How does hypothyroidism affect internal body temperature. What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism related to temperature regulation. Can external temperatures impact thyroid function in people with hypothyroidism. How is hypothyroidism diagnosed and treated to normalize body temperature.

The Impact of Hypothyroidism on Internal Body Temperature

Hypothyroidism, a condition characterized by an underactive thyroid gland, can have significant effects on the body’s internal temperature regulation. When the thyroid gland fails to produce sufficient hormones, it can lead to a slowdown in metabolism and a subsequent drop in body temperature.

Dr. Harris L. Wasser, an endocrinologist at Los Robles Regional Medical Center, explains: “With hypothyroidism, metabolism slows, body temperature drops, cutaneous (skin) vasoconstriction occurs, and the patient may feel cold even in a warm environment.” This increased sensitivity to cold is one of the hallmark symptoms of hypothyroidism, along with other common signs such as constipation, fatigue, joint or muscle pain, and even depression.

Understanding the Mechanism Behind Temperature Sensitivity

The thyroid gland plays a crucial role in regulating the body’s metabolism, which in turn affects heat production. When thyroid hormone levels are low, the body’s ability to generate and maintain heat is compromised. This can result in:

• Lower core body temperature
• Reduced blood flow to the extremities
• Increased sensitivity to cold environments
• Difficulty warming up, even in heated spaces

It’s important to note that while feeling cold, particularly in the hands and feet, can be a symptom of hypothyroidism, it is not sufficient for diagnosis on its own. These sensations can also be indicative of other conditions, such as anemia or impaired circulation.

External Temperature Influences on Thyroid Function

While internal processes primarily drive the body’s use of thyroid hormones, external temperatures can also play a role, particularly in cases of severe or chronic cold exposure. A study published in the European Journal of Endocrinology in 2012 examined the impact of chronic cold exposure on thyroid activity among residents of Greenland, including both indigenous Inuits and non-Inuits. The results revealed increased thyroid hormone consumption across all participants.

However, Dr. Wasser cautions that this may be an exceptional scenario: “In extreme, chronic, or severe cold exposure — in regions such as Arctic or northern Alaska — cold adaptation is reported to increase thyroid production and turnover. But exposure to cold external temperatures in general produces minimum to no change in thyroid levels.”

The Body’s Adaptation to Extreme Cold

In environments of extreme and sustained cold, the body may respond by increasing thyroid hormone production as a means of adaptation. This process helps to:

1. Boost metabolism to generate more heat
2. Improve circulation to maintain warmth in extremities
3. Enhance the body’s overall cold tolerance

It’s crucial to understand that this adaptive response is typically observed only in cases of prolonged exposure to severe cold and may not apply to individuals living in more moderate climates or experiencing short-term cold exposure.

Diagnosing Hypothyroidism: Beyond Temperature Sensitivity

While feeling consistently cold can be a potential indicator of hypothyroidism, it is not a definitive diagnostic criterion. If you suspect you may have hypothyroidism based on temperature sensitivity or other symptoms, it’s essential to consult with a healthcare professional for a comprehensive evaluation.

The diagnostic process for hypothyroidism typically involves:

• A thorough medical history and physical examination
• Assessment of other potential symptoms, such as fatigue, weight gain, and dry skin
• Blood tests to measure thyroid hormone levels, particularly TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone)
• Evaluation of other physical signs, including brittle nails and hair, swelling of the arms or legs, and coarse facial features

Dr. Frederick Singer, an endocrinologist and director of the endocrinology and bone disease program at the John Wayne Cancer Institute, emphasizes that a simple blood test measuring TSH levels is often the first step in diagnosing hypothyroidism. Elevated TSH levels are typically indicative of an underactive thyroid gland.

Treatment Approaches for Hypothyroidism and Temperature Regulation

Once a diagnosis of hypothyroidism is confirmed, the primary treatment approach involves thyroid hormone replacement therapy. This treatment can help restore normal thyroid function and alleviate symptoms, including the regulation of body temperature.

Dr. Singer notes that thyroid hormone treatment can effectively reverse low body temperature and other hypothyroidism symptoms. The treatment plan typically involves:

• Daily oral medication to replace or supplement thyroid hormones
• Regular monitoring of thyroid hormone levels through blood tests
• Adjustments to medication dosage as needed to maintain optimal thyroid function
• Follow-up appointments to assess symptom improvement and overall health

By adhering to the prescribed treatment plan, individuals with hypothyroidism can often achieve normalized thyroid levels and experience significant improvement in their temperature regulation and overall well-being.

Lifestyle Considerations for Managing Hypothyroidism

In addition to medical treatment, certain lifestyle modifications can help individuals with hypothyroidism better manage their symptoms, including temperature sensitivity. Some helpful strategies include:

• Dressing in layers to adjust to temperature changes more easily
• Maintaining a warm living environment
• Engaging in regular physical activity to boost metabolism and circulation
• Consuming a balanced diet rich in nutrients that support thyroid function
• Managing stress through relaxation techniques and self-care practices

It’s important to work closely with your healthcare provider to develop a comprehensive management plan that addresses both the medical and lifestyle aspects of hypothyroidism.

The Role of Exercise in Hypothyroidism Management

Exercise plays a crucial role in managing hypothyroidism symptoms, including fatigue, joint pain, and weight gain. However, individuals with hypothyroidism should take certain precautions when engaging in physical activity. Some key considerations include:

• Starting slowly and gradually increasing exercise intensity
• Focusing on low-impact activities that are gentle on the joints
• Incorporating both cardiovascular exercise and strength training
• Staying hydrated and listening to your body’s signals
• Consulting with your healthcare provider before starting a new exercise regimen

Regular physical activity can help boost metabolism, improve energy levels, and enhance overall well-being for individuals with hypothyroidism.

Self-Care Strategies for Coping with Hypothyroidism

Managing hypothyroidism can be challenging and may even be associated with an increased risk of depression and anxiety. Implementing self-care practices can help individuals better cope with the physical and emotional aspects of the condition. Some effective self-care strategies include:

• Practicing mindfulness meditation to reduce stress
• Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule to improve energy levels
• Engaging in hobbies and activities that bring joy and relaxation
• Seeking support from friends, family, or support groups
• Prioritizing regular medical check-ups and open communication with healthcare providers

By incorporating these self-care practices into daily life, individuals with hypothyroidism can improve their overall quality of life and better manage their symptoms.

Addressing Cosmetic Concerns Associated with Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism can lead to various cosmetic issues, including dry and flaky skin, thinning hair and eyebrows, puffy eyes, and weight gain. While these symptoms can be distressing, there are several strategies to help manage them:

• Using gentle, moisturizing skincare products to combat dry skin
• Incorporating nutrient-rich foods that support hair and skin health
• Exploring eyebrow makeup techniques to address thinning brows
• Implementing a balanced diet and exercise plan to manage weight
• Consulting with a dermatologist or trichologist for specialized care

It’s important to remember that as thyroid function improves with proper treatment, many of these cosmetic concerns may also improve over time.

The Importance of Proper Diagnosis and Treatment

While managing the symptoms of hypothyroidism is crucial, it’s equally important to ensure accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Dr. E. Denis Wilson, a pioneer in the use of sustained-release T3 thyroid hormone, emphasizes the significance of considering low body temperature as a potential indicator of poor thyroid hormone expression, even when blood tests appear normal.

Dr. Wilson’s approach highlights the complexity of thyroid function and the need for comprehensive evaluation beyond standard blood tests. This perspective underscores the importance of working closely with healthcare providers who are knowledgeable about the nuances of thyroid disorders and can provide personalized treatment plans.

In conclusion, understanding the relationship between hypothyroidism and body temperature is crucial for effective management of the condition. By recognizing the symptoms, seeking proper diagnosis, and adhering to appropriate treatment plans, individuals with hypothyroidism can achieve better temperature regulation and overall health. Additionally, incorporating lifestyle modifications, self-care practices, and addressing cosmetic concerns can contribute to improved quality of life for those living with hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism and Your Internal Temperature

How Hypothyroidism Affects Your Internal Temperature

Hypothyroidism symptoms include constipation, fatigue, joint or muscle pain, and even depression. The condition can also cause an increased sensitivity to cold temperatures.

“With hypothyroidism, metabolism slows, body temperature drops, cutaneous (skin) vasoconstriction occurs, and the patient may feel cold even in a warm environment,” says Harris L. Wasser, MD, an endocrinologist at Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

That said, feeling cold in the hands and feet isn’t enough to make a hypothyroidism diagnosis. These sensations may also be symptoms of a wide range of other conditions, including anemia and impaired circulation.

Hypothyroidism and External Temperature

While internal processes affect the body’s use of thyroid hormones, severe outside temperatures can affect those with hypothyroidism as well. A study published in the European Journal of Endocrinology in 2012 looked at the impact of the chronic cold in Greenland on thyroid activity among its residents, both indigenous Inuits and non-Inuits. Results showed increased thyroid hormone consumption across the board.

Dr. Wasser cautions, however, that this may be an unusual situation. “In extreme, chronic, or severe cold exposure — in regions such as Arctic or northern Alaska — cold adaptation is reported to increase thyroid production and turnover,” he says. But, he notes, “exposure to cold external temperatures in general produces minimum to no change in thyroid levels.”

Confirming a Hypothyroidism Diagnosis

While feeling cold isn’t enough to diagnose hypothyroidism alone, it may be a sign that it’s time to test for it. Talk to your doctor and ask about having your thyroid function checked. Your doctor should examine your thyroid gland and look for other physical clues, such as brittle nails and hair, swelling of the arms or legs, and coarse facial features. A simple blood test can measure levels of the thyroid hormone TSH — higher than normal TSH levels are most often due to hypothyroidism.

If a positive diagnosis is made, the next step is to undergo thyroid hormone treatment, which can help to reverse a low body temperature and any other hypothyroidism symptoms, says Frederick Singer, MD, an endocrinologist and director of the endocrinology and bone disease program at the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif. Then, by following your prescribed treatment plan, you can help ensure that thyroid levels return to normal.

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Denis Wilson, md: Low Body Temperature as an Indicator for Poor Expression of Thyroid Hormone

E. Denis Wilson,
md, will address thyroid function and Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome at the 2015 Restorative Medicine Conference in Blaine, Washington, October 1 through 4. Dr Wilson was the first practitioner to use sustained-release T₃ thyroid hormone. For 20 years, he has treated more than 5000 patients with T₃ and trained more than 1000 physicians on how to use T₃ to improve the health of patients with low thyroid function and low body temperature who have normal blood tests. He is the author of Evidence-Based Approach to Restoring Thyroid Health.1

Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal
(IMCJ): What originally drew your attention to issues of thyroid and metabolism?

Dr Wilson: A patient came to my office and she brought with her a book and she said that I should read it. It was called Hypothyroidism: The Unsuspected Illness, by Broda Barnes, md.2 In that book, he explains the importance of using body temperature as a guide to evaluate thyroid function. I was intrigued by that and also his suggested treatment of using desiccated thyroid as an empirical treatment to normalize the body temperature. Though I did not look at the book for a few weeks, I eventually read it and decided to try his approach in a few of my patients. To my surprise, some of those people got 100% better.

That was really illuminating to me because, according to my training in medical school, that was not supposed to happen. These people had normal thyroid blood tests and, supposedly, that meant that they could not benefit from thyroid hormone treatment. These people did not get just a little bit better; they got completely better. It did not work for all the patients I tried it with, but it worked in about 60% of cases.

I was looking at the other 40% and wondering how we could help them, too. It could be that they did not have thyroid problems, or maybe the particular treatment I was using was not really addressing their issue. As I was trying to think of ways to increase the yield, I looked at the thyroid hormone pathways and saw that T₄ is converted to T₃. It turns out that this step is really important. I thought that, perhaps, these patients have a problem with the conversion of T₄ to T₃. So I started giving some of these treatment failures—these patients who had failed to respond to the pervious treatment—T₃ directly. A lot of those treatment failures became treatment successes. That is how it all started.

IMCJ: Previous to that, had you been seeing a lot of thyroid patients?

Dr Wilson: Not really. I was more involved in primary care practice, but when I started seeing these kinds of thyroid results, the reaction I had was, “If this isn’t true, then perhaps nothing they taught me at medical school is true.” The use of the thyroid hormone blood test to direct thyroid therapy is one of the most dogmatically taught principles in medical school. They acted like the blood tests are absolutely conclusive in managing thyroid health. It was really eye opening to me because this closely held dogma—I could see from my own experience—was not true.

Then I thought, “If that is not true, then maybe nothing is true.” That perspective really opens up the possibilities of different things we can try to help people get better. That is when I really started diving in. When the patients do recover, there is hardly anything more dramatic than a hypothyroid patient’s response to thyroid therapy. It can be very pervasive.

One thing that I have come to understand over the years is that the purpose of the thyroid hormone is to go into the nucleus of the cell, form transcriptional complexes, and dictate the speed at which DNA is transcribed. It actually dictates how fast we live. That is really what metabolism is. It is how fast we live, which is controlled by the thyroid. When a person asks me what thyroid can affect, I respond, “Thyroid really only affects those cells that have DNA.” In other words, it affects every cell. When I saw the profound ramifications a normal body temperature can have on people, I started doing that pretty much exclusively.

IMCJ: What are some of the more frequent symptoms that indicate to you that there may be thyroid dysfunction?

Dr Wilson: Certainly fatigue, chronic fatigue, and headaches—migraine headaches. A huge percentage of patients with migraine headaches have low body temperatures and I have seen so many people when they get their temperatures corrected, their migraines sometimes disappear completely. Irritability, fluid retention, anxiety, panic attacks, PMS, hair loss, depression, decreased memory and concentration, low sex drive, unhealthy nails, low ambition and motivation, constipation, easy weight gain for sure, irritable bowel syndrome, dry skin, dry hair, insomnia, and even some things that people wouldn’t normally expect like asthma.

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Even asthma and hives and allergies can sometimes respond to normalizing a low body temperature. Carpal tunnel syndrome and conditions caused by fluid retention—so there’s a tremendous number of things. Some of my favorites to treat are definitely migraines, PMS, and panic attacks. Panic attacks and anxiety symptoms are very debilitating and they are very responsive to normalizing one’s temperature. That is what makes this so fun to address. There are not many good solutions out there.

IMCJ: In many of these cases, the tipping point marker is low body temperature?

Dr Wilson: I would say in every case, yes. It is not possible for a person to have symptoms of hypothyroid unless they have a low body temperature. They can have abnormal blood tests and normal temperature and they will still feel fine but the only way you can have those symptoms of hypothyroidism is by having a low temperature.

IMCJ: Is the breadth of the symptomatology directly the result of the dysfunctional thyroid or does the low body temperature itself cause secondary symptomatology?

Dr Wilson: I believe that it is the temperature itself that causes the symptomatology because the correlation is so complete. My favorite theory has to do with the enzymes we talked about, the transcription of DNA in the nucleus, and that when DNA is transcribed, it makes proteins and enzymes and structural elements. Those enzymes are the key of every chemical reaction in the body and the speed at which those reactions take place and the efficacy of those reactions depend on the enzymes. The whole purpose of an enzyme is to help a reaction take place at a reasonable temperature, like body temperature, when it would not take place at that temperature without it.

Without an enzyme, that reaction might not take place at less than 220°F or something like that. With the enzyme, the reaction can take place at a reasonable temperature or a biological temperature. Let’s put it this way: It is known that those enzymes depend on their shape for their activity. The conformation, or the shape of these enzymes, is what brings reacting molecules in close enough proximity to react. If those enzymes are too hot, they are too loose. If they are too cold, they are too tight. If they are just the right temperature, then they are just the right shape. A change in temperature can have a huge impact on the speed of these chemical reactions.

IMCJ: How does being “too tight” affect the shape of an enzyme?

Dr Wilson: An enzyme is a string of amino acids and it coils upon itself because of the electrostatic charges of the atoms forming a shape. That shape generates active sites where one active site can grab one substrate and another active site can grab another substrate and then, when those substrates are grabbed, the enzyme can change its conformation and bring the reactive species into close proximity so that they can react.

All of that depends on temperature, so what I mean by “too tight”—it is like an old-fashioned telephone cord. Sometimes they get tangled like a knot. If you pick the receiver up, the cord untangles and then when you hang it up again, the cord twists up on itself again. That is what I mean by “tight.” If the cord does not tangle up on itself at all, then it is too loose and it does not really work right. If it is too twisted up on itself, then it is too tight and that does not work, either. You want the enzyme to have just the right shape and that depends on temperature.

IMCJ: Why are the conventional methods of treating hypothyroid inefficient for resolving these cases?

Dr Wilson: It is because the conventional approach is to think that thyroid function—or the adequacy of thyroid function—depends on blood tests. Ever since the thyroid-stimulating hormone, or TSH, test was discovered, or even since they discovered that T₄ hormone is converted to T₃, there was an assumption made.

If you were the one who discovered that T₄ is a raw hormone that is converted to T₃ and that T₃ is actually the active form of thyroid hormone, then at that moment you could make either of 2 conclusions. You could say, “Wow, T₄ is converted to T₃ and T₃ is actually the active hormone. We really shouldn’t focus so much on T₄. We should focus more on T₃ and the effects of T₃ to see if that interaction is adequate—accomplishing what we want it to accomplish.” That is one conclusion. The other conclusion you could make is, “T₃ is the active hormone and since the body converts T₄ to T₃ automatically in the cells of the body, we do not need to worry about that because it happens automatically. The only thing we have to worry about is to ensure that there is adequate T₄ production or supply in the blood stream.”

Those are 2 reasonable conclusions with very different outcomes. For the last 50 years, the latter of the 2 conclusions has been in favor. Over the last 10 years, research supports the idea that regulation of the conversion of T₄ to T₃ happens intracellularly and it can change dramatically under different circumstances. That conversion is not measured by a TSH test. The TSH test is not a reliable indicator of thyroid status because the TSH could be normal and a person could still have hypothyroidism in the cells. There is extensive research in the last 10 years, specially, to substantiate that. The T₄ to T₃ conversion can change under a variety of disease states. Studies of 25 different diseases show that the effects of T₄ to T₃ conversion can be impaired or can be affected by these different disease states. In these disease states, then, TSH is not a reliable indicator of thyroid status.

That is a long answer but the short answer is this: You asked me why the conventional approach to thyroid treatment not very effective and I would just say, “Because they are measuring the wrong thing.” Thyroid blood tests do not measure body temperature.

Using the blood test, if 100 people come in with hypothyroid symptoms and these people are treated based on their blood tests, 5% are going to have problems that show up on the blood test. Of those 5% of people with problems identified by the blood test, probably only 50% of those are going to get better with conventional thyroid approach. That is because only 5 people—out of 100 who have low body temperatures that could be effectively managed with treatment—are going to have abnormal blood tests. If you try to get them better by just trying to normalize their blood tests, that is probably only going to work 50% of the time.

So, you are only taking about 2. 5 people out of 100 who are going to be effectively managed. On the other hand, if you take those 100 people with hypothyroid symptoms, you will find that every one of them has a low body temperature. If you were to treat their temperature, you are going to get 80% to 90% of those people’s temperature to normal. For these 80% to 90%, their symptoms are going to dramatically improve, if not resolve completely.

IMCJ: So the crux of the matter is that because the conversion of T₄ to T₃ is dependent upon an enzyme, there are circumstances—including ambient temperature of the body—that will affect the ability of the enzyme to function or its functional efficiency. That is what the “conventional” approach is missing.

Dr Wilson: That is exactly right. If the body worked automatically and always took care of itself, there would be no disease. But there is disease. There are all kinds of diseases. All kinds of things can go wrong with the body and with every aspect of the body. In fact, I am beginning to be of the opinion that anything that happens in the body can go badly. Anything that can go wrong will go wrong in somebody, someplace, at some time, for some reason.

If you look down the chemical pathways of the human body, you will see that there is Addison’s disease and there is Cushing’s and there are different diseases that we label based on how things go in the chemical pathways.

One really easy way to invent a new condition or new disease is to just find some place in a biochemical pathway where dysfunction has not been named yet and just name it. There has got to be somebody that is going to have a problem in that particular part of the pathway eventually. The deiodinase enzyme depends on selenium and zinc is also important. Of course, if you have a selenium deficiency, T₄ to T₃ conversion goes down. If you increase selenium in those patients, the T₃ levels go up. Obviously, the function of that enzyme is variable under different conditions. It is under regulation and it can be downregulated.

This is a really important point. Many of the important pathways to the body are under regulation. That is how we maintain homeostasis and normal functioning of the body. There is something called the ubiquitin proteasome pathway. The way this system works is that key enzymes in different pathways are under regulation. When the body wants to slow down that particular pathway, it downregulates or increases the destruction of that key enzyme. If it wants that pathway to speed up, it will decrease the destruction of that key enzyme so that the pathway can speed up or increase again.

The fascinating thing about deiodinase enzymes is that researchers have looked at the things that increase the downregulation of this enzyme. What things shorten the half-life of this enzyme? T₄ or thyroxin is 1 of the things and the other is reverse T₃. Of course, conventional doctors and alternative doctors, even doctors who treat low body temperature empirically in the face of normal blood testes, will often use desiccated thyroid hormone. Desiccated thyroid hormone contains T₄ and, presumably, they are using thyroid hormone because they are thinking that even though the blood tests are normal, the person is not getting enough thyroid stimulation of the cell. They attempt to help the patient by giving the patient more thyroid hormone in the form of desiccated thyroid hormone. Desiccated thyroid hormone has T₄, which can significantly downregulate the converting enzyme. A lot of the patients who are treated with Synthroid, or treated with desiccated thyroid, actually do not improve as much as we hoped they would. Sometimes they actually get worse.

That is because the T₄ in desiccated thyroid can downregulate the enzyme. When that enzyme is downregulated, the T₄ gets converted to reverse T₃ and both T₄ and reverse T₃ downregulate that enzyme. Here we are hoping to help the person’s thyroid physiology and help them benefit from more thyroid stimulation of the cell—hoping that we are going to improve their T₄ to T₃ conversion—and we sometimes actually inadvertently suppress their T₄ to T₃ conversion and suppress their thyroid hormone stimulation. Thereby, we really do not make the progress that we are looking for.

We are giving them this desiccated thyroid and we are not getting their temperatures up. I would encourage doctors, if they are using desiccated thyroid, to have the patient monitor their temperature to make sure it is going up. If temperature is not going up on desiccated thyroid, there may be a good reason for that and it may not work very well for the patient.

IMCJ: Will people who benefit from this therapy end up having to continue it forever? Is this something that has a definite treatment duration or is it more a situation where you have to read it by the individual?

Dr Wilson: It definitely does depend on the individual. Typically, T₃ is not taken for life. There are different problems, which I will address in a second, but the conversion impairment problem—improving T₄ to T₃ conversion—is something that can normally be corrected in a manner of months. Often the duration is 2 to 3 months, maybe 6, maybe 8, but certainly it is reversible to the point that people do not have to keep taking the treatment for life.

I like to separate the thyroid hormone system into 3 different compartments. One is thyroid hormone supply. The second is thyroid hormone conversion and utilization. And the third is thyroid hormone expression. Historically or conventionally, our medical establishment has hoped that they could measure, predict, and manage thyroid hormone expression based exclusively on thyroid hormone supply. We figured that if we just give a person enough thyroid hormone to normalize their TSH, then the thyroid hormone expression will take care of itself and that person will be fine. My opinion is that you cannot measure thyroid hormone expression with a thyroid hormone blood test.

Thyroid hormone supply is measured with a thyroid hormone blood test. The TSH is a great measure of thyroid hormone supply but the body temperature is the best measure, as it is an exact measure of thyroid hormone expression. When I say it is an exact measure, what I mean is that the whole purpose of the thyroid system is to determine how fast our bodies live and how fast they function. That is exactly what a thermometer is. A thermometer is literally a speedometer. The higher the kinetic energy of the molecules in the air, the warmer it is outside.

As a thermometer actually measures the speed of the molecules in the air, it also measures the speed of the molecules in our bodies. When you measure temperature, you are actually measuring how fast the chemical reactions are taking place in the body. If a person has a normal TSH— they have a normal supply—and they have a low temperature, which is low expression, to me, that logically suggests that they have a problem with thyroid hormone conversion and utilization. If a person has hypothyroidism, has had a thyroidectomy, and has a thyroid hormone supply problem, then, yes, they are going to need thyroid medicine the rest of their life. Without a thyroid gland, they are going to need thyroid hormone to produce supply.

Even people who have decent supply might still have a conversion problem. They might still have a low temperature even though they have a normal TSH or even a low TSH. They could actually be hyperthyroid and still have symptoms of hypothyroidism because their temperature is too low. That is because they have a conversion problem. Anyway, to answer your question, the conversion problem is the one that is reversible.

For conversion, you can take them off their Synthroid and you could take them off their desiccated and you can give them some herbs and nutrients to support the conversion of T₄ to T₃ and you can give them T₃ directly if they need that. So, there are some things you can do to support thyroid hormone conversion. If you are successful, in that you are going to be able to get their temperature up to normal, lots of times you can wean them off the T₃ and, perhaps, put them back on the Synthroid or desiccated thyroid hormone. At that point, they may be able to maintain a normal temperature. With that medicine, they may be able to maintain a normal temperature indefinitely—or maybe in 5 years, or maybe in 10 years they have another relapse and need another tune-up.

IMCJ: By getting the body temperature up, a patient then is hopefully creating this enzyme in the right geometry to sustain it on their own?

Dr Wilson: Yes. It is just speculation why people tend to get better and seem to stay better. My feeling is that there are a couple of ways to address this thyroid hormone conversion problem. One is with herbs and nutrition. If you properly support the enzyme and the body, then perhaps the enzyme will start functioning better and the conversion improves and the temperature goes up. Even without weaning off Synthroid or without weaning off Armour, sometimes lifestyle, nutritional, and herbal support is enough to improve conversion to the point that they are able to have a normal temperature and to feel well. That is sometimes a good solution and, apparently, you have just supported the converting enzyme. On the other hand, some people are going to need to have their thyroid hormone pathways cleared out. Sometimes, people do not get better until you wean them off the Synthroid and wean them off the desiccated thyroid and replace them for a time with T₃ by itself—T₃ alone. When you give somebody T₃ alone, their TSH goes down and their T₄ goes down and their reverse T₃ goes down. We have already talked about how strongly T₄ and reverse T₃ will downregulate the converting enzyme.

These can decrease the half-life of the converting enzyme from 40 minutes down to 20 minutes or, in other words 50%, so it can be dramatic. What if, by reducing the T₄ and the reverse T₃, that that downregulation was relieved and reduced to the point that the deiodinase enzyme could upregulate? Enough to increase to the point that it could restore better T₄ to T₃ conversion? Some research suggests that there might be a genetic coding problem of the deiodinase enzyme in some people, but I think that, even with normal coding of the deiodinase enzyme, the deiodinase enzyme can get bogged down under periods of stress. And under periods of stress, the conversion of T₄ to T₃ goes down. That is well known—for decades. When that happens, the reverse T₃ goes up. Again, the T₄ and reverse T₃ can further suppress the deiodinase enzyme, so I feel that this situation can set up a persistent impairment or suppression of the deiodinase enzyme to the point that a person is going to have a hard time maintaining a normal temperature.

IMCJ: Then is there any direct evidence at this point that the stress hormone, cortisol, interferes with the process directly?

Dr Wilson: Yes. Cortisol has been shown to directly inhibit the conversion of T₄ to T₃ for sure. One other thing: I do want to make it clear that I do not mean reverse T₃ on a blood test. I am not saying that measuring reverse T₃ in a blood test is going to be useful at all, because I haven’t found it to be. I have not found it to be predictive or reliable. Some people with lower reverse T₃ levels still have low body temperatures. You can have a person with low TSH, which makes them look like they are hyperthyroid, and then they have a high total T₃, which makes them look like—if anything—they are making plenty or too much T₃, and they could have a low reverse T₃, which makes them look like if anybody is converting T₄ to T₃ very well, it is this person.

They could still have low temperature regardless of anything that the blood tests say. I still think that they could have impaired conversion at the level of the cell that is invisible on the blood test. The blood tests do not measure what is happening inside the cell. They only measure what is floating around in the blood stream.

IMCJ: To wrap things up, when you speak at the Restorative Medicine Conference in October, what more are people going to learn at your presentation?

Dr Wilson: I will talk about the specifics of the nutritional and herbal support. I will talk about the specifics of T₃ therapy and how to monitor and manage patients. Basically, they will learn how to normalize somebody’s body temperature in a way that will help patients recover from their symptoms and hopefully remain improved even after their symptoms have been discontinued.

For more information about the 2015 Restorative Medicine Conference, please visit http://www.restorativemedicine.org/.

Facilitated by the Restorative Medicine Conference, October 1 through 4, 2015, in Blaine, Washington.

1. Wilson ED. Evidence-based Approach to Restoring Thyroid Health. Lady Lake, FL: Muskeegee Medical Publishing Company; 2014. [Google Scholar]

2. Barnes B. Hypothyroidism: The Unsuspected Illness. New York, NY: Harper; 1976. [Google Scholar]

Can the thyroid gland give temperature

Contents

• Normal functioning of the thyroid gland
• Temperature increase in hyperthyroidism
• Temperature increase in hypothyroidism
• Recommendations for measuring temperature

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A regular increase or decrease in temperature is one of the first signs of thyroid disorders.

In hyperthyroidism (a common hormonal disorder caused by an overactive thyroid gland), the thyroid gland overproduces hormones.

Untreated hyperthyroidism leads to many adverse health effects, including thyroid coma and death.

Patients with hypothyroidism suffer from low temperature.

In this disease, the activity of the thyroid gland does not cover the body’s need for thyroid hormones.

Without contacting an endocrinologist, the disease progresses, a number of dangerous complications develop, up to fatal mexidematous coma.

The minimum damage to the body is received by those patients who timely paid attention to the ailment.

In order to find out your diagnosis, you need to contact a competent endocrinologist and take tests.

Modern drugs successfully treat and control hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.

Normal functioning of the thyroid gland

Coordinated work of the three organs of the endocrine system maintains a constant body temperature.

The pituitary gland, hypothalamus and thyroid gland regulate energy metabolism in the body.

The thyroid gland synthesizes a group of hormones that affect oxidative processes in tissues:

• thyroid stimulating hormone – TSH;
• T4 – thyroxine;
• T3 – triiodothyronine.

[info name=”Thyroid hormones”] can slow down or speed up metabolism, increase or decrease heat production.[/info]

The work of the thyroid gland is closely related to environmental conditions:

1. At low ambient temperatures, the gland becomes more active, produces a large amount of hormones that accelerate energy metabolism. High levels of thyroid hormones help keep you warm. causes involuntary muscle tremors, goosebumps, hunger.
2. When overheated, the level of thyroid hormones in the blood decreases, metabolism slows down. Therefore, in the heat, the feeling of hunger is dulled, apathy and drowsiness set in.

In case of thyroid dysfunction, subfebrile temperature is often recorded, the thermometer shows from 37. 1 to 38 °C.

We recommend reading: How does thyroid goiter signal itself?

A consultation with a general practitioner will help you find out the exact cause of your discomfort.

Temperature increase in hyperthyroidism

An excess of thyroid hormones accelerates the basal metabolism.

The disease can be acute or chronic, in the first case, the symptoms will appear brightly, in the second – weakly.

What are the signs of hyperthyroidism:

1. Excessive sweating, even in the absence of physical activity.

Patients do not tolerate heat well, they are uncomfortable in a warm room.

There are complaints about a feeling of fever, subfebrile temperature.

1. Acute feeling of hunger, good appetite.

Weight loss even with sufficient nutrition.

Nausea occurs after eating, and vomiting occurs in acute hyperthyroidism.

1. An excess of thyroid hormones affects the intestines, causes diarrhea and constipation, discomfort in the abdomen after eating certain types of food.
2. The coordinated work of the heart and blood vessels is disturbed, tachycardia appears, a subjective sensation of a heartbeat in the veins of the neck, in the head area.

Patients complain of sudden fluctuations in heart rate and blood pressure.

1. Patients experience anxiety, panic attacks, irritability and restlessness.

Changes in hormone levels lead to an inability to control one’s behavior, to nervousness and sudden outbursts of emotions.

1. Too much thyroid hormone causes menstrual irregularities in women.

Men suffer from erectile dysfunction, many have breast enlargement.

1. Patients complain of muscle and joint pain, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, constant fatigue and weakness.

Memory and cognitive abilities are deteriorating.

1. In the chronic course of the disease, the appearance of the patient changes.

Hair becomes thin, shiny and silky, turns gray early.

The palpebral fissure increases, bulging develops.

[info name=”Hyperthyroidism”] adversely affects the liver, jaundice appears.[/info]

Blood glucose tests show elevated blood sugar levels.

In addition, the following symptoms may be present:

• enlargement of the thyroid gland;
• sore throat, when swallowing and coughing;
• sensation of lump in throat;
• frequent reflex coughing and swallowing of saliva;
• hoarseness and change in the timbre of the voice.

We recommend reading: Norms of thyroid hormones in women and men

The earlier the patient begins therapy for hyperthyroidism, the less harm the disease will cause.

Without medical attention, the disease progresses and leads to life-threatening complications, such as liver or heart failure.

Temperature increase in hypothyroidism

In most cases, hypothyroidism causes a decrease in temperature, but sometimes patients with hypothyroidism, in which the temperature rises to subfebrile, turn to endocrinologists.

This atypical clinical picture occurs against the background of a deficiency of:

magnesium or iron	B vitamins
vitamin C

In hypothyroidism, basal energy metabolism slows down.

Symptoms suggestive of this disease:

1. Weight gain due to normal diet and exercise.

Appetite is reduced, after eating there is nausea, heaviness in the stomach, vomiting.

Constipation and diarrhea alternate.

1. Puffiness, primarily on the face, hands and feet.
2. Patients become lethargic, performance decreases, memory and concentration deteriorate.
3. Changes in the structure of nails and hair.

Hair becomes thinner and falls out, nail plates become uneven, brittle and brittle.

The skin thickens, becomes dry and painful, flaky.

1. The most common complaints are low body temperature, but there are cases of persistent temperature rise up to 37. 1 – 38°C.

Patients do not tolerate hypothermia or overheating, feel uncomfortable in a warm or cool room.

1. Bradycardia is usually recorded, the heart rate is slow, blood pressure is reduced.

But sometimes the clinical picture looks different, there is tachycardia, sudden pressure drops.

Patients experience headaches, weakness and dizziness, weather dependence.

In case of such ailments, one should consult a general practitioner and then an endocrinologist.

[info name=”Hypothyroidism”] definitely requires qualified medical care.[/info]

The most dangerous complication of this disease is mexidematous coma, which ends in death.

Temperature measurement guidelines

In order for the doctor to have an accurate idea of ​​the patient’s well-being, it is necessary to measure the temperature correctly.

Recommended reading: What is a nodular goiter of the thyroid gland?

Keep a record of the results of measurements with the time and date so that you can show the diary of observations to the doctor during the consultation.

How to measure temperature:

1. Use the same electronic or mercury thermometer.
2. Measurement is taken at rest, eg after waking up. Data obtained after exercise, after walking in hot weather, after eating hot food may be inaccurate.
3. It is important to hold the thermometer for a sufficient amount of time for the device to record the temperature.

[info name=”Endocrinologists recommend”] measure basal body temperature.[/info]

Basal temperature gives an accurate picture of the processes occurring in the body.

How to perform the procedure:

1. The measurement is taken immediately after waking up. Before measuring, you can not take a shower, do exercises, drink coffee or tea.
2. The thermometer is inserted into the rectum, vagina or mouth. Doctors recommend using a mercury rather than an electronic thermometer. Measurement results must be recorded with maximum accuracy in order to see the dynamics.
3. Women should take measurements starting on the 1st day of their menstrual cycle as the temperature will rise by 0.5-2°C before ovulation.

A healthy person should have a basal body temperature of 36.55 – 36.78°C.

A persistent rise in temperature to 37°C or more may indicate not only thyroid dysfunction, but also a number of other diseases.

You need to start the examination with a consultation with a therapist.

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What happens to the body at a temperature of 35 degrees and what should be done to avoid problems – September 7, 2022

During a pandemic, you need to be especially attentive to your health

Photo: Irina Imanova / City portals

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the thermometer suddenly shows 37. 5 ° C. Tea with raspberries, gargling and wrapping in your favorite blanket and a cat (if available) are used. A completely different situation is when the thermometer shows unusually low values. What diseases can indicate such a temperature – the journalists of NGS.RU and our colleagues from Wday.ru understood.

Under conditions of comfortable ambient temperature, the body maintains a normal body temperature of 35.7 to 36.9, as measured in the armpit. From a medical point of view, hypothermia, that is, low temperature, is values ​​\u200b\u200bbelow 35 ° C. If this temperature persists for several days and is still accompanied by poor health, you should consult a doctor.

– To confirm, you need to measure the temperature three times with a mercury thermometer. If the temperature is really low, then run to the doctor, – told NGS.RU therapist and hematologist Diana Kim.

Therapist Elena Baranova recommends that patients with such symptoms take a complete blood count and FLG in advance if they have not undergone this study.

Diana Kim adds that C-reactive protein (CRP) is included in the minimum set of examinations with which you can come to the doctor, in addition to a general blood test. In addition, the person himself must look at the daily fluctuations in temperature – morning, lunch and evening – and come to the doctor with these data.

Before looking for symptoms of various diseases, let’s pay attention to the obvious reason for the decrease in temperature – hypothermia of the body. This is exactly the case when, in order to solve a problem, it is enough to change the conditions in which a person is located in order for the situation to change. Only prolonged hypothermia is dangerous, which can lead to irreversible consequences for the body.

Very often, a low temperature indicates serious overwork or stress. Such changes in the habitual way of life are reflected in the body. If stress, overwork is strong enough or lasts a long time, the consequences for the body are inevitable.

— We start the appointment with taking an anamnesis, we measure the temperature ourselves. And according to the anamnesis, we select the types of examination. In some patients, after anesthesia, such a temperature is maintained, with oncological diseases. Hypothermia can be with viral and bacterial infections, severe intoxication, strokes and circulatory disorders in certain areas of the brain. With covid, in principle, a lower temperature can also be observed, but not lower than 35, Diana Kim believes.

Infectious disease specialist Andrey Pozdnyakov also notes that with a coronavirus infection, anything can happen, including a low temperature:

– But this is an atypical temperature reaction for this disease. Fever is much more common. Therefore, a decrease in temperature can rarely be with mild, erased forms, or, conversely, in a terminal state, that is, before death. After an infection, asthenovegetative syndrome often sets in, one of the manifestations of which is just hypothermia, the expert says.

Recently, we talked about how tired you are after suffering a coronavirus infection

and how to identify the sixth wave of coronavirus with just one new symptom. You may find this information useful this fall.

Therapist Varvara Veretyuk describes that the following situation is relevant now: a person develops an acute respiratory viral disease, has a high temperature for several days, which then normalizes and in some cases even becomes below normal. She explains that this is a temporary phenomenon. This also happens after acute bacterial infections.

– A low temperature can occur in people with Parkinson’s disease, underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), anemia, multiple sclerosis and other diseases. Body temperature can also be lowered while taking a number of medications: beta-blockers, antipsychotics, sleeping pills, some antidepressants, the specialist lists.

Elena Baranova adds: prolonged low temperature occurs in diseases of the central nervous system, vegetovascular dystonia and intoxication – poisoning with alcohol, mushrooms, drugs. With hidden bleeding, exhaustion, in the initial period of diabetes.

— Hypothermia occurs in older people as a variant of the norm physiologically due to the fact that their metabolic processes slow down. Children in the morning may also have a lower temperature as the norm, because they still have an immature thermoregulation system. In pregnant women, this is associated with the formation of a stable hormonal status, the therapist explains.

Otolaryngologist Victor Dobrotin also adds that sometimes pregnancy can really provoke a low temperature. However, remember that a temperature of 35 degrees can cause loss of consciousness. In such a situation, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor.

Another reason is the exacerbation of diseases of the adrenal glands. It must be removed strictly under the supervision of a doctor, but it is quite possible to avoid exacerbation on your own. To do this, you need to drink enough water, choose the appropriate food. For example, it is recommended to eat melons and watermelons, which stimulate the adrenal glands and cleanse the body.

The expert also advises that if the temperature drops noticeably, check the function of the thyroid gland.

– Decreased function of the thyroid gland, which, in turn, provokes hormonal imbalance, dysfunction in the work of internal organs. Prolonged ignoring of deviations in the functioning of the thyroid gland can lead to the development of serious diseases, therefore, a low temperature must be treated with special attention, the doctor says.

We have already written what foods harm the thyroid gland, many of us eat them every day.

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