picture when it comes to hormones.
We don’t just look at TSH or T4 and call it done. We test the right thyroid hormones, while at the same time evaluating other relevant hormones. We consider your symptoms alongside your lab values, and we customize treatment to your individual needs. From there, we monitor regularly and adjust dosing as needed.
We’ve seen countless patients transform their health once their thyroid function was properly optimized—often in combination with balancing other hormones.
Don’t Suffer Through Another Winter
If you’ve been feeling poorly as the weather has gotten colder, your thyroid could be the problem. You don’t have to accept feeling lousy as being part of getting through the winter months. Proper thyroid optimization can help you to feel like yourself, regardless of the temperature outside.
Are you ready to find out if thyroid is the missing piece of your health puzzle? Call us at (800) 859-7511 or use our easy contact form to schedule your complimentary 30-minute consultation.