Free Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones by Suzanne Somers Page A

study found that 40 percent of patients who were already taking thyroid medication still had abnormally high levels of TSH, an indicator of low thyroid function.” Because even “normal” TSH levels increase heart disease risk, Dr. Miller advises testing for TSH and other blood markers of thyroid function and working with an antiaging doctor to bring these values into the “optimal” range for peak thyroid function.
    Some of the factors that cause a “sick” thyroid include:
     
Selenium deficiency. Selenium is a mineral necessary for the conversion of T4 to T3. (Incomplete conversion results in high levels of reverse T3, an inactive hormone.)
Estrogen dominance caused by stress and pollution. Estrogen suppresses thyroid function.
Mercury, a toxic metal that can contaminate the thyroid gland.
Stress, which causes decreased adrenal gland function and prevents the thyroid gland from functioning optimally.
    Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough “energy-generating” thyroid hormones. Weight gain is a classic symptom of this dysfunction. In such cases, levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone may rise in an attempt to spur more production and secretion of thyroid hormones from the thyroid gland.
    Other symptoms include
     
chronic constipation
fatigue
feeling cold, even when others are hot
brittle hair, hair loss, or nails that break easily and split
longer, heavier, and more frequent periods
dry, scaly skin
bruising easily
depression
mental confusion
trouble sleeping
low libido
sensitivity to light
recurrent infections
headaches or migraines
    HOW TO TEST: Thyroid function tests tell you whether your thyroid is working normally. When TSH is measured, most doctors consider normal to be in the 0.2 to 5.5 range. However, the normal range is no longer considered optimal by antiaging doctors. Optimal is between 1.0 and 2.0. Higher than this, and you can experience premature aging and an increased risk of heart disease. Writing in his book Life Extension Revolution , Dr. Miller says, “If your thyroid levels are above 4.0 (still well within the considered ‘normal’ range), you are at increased risk of heart disease.”
    You may be going to your doctor with complaints that indicate your thyroid is too high or too low, but your blood work comes back in the normal range. Your doctor, therefore, may not treat your thyroid because you are “normal,” and that could be one of the big reasons you are symptomatic and gaining weight. You need to know this. When you go to an antiaging doctor, bring these ranges with you so you can do your own evaluating. When the thyroid is not working at optimal range for you, you are not getting the full benefit of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.
    If you suspect that you have an underactive thyroid, blood tests should not be limited to the “faithful” TSH test. This method happens to be scientifically outdated, and not all doctors are up-to-date with this fact. To get an accurate picture of what your thyroid hormones are doing, you need to work with a physician who understands thyroid problems. Demand a full panel of tests, including TSH, freeT4, free T3, reverse T3, and possibly thyroid antibodies. Together, these are considered a complete battery of thyroid function tests.
    Overweight women with a family history of obesity may have lower levels of T3 in their blood. Treatments to raise T3 levels may help reduce some metabolic risk factors associated with abdominal obesity in some overweight women. Also, it is not uncommon for women with thyroid problems to suffer from depression. One explanation for this is that T3 is actually a bona fide neurotransmitter that regulates the action of serotonin (the feel-good hormone) and nor-epinephrine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), two brain chemicals that are important for alleviating anxiety.
    Whenever thyroid problems are suspected or treated, it is important to monitor adrenal function as well. Attempting to