“Never in the history of modern medicine has there been an epidemic of such proportion that has gone unrecognized,” begins the Introduction of Hypothyroidism Type 2 by Dr. Mark Starr, M.D.
“Proper recognition and treatment of hypothyroidism would prevent much of our illness and suffering. Many millions of lives can be changed for the better and astronomical medical expenses spared if the proposals put forth in this book are accepted.”
Two major causes seem to be at the root of this growing thyroid epidemic:
1. Adrenal stress
2. Environmental toxins
Regarding adrenal stress, Dr. Mercola (www.mercola.com) in his September 19, 2009 newsletter article stated:
“The vast majority of people’s thyroid glands become impaired as a result of weak adrenal glands. The thyroid gland tries to compensate for this and eventually just gives up and stops working.
Adrenal impairment is frequently due to emotional stress, and unless you have these previous emotional challenges resolved, there is little likelihood of recovering your thyroid function without hormonal replacement.”
In today’s fast-paced, noise-polluted society, we are forever on the go. We pride ourselves in multi-tasking. We have more than full time careers. “Full time” used to equate to forty hours per week. Now with all the budget cuts and the need to “do more with less,” full time equates to fifty, sixty, or more hours per week. In addition, we take work home with us, and, thanks to technology, we are connected to our work at home.
The flurry of activity all around us causes us to continuously push bedtime later and later into the evening. With less and less hours of sleep, we compromise the natural restorative powers of our body. We wake up feeling exhausted, and grab a caffeinated drink or cup(s) of coffee to help us make it through the day.
It used to be that women didn’t work outside the home. Today, women have full time careers, and they rear their children. It used to be that families lived near each other so that grandparents, aunts, and uncles were available to assist with caring for the children. In our mobile society today, relatives may reside on the other side of the globe.
Today, working moms and dads transport their children to and from piano lessons, scouts, dance, cheer, ball, and play practice. After sitting on the bleachers all evening, parents go home to help with homework and bake cookies for tomorrow’s PTA classroom party. Today, parents are also caught in the sandwich generation between their children and their elderly parents. To top it off, the cost of living and financial concerns are on the increase, causing people to lie awake at night worrying about how they will survive the bills.
Mark Twain also captures a major root cause of much of our stress…
“I have been through some terrible times in my life, some of which actually happened.”
Wow, is there any reason our adrenals are tired?
The second major cause of the thyroid epidemic is our exposure to environmental toxins.
Per Dr. Shames in Thyroid Power:
“We believe the thyroid epidemic is due in large part to excess chemicals in food, air, and water, confusing and stressing our immune system.
As the number of immune-sensitizing chemicals proliferates in our environment, we are seeing an increased incidence of autoimmune illness.”
In Hypothyroidism Type 2, the chapter title, “Environmental Toxins = Hormone Havoc,” tells it all. Dr. Starr devotes thirty-nine pages to the topic of environmental toxins. He states:
“About 70,000 new synthetic chemicals were introduced into our environment during the twentieth century. Three-quarters of the 20 most toxic chemical pollutants are known to be poisonous to our nervous systems.”
Dr. Starr explains that the most disturbing aspect of chemical toxins may be their ability to disrupt the function of thyroid hormones. Thyroid metabolism is one of the most frequent targets of synthetic chemicals. Recall that the thyroid gland affects every cell in the body.
In tomorrow’s article, I will focus on what we can do offset the hazards of today’s environment in order to build healthy thyroid and adrenal glands.
