Your Thyroid symptoms are not just “all in your head”… get a new perspective on one of the most misunderstood diseases.
Reclaim your health from experts in the field of functional medicine. Schedule a consultation with one of our practitioners to learn more about your treatment options.
Have you been on Synthroid or Levothyroxin only to show no signs of improvement even after years of increasing and lowering the dosage?
Does your family have a history of Hypothyroidism with no relief?
An underactive thyroid can be a frustrating disorder to pinpoint with so many varying symptoms. Often times, even when prescribed medication, your symptoms never fully feel “fixed”.
Our practitioners look beyond the usual “TSH” and “Total T4” to properly assess your thyroid condition. Due to the overwhelming physical AND mental toll these disorders take on patients, our physicians have developed unique laboratory protocols and interpretations.
Stress, Depression, Anxiety, Tiredness, Sleep Problems, Hair Loss, and Weight Gain are just a few of the reasons you may suspect you have a thyroid problem. Yet these issues are often overlooked as other disorders or simply “in your head.” We hear this too often from our patients and it has become a priority of our clinic to wage war against this often overlooked disorder.
In fact, many of our patient’s find that they are experiencing Subclinical Hypothyroidism or even Hashimoto’s disease. Hashimoto’s disease of the thyroid is an autoimmune condition where your own body attacks the thyroid gland leading to a slowed or underfunctioning thyroid gland. Women are 7 times more likely to develop this disorder, especially between the ages of 40-60.
How do you know if you have hypothyroidism?
- Loss of outer 1/3 of eyebrow
- Yellow bumps on eyelid
- Chronic Constripation
- Depression and/or moodiness
- Chronic fatigue
- Excess hair loss / thinning hair
- Weight gain / slow metabolism
- Cold hands and feet
- Poor Memory / brain fog
- PMS
- Cry easily
- Dry flaky skin
- Nervousness
- Slow heart rate and/or heart palpitations
- Muscle weakness
- Feel better post exercise
- Can’t breathe deeply enough
- Low body temperature
- Excessive sleeping
- Trouble getting up in the morning
- Increased number of infections
- Dizziness / vertigo
- Lack of sweating when exercising
- High cholesterol
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Digestive issues (GERD, acid reflux, upset stomach, bloating, gas)
If you experiencing any of these symptoms, call us at 704-625-2994 or schedule a consultation to determine the TRUE cause of your hypothyroidism. Our physicians, along with our revolutionary Functional Medicine protocols, will diagnose and alleviate your symptoms.
Natural Thyroid Management
What Is The Thyroid?
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck below the cartilage known as Adam’s apple. As part of the endocrine system, the thyroid produces two main hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). These two hormones influence every single cell in your body. From how your body metabolizes fats and carbohydrates, to temperature regulation and heart rate, to the production of protein – thyroid hormones are center stage.
Two primary problems can occur with your thyroid – overproduction of thyroid hormones called hyperthyroidism, including Graves’ disease; and, underproduction of thyroid hormones called hypothyroidism, including Hashimoto’s disease. In most cases, thyroid problems can be well-managed when properly diagnosed and treated.
Importance of Testing for Thyroid Hormones
Although symptoms of thyroid disorders can be apparent, it is vital to have the hormone levels tested to ensure an accurate diagnosis. A simple blood test can check the levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), T3, and T4. The thyroid is regulated by another member of the endocrine system, the pituitary gland, which makes TSH to stimulate the thyroid to produce T3 and T4.
A disruption in either gland’s hormones can have a cascade effect across your entire body. By testing the levels of these three incredibly essential hormones, Functional Health Center can identify imbalances and treat them before they become or lead to serious medical conditions.
Natural Treatment of Thyroid Hormone Imbalances
If you are diagnosed with a thyroid condition, we believe the best approach is a natural one. We treat the whole person, not just the disease, and take into consideration many aspects of your life and your activities before determining what course of treatment is going to work best for you.
Some of the options we may consider include:
- Nutraceutical thyroid support
- Natural thyroid treatment, such as Nature-Throid, WP Thyroid, and Armourthyroid
- Diet and nutrition counseling
What Causes Thyroid Hormone Imbalances?
In some cases, such as with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Graves’ disease, thyroid hormones are affected by autoimmune disorders. When this happens, the body begins to attack its own tissue, which ultimately leads to tissue death and the cessation of hormone production (Hashimoto’s) or the overproduction of thyroid hormones (Graves’ disease).
Another common factor that can affect thyroid health and hormone production are endocrine disruptors (ED). These chemicals are found in many of the products we come in contact with every single day. Over time, or if you are exposed to large amounts of the chemicals, they can lead to a wide range of issues, including hormone imbalances, cancer, tumors, birth defects, and developmental disorders.
The way ED chemicals work is by mimicking hormones and binding to hormone receptors. Once this occurs, they begin interrupting normal hormone function by creating more or less powerful responses than the original hormones, or by changing the body’s response entirely. EDs are so powerful they are measured in ppt (parts per trillion). In other words, even minimal exposure to EDs can wreak havoc on your endocrine system, and consequently, your entire body. It is crucial to avoid them whenever and wherever possible.
Endocrine disruptors include:
- PCBs
- Flame retardants
- Dioxins
- Phytoestrogens
- Pesticides
- Perfluorinated chemicals
- Phthalates
- BPA
- UV filters
- Triclosan
- Perchlorate
- Parabens
- BHA and BHT
You may recognize some or all of these chemicals because they are frequently found in everyday items like cosmetics, soaps, food, electronics, furniture, pesticides, and plastics, to name a few. We recommend reading the labels on the products you buy and avoiding these chemicals, especially in products that you consume, use to cook, eat or drink with, or use on your skin, hair, and nails.
If you have questions about thyroid conditions or how Functional Health Center can treat your hormone imbalances the natural way, please call our office today at (704) 625-2994, and we’ll be happy to assist you!
Patient Reviews
Jill Ajaski
Great experience! The staff is friendly and helpful. Dr. Riser’s functional medicine approach to disease/health is what healthcare should be. He has true passion for getting to the route of health issues and has impressed me with his knowledge and confidence. The functional medicine approach involves a lot of lab testing, which is a good starting point to a treatment plan, but the patient’s input is a huge part of it and Dr. Riser truly listens, researches and adjusts to fine tune things to get you to your optimal health. I’ve been seeing Dr. Riser for 4 months and after my diagnoses of Hashimotos (thyroid/autoimmune disease) as well as severe adrenal fatigue, my symptoms have improved significantly. Through diet, supplements and lab testing, this approach combined with a great doctor has changed my life. From a chiropractic standpoint, Dr. Riser was able to eliminate my lower back pain in one session and no other Chiropractor was able to do that in one, let alone multiple sessions. I highly recommend anyone suffering from diabetes, thyroid issues, or just symptoms you just can’t get to the bottom of to contact Dr. Riser and invest in your health now! It’s well worth the investment and the time he spends with you is invaluable and cannot be compared to anything else.
As a person who’s on the go constantly with multiple businesses, I began to notice significant fatigue, sleep, and gut issues. Googling my symptoms led me down a road of what seemed like hundreds of treatments for candida, leaky gut, chronic fatigue, Diabetes(too young for that!) and more. I reached out to Dr. Riser in hopes that I could get to the exact cause of my symptoms and get me back the energy I desperately needed to perform! He performed REAL diagnostic testing and REAL protocols that got me back to a place health wise that my regular doctor never even came close to getting me! I feel so much better and the future looks bright! Highly highly recommend for anyone who is feeling the same way I was!
Sherry Etter
I really love that Dr Riser wants to get to the root cause of the symptoms you have. He does thorough testing and goes over results so you can understand. Then he tackles your issues so you will get healthy and feel better. He is treating me for many gut issues and helps with my way of eating. I have lost 11lbs since I started and I’m feeling better. I’m not in as much pain and have more energy to do things I was too tired to do before.. The staff is awesome and very friendly. I highly recommend Functional Health Center and Dr Riser if you want to feel better and get to the bottom of your health issues.
Alexandia Murdock
What an amazing experience! I originally came to Dr. Riser with fatigue and typical Thyroid issues. I wasn’t getting any help and even though I was working out constantly, my weight was barely budging. I decided to go a Functional Medicine route with Dr. Riser and it was absolutely life changing. Real root cause health care with real results. Never looking back!
Learn more about your treatment options today!