>From:    Ballew Kinnaman <[log in to unmask]>

>In humans, too little thyroxine stunts the growth of children and can cause 
>retardation.

One of the primary symptoms in children is a change in the rate of lineal 
growth.  So, if a child is at the 90th percentile and you find out he's now 
only at the 70th percentile, it's time to investigate.  Those doctors keep 
those growth charts, but they don't seem to actually understand how to use 
them as a warning for low thyroid.

In children, lack of appetite can also be a sign, and don't expect them to 
be fat or exhibit the symptoms an adult might have.


>A lack of thyroxine in adults causes a slow heart beat, fatigue, a tendency 
>to put on weight, and a >sense of coldness. Too much, and the person gets a 
>rapid heart rate, loses weight and feels hot.

These signs are typical.  However, as Ray Peat points out somewhere on Mary 
Shomon's website, sometimes the hypothyroid patient will produce excess 
adrenaline to compensate for the low thyroid.  This sometimes makes the 
heart rate very fast.  Sometimes over 100.  Pulse rate is a sensitive 
matter.  For a well - toned athlete, it's not unusual for their pulse to be 
only 60 beats per minute.  Some people confuse this and think this is a 
healthy thing for them, so when they get thyroid treatment they worry when 
their heart rate speeds up and they can actually feel it beating.    Some 
have said they don't want their heart rate as high as 80, yet it's perfectly 
normal.  Ray Peat claimed in a healthy population the heart rate is 85.  
And, the hypothyroid person is typically far out of shape because of the 
weakness it causes, particularly to the heart, so a heart rate in the 80s is 
nothing to be concerned about.

Also, hypothyroidism is a contrary disease, and can cause symptoms that 
appear to be anorexia both in the appetite and the underweight.

Skipper

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