How to naturally address issues with shallow breathing or “air hunger”, a common but overlooked problem in those suffering from thyroid problems or adrenal dysfunction.
Every single tissue in the entire body has thyroid receptors. This means that the thyroid, if not functioning properly, can cause a wide variety of symptoms beyond what we would normally consider.
It is most common to question the health of the thyroid in cases of fatigue, constipation, weight gain, chilliness, and dryness.
However, it is also very common in cases of depression, fibromyalgia-like muscle aches, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and even foggy brain.
The thyroid is one endocrine organ in a delicately and intricately related chain of hormone-producing glands.
Although it may be one of the easier glands to measure, others in the chain, i.e. the hypothalamus, the adrenal glands, and the gastrointestinal system have a major effect on the thyroid’s function.
In one two-week period alone, I treated three unusual cases of thyroid dysfunction.
- One was an 8-year-old girl with Hashimoto’s auto-immune disease.
- Another is a 22-year-old male who looks like a bodybuilder.
- The third was a 14-year-old very slender female.
None of them fit the picture of a typical thyroid patient…but if you don’t test you never know!
Common Misdiagnosis in Conventional Tests
When testing the thyroid you must test several markers to understand if the thyroid is working properly:
- TSH
- T4 total
- Free T3
- Free T4
- T3 uptake
- Free thyroxine index
- Thyroid antibodies
Laboratory ranges are very wide on the thyroid and, sadly, do not reflect optimal functioning in the real world.
It is very common for conventional doctors to just order a TSH and say your thyroid is fine when it really isn’t.
The reason is most doctors treat all thyroid conditions the same – give enough Levo-thyroxin until the TSH blood level is within normal limits.
This conventional approach only works for one kind of thyroid dysfunction!
There are six different types of low thyroid function with at least 22 other bodily dysfunctions resulting in a suboptimal thyroid.
How Other Organs Affect the Thyroid
I will give you a few examples of how other organ systems affect the thyroid.
If you have positive antibodies TPO or TGB, you really have an auto-immune disease where your own immune system is destroying thyroid tissue.
Shockingly, it is estimated that at least 75% of hypothyroid cases are auto-immune in nature.
This problem can really be helped by clinicians who understand the relationship between thyroid, gut, immune system and brain.
Attention should be directed to these areas:
- Resolve food allergies
- Measure and optimize Vitamin D levels.
- Heal leaky gut
- Balance the two arms of the immune system Th1 and Th2 is very important.
Pitfalls with “Immune Tonics”
Common health food store “immune tonics” such as echinacea and maitake are Th1 stimulators while caffeine is a TH2 stimulator.
If one is Th1 dominant they will frequently complain that echinacea or other Th1 stimulants make them feel bad.
It is important to realize that your individual body may not fit the common marketing scheme currently advocated in medicine or natural health care.
Buyer beware!
Iodine Can Sometimes Make Things Worse
There are other tests such as cytokine testing or TH1 and 2 challenges to get this system balanced.
It is paramount to understand that those diagnosed with Hashimoto’s or showing positive antibodies will be made WORSE with iodine supplementation.
Free T3 is the real workhorse of thyroid hormones. It is what your cells use, yet only 6% of T3 is made in the thyroid.
The vast majority is converted from T4 in the liver and from the bacteria in the GI tract. Can you start to see how important the GI tract is and the importance of fermented foods, prebiotics, and probiotics?
Thyroid and Adrenal Dysfunction Usually Go Hand in Hand
It is rare to see thyroid dysfunction without seeing adrenal dysfunction. The adrenals are the glands that deal with stress.
In our culture, most people are just worn out…usually all the time!
This leads to the under-conversion of T4 to T3.
It frequently leads to blood sugar issues which dampen communication between the hypothalamus, pituitary, and thyroid glands.
Shallow Breathing aka “Air Hunger”
Again, these problems are made worse by people skipping meals, eating low-protein or vegetarian diets, and using stimulants such as caffeine to increase the adrenal output of hormones.
I always use nutrients and whole food diets emphasizing higher protein and healthy fats for this condition.
One of the most important treatments is breathing exercises to remedy air hunger.
It is common to find people that suffer from shallow breathing when endocrine conditions present.
Shallow breathing is characterized by breathing from the chest up without using the diaphragm.
Put another way, shallow breathing involves breathing without expanding out to allow the diaphragm to create a vacuum in the lungs.
It is impossible in a short article to completely explain the thyroid gland. My goal is rather to show you the many facets of thyroid dysfunction and testing.
As in all my writings, my goal is to help you connect the dots between one particular system and its relationship to the whole body.
I hope to convey the message that if you are chronically ill and your doctor has only tested your TSH please ask for more.
Do not take over-the-counter formulas for your thyroid unless someone is specifically monitoring your case as what makes one type of thyroid condition better can aggravate another type.
Again Iodine is a very individual nutrient for certain thyroid types and not for others!
More Information
Thyroid Disease as a Psychiatric Pretender
6 Little Known Signs of Adrenal Fatigue
This is Your Body (and Brain) on Gluten
Interesting article Dr Franck,
My fiance is at emergency right now dealing with thyroid + arythmia + enlarged liver. He carries a defibrillator and a pacemaker. Doctors made a thyroid biopsy and we are waiting for the answers. They proposed him to get the ablation of the heart part which is responsible of the arrhythmia thinking that there is no relation between thyroid and difficulty to breath. He just saw heart specialists.
I want to refuse their proposition because I think that they have first to find what is the origine of the problem to propose the most adapted solution but my fiance is frustrated and tired to be sick and mad from 2 months. He is 48 years old and he have all symptoms of thyroid disfunction.
Could you please give us advice?
This does not sound like a simple thyroid case. Not sure what specialty your doctor has but if no endocrinologist is available see an internist or ent just to rule out thyroid cancer and other life threatening illnesses. You can balance your hormones later
I went to my dr for a thyroid nodule (which turned into 3 thyroid masses) only to be told, they would find me an endocrinologist. Its been 5 months and I lost my insurance now all my lymph nodes are swollen, the ones in my throat so large its causing breathing issues, I have fatigue, bone pain, muscle pain, weight gain, trouble focusing, stomach pain, chest pain, thinning hair, brittle nails, on and on. And yet my dr insists hes trying to find me a specilist. He knows cancer runs in my family. I dont know what to do at this point.
The reason to see a wholistic doctor is to individualize treatment for you. A healthy lifestyle is critical but when its not enough,its because of your individual needs for nutrients may be 10 times higher than others. Also foods that are well tolerated by others can be poisenous to you.Feeling good is all about knowing your individual problems and needs.
I was just diagnosed with thyroid problems. My thyroid raised up for 3 years then within 5 months it dropped to almost nothing. I has shallow breathing , fatigue and exhaustion but otherwise I’m extremely healthy. I feel as though I stress myself out with anxiety. I do organic food & probiotic drinks, raw apple cider vinegar but I don’t feel good. Is there healthy natural ways to feel better?
Hi Jessie-James,
Not to oversimplify your problem, but could it be that your shallow breathing is a major component of your fatigue and exhaustion because your body isn’t getting the oxygen it needs? Have you tried yoga (either at home or in a class)? I have a feeling that if you do yoga on a regular basis, which teaches deep breathing and focus while moving, and will also help alleviate your stress, then you might notice a difference in your breathing and energy levels. This was the case for me. It may not be the case for everyone, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to make the suggestion.
Is it possible that those who are shallow breathers are “stressing their bodies out” and not supplying enough oxygen to various organs, which in turn, could cause adrenal issues including fatigue and mental fogginess and perhaps even affect the thyroid?
Just wondering if that could be true instead of shallow breathing being a symptom of thyroid issues, maybe thyroid issues are an outcome of shallow breathing?
I am wondering if this may be my problem. I feel like I run out of air constantly. I am always gasping for air and often can’t get a satisfying breath. It is like my lungs stop sucking in the air. I have seen a lung specialist and all the tests show that my lungs are great. I have been to a heart doctor and the stress test showed that my heart was fine but that I have a benign condition of (PAC’s) Premature Atrial Contarctions and (PVC’s) Premature ventrical Contractions. Because I have Acid Reflux it was determined that might be the cause. My Gastroentologist did an Endoscopy and saw a slight Hiautus Hernia but he does not think that causes the breathing issues. I am at wits end and cannot find out why I run out of air while talking or just sitting. Does or did anybody else have this problem? What did you do?
Mike,
Did you ever figure out what was causing your breathing issues?
I have had breathing problems for years with many trips to the ER , tests show nothing wrong . I finally figured it out myself, I have been hyperventilating , after I realized what was going on I have been able to control it .
Can you please help me…
I take desiccated thyroid. Recently I have been on 7-9 grains. I feel fine … except I get “air-hunger”. I also have adrenal fatigue, but the symptoms of that are not severe at this point due to all of the supplements, sleep, etc. I have been nurturing my adrenals (and thyroid) for about a year now. Anyway, I can’t imagine I need more desiccated thyroid … so is this really a symptom of Low Thyroid at this point, or am I getting air hunger because I take too much desiccated thyroid. This morning I had forgotten my medicine until later in the day – and I didn’t have the air hunger in the morning. I also get acne when I take 8 grains a day. I seem to do better on 6. acne clears. not so much air hunger. But it seems i am more tired on 6 grains. & my feet get a bit cold again … Thoughts?
I would need a lot more info to help, labs,etc. It may just be a case of more time. Have you been tested for Hashimoto’s,gluten free?, blood sugars? stress? Iodine?Tough to individualize through e mails
Thanks so much for this. I have several readers and family members who need to read this so I am going to share share share!
We just started a weekly wellness journey over on my blog. This weeks focus is tyo BREATHE . This fits perfectly.
http://wp.me/p2pBvv-wA
Thanks for this info! I have Graves Disease and would love to see more articles on thyroid disease. Thanks Sarah.