Your thyroid gland makes hormones that regulate the way your body uses energy. An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) disrupts your metabolism, as well as many other aspects of your health.
Some estimate that as many as 10 percent of adults have hypothyroidism, which is more common in women. In pregnant women, hyperthyroidism is associated with miscarriage, birth defects and fetal growth problems, says Brenda Eskenazi in a new study looking at the effects of common chemical Polybrominated Diphenylether (PBDE).
PBDE is a flame retardants and are used in a wide array of products, including building materials, electronics, furnishings, motor vehicles, airplanes, plastics, polyurethane foams, and textiles. Researchers examined 270 pregnant women for the level of PBDEs in their bloodstream, and the level of TSH, a hormone linked to thyroid function. On average, higher levels of PBDEs were associated with lower TSH levels. This means that women with a high PBDE exposure tended to have overly active thyroid glands. (The lower the TSH level, the more active the thyroid gland).
Exposure to PBDEs is nearly impossible to avoid due to their ubiquity in the air, water, food, human fat, and breast milk. The fetus is exposed to the toxins in utero as well as from breast milk, which where the toxins are transferred from the mother to the baby. A 25-year Swedish study found that the concentration of PBDEs in breast milk doubled every five years during the 25-year period. (reference)
Hypothyroidism can cause an inability to lose weight, fatigue, hair loss, dry skin, joint pain and muscle weakness, heavy periods, increased sensitivity to cold, and even depression. Many people with low-grade hypothyroidism just feel “off,” with no obvious signs of being truly sick.
Getting tested: Ask your internist to run a TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) screening. In general, the higher your TSH level, the slower your thyroid is. “While traditional ‘normal’ values are between .45 and 4.5, if your level is above 2, you might still struggle to lose weight,” explains Dr. Jamie Kane, M.D., medical director of Park Avenue Medical Weight and Wellness in New York City. Your doctor may also want to check your levels of T-3 and T-4, the two main thyroid hormones.
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