Thyroid Information You MUST Know

Thyroid problems are complicated issues. When looking to work with any practitioner, make sure you choose one who is highly trained and focuses on working with difficult, chronic thyroid disorders.

Lab Testing for Thyroid

Have you been told your lab tests are "normal" but you still have problems and feel poorly? If so, then you may have been undiagnosed as to the underlying reason for your thyroid problems. You can't correct this with the artificial hormones Synthroid, Levothyroxine or Armour Thyroid, because the other systems of the body, causing thyroid malfunction have not been addressed. Pharmaceutical medications will not nourish the body back to balance.

This is why the British Medical Journal states that 85% of all medical procedures are unproven. The World Health Organization says that over 90% of all prevalent disease are not treatable with orthodox medical procedures. This is because drugs or pharmaceuticals are not biochemically compatible with your body's chemistry. They all cause side effects, sometimes unpleasant ones.

As a Functional Medicine practitioner, Dr. Randy Hansbrough looks at lab tests very differently...seeking the middle of the overall ranges of a particular measurement as much as possible. We call this the "functional optimally balanced range." This is where the body is more stable and dramatic variations at either end are less likely. The traditional, orthodox medical range for TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) which is the most common test for low thyroid issues is .5 to 5.0 while the functional range should be closer to the middle of that wide range.

Therefore your "normal" range with your medical doctor may swing from one end to the other. But, you're still in the "normal" range even though you still have symptoms and problems and thus most patients hear "there is nothing else that can be done for your thyroid symptoms..."

Thyroid Patterns

There are 8 major thyroid patterns and 24 overall patterns. As a Functional Medicine practitioner, Dr. Hansbrough must do his best to find out which pattern or patterns apply to you in order to manage your condition and get you back on the path to wellness. Pharmaceutical prescription medications will only impact 1 or 2 of these patterns. If you have other patterns effecting your thyroid and causing issues, you will NOT get the results you seek, even though your thyroid levels appear to be "normal."

In order to be the most accurate and pinpoint the root cause or causes of your thyroid problems, a much more comprehensive testing panel must be done. In working with Dr. Hansbrough, he will potentially look at the whole blood and blood serum panels, urinary value, salivary and hormone levels (unbound from proteins) and stool analysis of a wide range of potential abnormalities of the gastrointestinal system.

Dr. Hansbrough will also conduct a Functional Neurological evaluation of your brain, involving the cerebellum, the lobes of the cerebral hemispheres, the cranial nerves and the autonomic centers of your brain stem that regulate: sleep, digesting, respiration, cardiovascular control, temperature control and more.

Your brain controls 100% of your body's function, including direct control over your thyroid, via the pituitary gland, which sits in the center of your brain. Based on your results, Dr. Hansbrough will create a custom treatment plan that strengthens the weak areas of your brain, as well as the possible use of Nutraceuticals to gain function back to your thyroid gland...the results are a whole body Functional Medicine and Functional Neurology approach to thyroid help and wellness.

How Your Intestinal System Effects Your Thyroid

A common condition caused by all of the processed foods we eat every day and other things such as the use of antibiotics, infections, parasites and even some environmental factors can cause "leaky gut" or intestinal permeability.

This unfortunate situation allows undigested food particles, chemical additives found in foods and even bacteria to pass through your intestines to your liver, which in turn provokes an attack on the liver and the immune system, which can cause a variety of conditions, such as: rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis and many other terrible diseases.

Leading scientists have now coined the term "gut-brain connection." Because the brain cannot be healthy if the gut is not healthy and vice versa. Leaky gut and GI problems can affect your thyroid too. When working with Dr. Hansbrough, he will evaluate your GI system to ensure optimum function in order to optimize the function of your thyroid gland.

Leaky gut can be a serious issue and must be evaluated when working with any patient with a thyroid condition. According to Dr. Oz, "Leaky gut is likely to emerge as one of the most significant medical concepts of our time."

Functional Medicine vs Traditional Medicine and Your Thyroid

The traditional, orthodox medical approach to thyroid problems is usually one of three options for patients: #1 is to medicate the patient to raise the thyroid hormone to a "normal" level. #2 is to radiate the thyroid with x-ray or radioactive iodine to kill the gland and thereby lowering the thyroid hormone. #3 is to surgically remove all or part of the thyroid in order to lower thyroid hormone production.

If the traditional, orthodox medical solutions don't sound like options you've been looking for, it's important to consider working with a Functional Medicine practitioner, such as Dr. Hansbrough.

Functional medicine addresses the underlying causes of disease, using a systems-oriented approach and engaging both patient and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership. It is an evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses the healthcare needs of the 21st century. By shifting the traditional disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more patient-centered approach, functional medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms.

Functional Medicine practitioners spend time with their patients, listening to their histories and looking at the interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health and complex, chronic disease. In this way, Functional Medicine supports the unique expression of health and vitality for each individual.

As a Functional Medicine practitioner, Dr. Hansbrough looks to uncover the deeper, root causes of thyroid malfunction, which enables him to better manage the overall body function as a whole. Through the use of safe, effective, holistic, natural therapies the goal is to take the stress off of the thyroid and enable it to go back to optimum function and wellness. The goal is to work with your body's natural desire to heal without harsh interventions, so common in traditional medicine.

Contact Dr. Hansbrough's Office Today for a FREE Consultation by Calling 772-287-7701 to Explore How He Can Help Your Thyroid Issues.