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In this article series, I wanted to address how stress can greatly effect the functioning of the thyroid gland. My last article on hypothyroidism covered the anatomy of the thyroid gland and how routine lab testing may not be the most reliable indicator of thyroid status.

There are many factors that can lead to hypothyroidism but stress is one of the most important causes since it is something we all experience in our lives. The obvious stressors we encounter on a daily basis are situations like driving in traffic, rushing to an appointment, busy schedules, or losing a job. One thing I want to point out is other physiological stressor’s that people don’t really consider being an actual “stress,” but in fact they can trigger that same stress response. These include food sensitivities (intolerance), autoimmune issues, digestive issues, blood sugar swings, and underlying inflammation. All these conditions will alert your stress system to turn ON.

Specific hormones (cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine) are secreted from the adrenal glands (small glands that sit on our kidneys) to regulate our stress response. These hormones that are secreted play a crucial role in the proper functioning of the thyroid, therefore when stress becomes chronic, our adrenal glands become overworked and therefore throw off the proper functioning of the thyroid gland (explain later in more detail).

Some common symptoms and signs that indicate overworked adrenals:

• Fatigue (with adequate sleep)
• Headaches
• Sugar and caffeine cravings
• Sleep issues
• Mood swings
• Chronically sick
• Anxiety or depression
• Hormone imbalance
• Feeling wired or burnt out
• Low sex drive
• Decreased recovery from exercise
• Increased allergies

Adrenal stress can mimic symptoms of hypothyroidism therefore it is important to consider your adrenal health. Typically it is a combination of both glands being involved, especially if stress is part of your case. This can occur commonly when patients do not improve with synthroid or other thyroid medications, since the adrenals themselves require some support in order to improve thyroid health.

How adrenal stress can directly impact thyroid function:

In my previous article on hypothyroidism I explained the importance of T3 and T4 (our thyroid hormones). The conversion from T4 to T3 is very important since T3 is the active form and the only form that can be used up by our cells.

When our stress response turns ON, inflammatory cytokines (immune factors that initiate responses against infections) interfere with the conversion of T4 to T3. These inflammatory cytokines have also shown to suppress thyroid receptor site sensitivity. This means the thyroid hormones are unable to be used by your cells properly resulting in hypothyroidism (in this case, lab markers TSH, T4, and T3 are usually normal).

Our hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is what controls the body’s reaction to stress and as the name implies, it consists of a network of interactions between the hypothalamus, the pituitary and the adrenal glands. When chronic stress is present, it has been shown that the hypothalamus and pituitary gland function decreases. The hypothalamus and pituitary gland are also both involved in the synthesis of thyroid hormones therefore a disruption in the HPA axis will also cause a decrease in thyroid production, leading to hypothyroid symptoms. The inflammatory cytokines mentioned above also down-regulate the HPA axis and has shown to decrease TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone).

One of the most common causes of hormonal imbalance, seen in the clinic, is due to chronic stress. Cortisol (one of the stress hormones) can decrease the liver’s ability to clear excess estrogens from the body. This excess estrogen in the body increases levels of something called thyroid binding globulin (TBG), which attaches to the thyroid hormone making it inactive and not usable to activate any cellular processes. A high TBG can cause a low T3 and low T4/T3. Birth control pills and estrogen replacements (eg. Premarin) can cause an elevated TBG as well.

When stressed, you are likely more vulnerable to autoimmune thyroid conditions (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Grave’s disease).  This autoimmune response can cause the thyroid to make too much thyroid hormone, especially after a sudden, stressful change (Grave’s disease). This is why you typically see significant weight loss after say a divorce or death in the family. Excessive, chronic stress can produce the opposite (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis). Adrenal stress can have a profound effect on the immune system regulation. Therefore, if regulation is out of whack, you become more prone to autoimmune diseases.

How to balance your adrenal glands?

Must address all the conditions that cause stress, not just the psychological and emotional stressors, but also the physiological stressors, such as: food intolerances, gut dysfunction, inflammation, blood sugar imbalances, fatty acid deficiencies and anemia.

Some general guidelines:

• Stabilize blood sugar (low carbohydrate diet)
• Stress management and relaxation techniques
• Avoid dietary causes of inflammation (food sensitivities, refined sugars, etc)
• Minimize any stimulants (caffeine)
• Adequate DHA and EPA (Omega-3’s)
• Adequate B vitamins (depleted with chronic stress)

Specific adaptogenic herbs and supplements are typically used to help modulate the stress response and support the adrenal glands. Some include Ashwagandha, Rhodiola, Ginseng, Holy Basil, and Schisandra. These herbs are potent and have a significant effect on the body therefore they should be taken under the supervision of a health care practitioner.

Adrenal Function Testing is also another tool typically used by naturopathic doctors to assess the stage of your adrenal stress. This can further specify what herbs/nutrients would be indicated since treatment does change based on what stage your at currently.

If you are interested in a consultation to learn more about how naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, and Traditional Chinese Medicine can help with thyroid issues, please feel free to contact us today!

Eating healthy in the colder months isn’t just about swapping out some snacks for this year’s miracle food. Eating healthy is about making small changes and finding a balance of diet and exercise that fits your lifestyle and your metabolism. Acupuncture can also aid in finding that balance as it is a highly effective stress reliever for both mind and body. For finding balance in your diet we’ve put together a short guide to point you in that direction.

Change the way you shop

Think about the last time you visited the grocery store, did you stick mostly to the edges or did you find yourself spending most of your time in the aisles? Now look at what’s in your basket, is it mostly boxes or whole ingredients?

Small changes in your shopping habits can turn into big changes in the quantity and quality of calories you are consuming. Grocery stores tend to put the unprocessed foods along the outer edges of the store. Not only will these foods be lower in calories, they’ll also be lower in harmful additives, sugars and salts.

Aim for quality not quantity

Counting calories can be a helpful guide to losing weight, but it can also trick you into thinking you are eating healthier than you are. A low calorie yogurt may seem like a healthier choice than a high in fat Greek yogurt, however not only is that low calorie yogurt likely filled with artificial colors and sweeteners, you’re missing out on some important nutrients. Even though it is higher in fat, the combination of the fat, protein and probiotics in the Greek yogurt will help your body feel full longer and burn more calories.

However be cautious this rule isn’t cut and dry, there are many high fat, high protein foods that aren’t good for you. As a general rule aim for foods in their whole form or foods you’ve prepared from whole food items.

Take time to enjoy your food

This might be the hardest guideline to follow. Set aside time for food. That means taking the time to prepare meals, even if it means in advance on the weekends, eat as a family, eat your meals slowly and not in front of the TV.

Eating as a family will not only heighten the enjoyment of your meal, but also encourage you to be creative and dig out a cookbook. Not only is cooking from recipes fun, but they are more likely to call for whole ingredients. And family dinners can be one of the few times in an otherwise busy day that you get to spend time together as family and that can be another important step in achieving balance.

Want more information on healthy habits? Contact us today.

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Maybe your toddler has experienced it, or your friend’s child experienced it; separation anxiety is extremely common and usually occurs after 8 months of age, up until your child first starts school. It can range from a full on tantrum to a few stray tears and can come up at different times during your child’s development.

Separation anxiety is a natural behaviour and although it’s hard not to, you shouldn’t feel worried if your child displays symptoms of this common affliction. In fact there is a positive side to separation anxiety: it represents a change in your child’s thinking, they are now “aware that they are a separate entity from you but one that is still dependant” ¹.  Your child is recognizing your importance in their life and expressing an opinion that your presence is important to their survival.

Even though separation anxiety has some positive traits it is still not a behaviour that should be encouraged. It is often one of the first challenges a child faces and is an early experience parents can use on their path to build their children into emotionally healthy adults.

It may not always feel easy but no matter how much your child cries when you leave the house (or even the room) you should go when you say you will. When your child sees that their crying has caused you to return it just means they will cry longer and louder the next time around. Instead of giving in to their crying try instead to tell your child when you are going to be back. “Even if your child is not yet speaking, they will still often understand what you are communicating to them.”² Not only does this let your child know you are leaving but it lets them know you are not abandoning them and you will be back.

It may not always feel easy to leave the house when your child is experiencing separation anxiety, but getting some space is an important developmental step to helping your child overcome their anxiety. Not only are you starting on the important path of good communication with your child you are also signalling to them that this time apart is only temporary.

A child will often experience worse separation anxiety if you leave them without telling them. It may seem like a tempting option however it only delays the inevitable reaction they are going to have when they learn about your departure and it doesn’t give them an indication that you will be coming back. Your unexpected departure is also validating their fears that you are abandoning them. Instead give a short, loving goodbye with an indication to your child when you will return.

Scheduling time for soothing family activities can also help soothe anxious children. This will also help your child not feel abandoned by showing them you are setting aside specific time for them.

Another alternative is pediatric acupuncture which is a great way to relieve anxiety in children and toddlers as this form of Traditional Chinese Medicine minimizes the need for medications and invasive therapies, provides excellent preventative care, and provides children with non-invasive, nurturing quick relief.  Whole Family Health is highly specialized in treating children, and benefits of pediatric acupuncture are far reaching and can help an anxious child achieve balance.

During this time most importantly of all, you need to stay strong and confident. If you hear your child crying don’t go back inside, that will only encourage their anxiety. This can be a challenging time for any parent, but it is one of the first emotional obstacles a child and parent overcome. By starting open communication with your child early on you can lay the brick work for a healthy and honest relationship in the years to come.

For more information on we can help your child, call us now: 780-756-7736.

¹ http://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/starting-preschool/separation-anxiety/dealing-with-separation-anxiety/

² http://www.babycenter.com/0_separation-anxiety_12652.bc

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