As a bio-identical hormone doctor, I frequently answer questions about low thyroid treatment (hypothyroidism). New research suggests that certain patients with low thyroid may benefit from both T4 and T3 treatments. In addition, several everyday environmental toxins may trigger or worsen hypothyroidism.
What is Hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland, which regulates the metabolic rate, is slow in making and secreting thyroid hormones. About 8-10 million Americans have hypothyroidism, also called having a low thyroid or an underactive thyroid.
There are two kinds of thyroid hormones: T4, which is the storage hormone, and T3, which is the active hormone. The thyroid gland produces all of the T4 and some T3. Most hormones released by the thyroid gland is T4, which is converted to T3 at the tissue level depending on the need of each tissue. Therefore, most T3 throughout the body is not necessarily produced by the thyroid gland.