Thyroid Health

What is the thyroid gland?

The thyroid is a gland in your neck. It produces essential hormones that regulate your metabolism, which is the mechanism by which you turn fuel from your diet into energy.

If you’re producing too little or too much thyroid hormone, it can cause an imbalance that has a profound effect on every aspect of your health and quality of life. Left untreated, thyroid health problems can cause life-threatening complications, but with treatment, you can live a long and healthy life.

The two problems that most commonly affect the thyroid are hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).

What is hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism is due to a lack of thyroid hormones. If you don’t have enough thyroid hormones in your body, your metabolism slows down, leading to a variety of possible problems, including:

• Weight gain
• Inability to lose weight
• Chronic fatigue
• Depression
• Insomnia 
• Dry hair and skin
• Hair loss
• Sleepiness or a need for excessive sleep
• Temperature sensitivity (cold intolerance) 
• Slowed heart rate
• Joint pain and inflammation
• Constipation

You may not experience all these symptoms, and because they can mimic other conditions, thyroid issues—especially Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the autoimmune form of hypothyroidism—can go undiagnosed for years. Hashimoto’s is one of the most common causes of hypothyroidism and often leads to symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, dry skin, and sensitivity to cold.

Because these symptoms overlap with other conditions, testing is essential for an accurate diagnosis. If you’re experiencing persistent fatigue, unexplained changes in weight, or other signs of thyroid dysfunction, a comprehensive evaluation can help identify the root cause and guide an effective treatment plan.

What is hyperthyroidism?

Hyperthyroidism means your thyroid is making too much hormone, overstimulating your metabolism and causing symptoms that include: 

• Mood swings
• Anxiety and nervousness
• Irritability
• Fatigue
• Insomnia or sleep problems
• Weakness
• Temperature sensitivity (heat intolerance)
• Unplanned weight loss
• Palpitations
• Frequent urination
• Hand tremors
• Thinning skin
• Fine, brittle hair
• Hair loss 

One of the most common causes of hyperthyroidism is Graves’ disease, an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the thyroid, causing it to become overactive. This can lead to bulging eyes (Graves’ ophthalmopathy), rapid heartbeat, excessive sweating, and weight loss despite an increased appetite. If left untreated, Graves’ disease can result in serious complications such as heart problems and osteoporosis.

Dr. Mahboubeh can diagnose your thyroid health problem by testing the levels of thyroid hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in your blood. With the correct diagnosis, you can bring your thyroid back to balance and improve your health.

How are thyroid health problems treated?

Dr. Mahboubeh's focus is on treating the cause of your thyroid health problem and not just the symptoms. She orders a complete thyroid panel, as well as other hormones, to ensure you have an accurate diagnosis and receive the most effective treatment for your condition.

Thyroid health isn’t just about medication—lifestyle factors play a crucial role in supporting optimal function. Nutrition, stress management, and gut health all influence thyroid balance, especially in cases of Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism. Dr. Mahboubeh takes an integrative approach, working with patients to identify and address potential triggers such as chronic stress, inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, and environmental toxins.

Through personalized nutrition plans, targeted supplementation, stress-reducing techniques, and biofeedback therapy, Dr. Mahboubeh helps patients restore thyroid function naturally. Routine checkups and comprehensive thyroid panel testing ensure that treatment plans remain tailored to each patient’s unique needs.

You also need to visit Dr. Mahboubeh for routine checkups and to have blood tests to check your thyroid levels.

If you have any symptoms of thyroid health problems, call Dr. Mahboubeh today or book an appointment online.