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DRSladic.com
April 2023
THE BIGGER ISSUE WITH THYROID DISORDERS How a Full-Body Approach Can Help
When it comes to thyroid disorders, there is one statement I hear more than any others. “I know I have a problem, but I was told it’s not my thyroid. I know you specialize in thyroid problems, so you can’t help me.” This couldn’t be further from the truth. Sometimes, people may think that just because I’m “The Natural Thyroid Doctor,” thyroid issues are the only conditions I deal with. But people don’t realize that thyroid disorders affect the entire body and depend on many other systems to function correctly. So I don’t just specialize in thyroid disorders; I specialize in the whole body — one interdependent system, of which the thyroid is just one part. So when the thyroid isn’t functioning as it should, it usually means there’s a larger issue inside the body. But, to better understand your thyroid’s role in your body’s entire system, we’ll start at the beginning. The thyroid is a little butterfly- shaped gland that sits at the front of your neck, right by your adam’s apple. And like any gland in your body, it has a job to do. The thyroid’s job is to piece together proteins and other materials to produce thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones are critical
because every single cell in your body uses them. If you’re wondering how they use them, the answer is your metabolism! Your metabolism is simply how fast or slow your body burns energy. It’s not by coincidence that when it comes to thyroid disorders, there are two types: one where it produces too much thyroid hormone, called hyperthyroidism, and one where it doesn’t make enough, called hypothyroidism. The most common thyroid disorder is hypothyroidism. When your thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormones, your metabolism slows to a crawl. You’ll likely experience brain fog, fatigue, weight gain, constipation, cold hands and feet, hair loss, and low energy.
Doctors often treat both disorders with medication, and when talking about hypothyroidism specifically, that medication is a thyroid hormone replacement. But, what happens if someone is put on thyroid medication but doesn’t actually feel any better? More often than not, doctors will refer to the blood test: “Your thyroid levels are normal now with the medication. There’s nothing wrong.” But this answer doesn’t help when you still feel like something is wrong, even when a blood test shows your levels are normal. This group of patients, who still don’t feel right even after thyroid medication, is why I became The Natural Thyroid Doctor. “I don’t just specialize in thyroid disorders; I specialize in the whole body — one interdependent system, of which the thyroid is just one part.”
The less common thyroid disorder is hyperthyroidism, where the thyroid is overactive and produces too much thyroid hormone. With this issue, the metabolism burns more energy than needed, resulting in weight loss, the inability to gain weight, and an elevated heart
rate. Hyperthyroidism is especially concerning to doctors because prolonged heart rates of over 100 beats per minute can result in serious cardiovascular issues.
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THOUGHT OF THE MONTH
“Happiness? If it had a color it would be spring green.” –Frances Mayes
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FIND MORE ‘YOU’ TIME DEVELOPING A SELF-CARE ROUTINE
Become intentional. When developing a self-care ritual, it’s essential to identify your reasons behind taking better care of yourself and to pinpoint your needs. With a clear vision and motive behind your efforts, developing healthy habits to nurture and incorporate into your everyday routine becomes easier. Create large and small self-care options. You don’t need to do the same self-care ritual all the time, but make it a point to do something for yourself every day. On busier days, you may only have a moment to take a few deep breaths and mentally reset, but on other days, you may have time for a relaxing bath, massage, workout, or pedicure. Make time for hobbies. Most people find themselves constantly juggling countless tasks and obligations. With so much to do, making time for your
least favorite activities likely won’t happen; instead, do something you enjoy. After all, self-care is about you! Yoga, reading, journaling, jogging, and meditating are just a few ways to get in some “you time.” If you like it, do it! Plan your self-care time. Without adding self-care to your schedule, your healthy behaviors may get placed on the back burner. Block off time for your favorite activities: Once it’s on your calendar, you’re more likely to work a routine into your day. Keep it simple. Complex rituals may create more stress or anxiety when you should be relaxing. Instead, keep it simple by focusing on relaxing, breathing, and recharging. Go for a walk in the park, take a nap, get a massage, stretch, or take a few moments to do absolutely nothing. Simplicity is the key.
Life isn’t easy — when juggling a career, family, children, social obligations, and housework, finding time for yourself can be difficult. Studies show that roughly 59% of individuals only make time for self-care after they’ve become stressed out. Here are some ways to develop a healthy routine that suits your busy life.
With These 3 Natural Solutions
BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
When someone has been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, and still doesn’t feel better even after taking thyroid medicine, an autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto’s disease may be to blame.
as regenerate new cells and tissues. When you don’t get enough sleep or don’t sleep through the night, your immune system doesn’t have the time to rest and repair and is then more vulnerable to mistakes — like mistaking your thyroid for an invader. No. 2: Try probiotics. Probiotics are essential microorganisms that benefit your overall health for many reasons, but specifically, they help regulate the immune system. You can get probiotics from natural sources like yogurt, sauerkraut, pickles, sourdough bread, and some cheeses. If incorporating these foods into your diet seems easier said than done, you can also buy probiotic supplements from your local health food store. No. 3: Consider fish oil. Research has shown that fish oil, and its healthy omega-3 fatty acids, helps repair cell membranes. And those fatty acids do the same for your immune cells. This
Hashimoto’s disease occurs when the immune system attacks the thyroid,
mistaking it for a foreign invader like bacteria. This, in turn, means the thyroid has to spend most of its time defending itself rather than producing thyroid hormones. Naturally, you may be wondering how to improve your immune system so it can run more effectively and give your thyroid a break. So, here are three things you can do to boost your immune system. No. 1: Get enough sleep. When you fall asleep at night, your body is doing more than just dreaming. Every time you hit the hay, your body uses that time to repair damaged cells and tissues, as well
membrane repair allows your cells to maintain healthy function, including their ability to detect and attack threats. Just like probiotics, you can get fish oil from, well, fish! But if you don’t eat fish, you can also find fish oil supplements at your local grocery or health food store. But the best way to know how to help your unique immune system is with a comprehensive blood test to understand what exactly your body needs. If you’re not feeling your best even after thyroid medication, call us at 1-877-861-5927.
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A great way to strengthen your immune system and help your body better regulate itself is to reduce stress. But, sometimes, finding ways to calm down when life’s stressors get you down can be challenging. So, an easy way to help yourself deal with stress is to utilize breathing exercises! Breathing slowly in a controlled manner can help regulate our physiological and psychological arousal levels. This happens because slower breathing rates signal to the body that there is no “danger” near and no need for excess stress hormones. When it comes to breathing exercises, there are two we recommend that are easy to perform and sure to lower your stress levels. They are the 5-Finger Breathing and Box Breathing exercises, and here’s how to do them! 5-Finger Breathing This breathing exercise is excellent for individuals of any age, and you just need your hand to do it! Raise one hand in front of you, and with the opposite hand, use a finger to trace the outside of the raised hand, going up and down each finger. As you go up, breathe in, thinking “smell the flower.” As you go down the finger, breathe out, and use the cue “blow out the candle.” BREATHE IN, BREATHE OUT 2 Breathing Exercises to Reduce Stress
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So, why might these people still feel unwell, even with medication? The most common answer is an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s. Your immune system is built to fight harmful substances you come into contact with, but sometimes, your immune system can turn on your body. When this happens, it’s known as an autoimmune disease. Hashimoto’s is when the immune system attacks the thyroid. When this happens, the thyroid has to spend most of its time defending itself. Meaning, it’s not able to do its job producing hormones. And there’s no medication for Hashimoto’s. So even if someone takes thyroid hormone replacements, the thyroid still can’t manufacture any hormones itself. What I do is try to find the underlying cause of the body’s attack on the thyroid. Maybe it’s triggered by food sensitivity or perhaps chronic stress. Whatever the issue, my job is to find it and help your body lessen the autoimmune response so the thyroid can function correctly. Your body is one interconnected network; when one system goes down, it affects the entire thing. If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms above, or don’t feel right even after taking thyroid medication, call me at 1-877-861-5927 , so I can help you get back to health.
–Dr. Tom Sladic
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By the time you reach the end of your hand, you’ll probably notice that you feel less stressed and more relaxed.
Box Breathing If stress causes you to breathe more rapidly or “panic breathe,” box breathing is a great strategy for you. This method works for panicked or rapid breathing by separating the respiration cycle into four four-second stages. To do this breathing exercise, complete the following steps:
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1. Take a four-second breath in. 2. Hold for four seconds. 3. Exhale for four seconds. 4. Hold for four seconds.
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Repeat.
Any time you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed, utilize one of the above strategies to calm your body and reap its immune-boosting rewards!
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. More Than Just ‘The Natural Thyroid Doctor’
2. Putting Together a Self-Care Routine
3 Natural Ways to Boost Your Immune System
3. Help Your Immune System With These Exercises
4. 3 Ways to Move More During the Day
GET IN BETTER SHAPE Add More Movement to Each Day
Getting the movement our bodies and minds need each day can be challenging. Many of us work on computers for hours, only standing to use the restroom or refill our water bottles. But we need to do more than that to stay healthy. When we add more movement to our daily routines, our muscles grow stronger, which helps improve our balance, stability, and coordination. Our bones become more durable and our joints more flexible. It’s no secret that moving helps us live healthier, but going to the gym can be expensive and time-consuming. Thankfully, we can adopt simple daily routines to add more movement to our lives. Here are a few worth trying. Be active on your work breaks. If you work an eight-hour shift, you are entitled to a few breaks throughout your day. Try to use them to be active. Stand up
and stretch or walk around once an hour if you work on a computer. Set reminders on your phone so you don’t forget. You can even utilize a standing desk to avoid sitting for extended periods. If possible, get out during your lunch break and walk instead of sitting down. Being active throughout the day will help prevent stiffness and fatigue while improving focus and productivity.
close to your home. You’ll add some extra movement and sunlight to your days.
Take the stairs. If you work in an office building, skip the elevator. If you work from home and have stairs in your house or apartment, walk up and down the steps a few times. You can also take the stairs up to buildings instead of using walking ramps.
Walk or bike to your destinations. We’re all accustomed to getting in our cars whenever we need to go somewhere, but maybe it’s time to walk or get the bike out instead. If you travel a
This adjustment is one of the quickest ways to add exercise into your day, and it doesn’t take much!
These little changes can go a long way, but remember that doing these activities once is not enough.
short distance for work, consider walking there or riding a bicycle if possible. The same goes for trips to the post office, grocery store, or other locations
They need to become a habit. Perform them every day when possible, and you’ll feel better physically in no time.
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