“Every sickness has an alien quality, a feeling of invasion and loss of control that is evident in the language we use about it.”  Siri Hustvedt

Thyroid disease first impacted my life thirteen years ago. My diagnosis came out of the blue after suffering weird symptoms that weren’t the “typical” ones. 

I suddenly had trouble drawing enough oxygen into my lungs, day and night. I’d awaken from sleep gasping for breath. It was so frightening! I became shaky, spacey, and sleep-deprived. Nothing felt normal—especially breathing! Since I’d always been healthy, this really threw me for a loop.

Because of these less well-known symptoms, I had no idea what was going on. I was vaguely familiar with thyroid disease because my mother had been diagnosed with it years before. But her initial symptoms had been more typical—she was tired, cold, her skin became very dry, and she began losing her hair.

It is estimated that over 25 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease. And, women are more likely than men to develop it.

The thyroid is a small powerhouse of a gland, butterfly-shaped, and located in the front of the neck. It manufactures hormones that regulate metabolism, heart function, digestion, respiration, body temperature, and more.

The thyroid gland uses iodine from food to make two hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). The pituitary gland, in the brain, helps control the thyroid gland. It releases thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) into the bloodstream which makes the thyroid gland release its hormones.

When the pituitary gland detects that thyroid hormone levels are too low, it releases more TSH. If it detects too much, it releases less TSH.

However, if something goes wrong, and the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones, it is called hypothyroidism. If the gland produces too many hormones, it is called hyperthyroidism.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

Weakness, exhaustion, and depression

Dry skin, brittle nails, and significant hair loss

Sensitivity to cold

Memory problems

Mental fog

Breathing problems

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:

Sudden weight loss

Rapid heart rate, palpitations

Excess perspiration, anxiety, feeling jittery

Moodiness

Insomnia

There are also autoimmune forms of thyroid disease, such as Hashimoto’s disease (hypothyroidism) and Graves’s disease (hyperthyroidism). Hypothyroidism is the most prevalent form of thyroid disease, and is also the most commonly diagnosed thyroid condition. Hashimoto’s disease tends to run in families, and accounts for 90% of all hypothyroidism in the United States. And Hashimoto’s is what my mother had, I have, and now my daughter has.

Bio-Touch has been shown to ease the symptoms of thyroid disease. While not a substitute for standard medical care, Bio-Touch is an effective complement to mainstream medical protocols. And there are no negative side effects to worry about. Everyone, even children, can learn Bio-Touch!

The Bio-Touch organization is offering a workshop on thyroid disease at the Center in Tucson on Thursday September 27th from 6-8PM. Workshop attendees will learn the Bio-Touch points necessary to address the symptoms.

So come and bring your family and friends to the Center at 5634 E. Pima St. in Tucson. It’s so rewarding to share Bio-Touch, and you’ll feel great learning how to help others feel better! For more information or to learn about online classes, go to Learn Online.