Up to 12% of Americans develop medical conditions that affect their thyroid health. Thankfully, various treatments help relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life. At Best Naturopathic Medicine, board-certified naturopathic doctor Matthew Cavaiola, ND, provides complete thyroid health care. Dr. Cavaiola takes a holistic, whole-body approach to thyroid health at the Santa Monica clinic in California. Call Best Naturopathic Medicine today to schedule a thyroid health appointment, or book your visit online.

Why is thyroid health important?

Thyroid health is important because the thyroid gland is essential in various bodily functions. It’s a serious concern if your thyroid makes too many or too few hormones. Both issues increase your risk of more severe health problems and complications.

At Best Naturopathic Medicine, Dr. Cavaiola has years of experience treating thyroid problems. He regularly diagnoses and treats thyroid disease to prevent these conditions from worsening.

When should I see a doctor about my thyroid health?

Make an appointment at Best Naturopathic Medicine to check your thyroid if you have symptoms like:

• Trouble sleeping
• Anxiety, irritability, and nervousness
• Vision problems or eye irritation
• Muscle weakness
• Dry, coarse hair
• Unexplained weight gain or weight loss
• Fatigue
• Increased forgetfulness

These symptoms can indicate a wide range of medical conditions, but it’s important to schedule an exam. Intervention and treatment help slow the progression of thyroid disease.

What happens during a thyroid health appointment?

Dr. Cavaiola reviews your medical records and asks about your symptoms, including when they started and if they’re worse at certain times of the day or after certain activities, like eating.

He completes a physical exam and orders blood tests to see if your thyroid gland is functioning properly. Blood tests can identify various thyroid problems, including hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Graves’ disease, goiters, thyroid nodules, and thyroid cancer.

Dr. Cavaiola might also order an ultrasound to view your thyroid gland. Ultrasound makes it easy to identify growths, like goiters, and abnormalities with your thyroid’s shape or size.

How does a naturopathic doctor improve thyroid health?

At Best Naturopathic Medicine, Dr. Cavaiola treats thyroid disease using a holistic, integrative approach.

Most people with thyroid disease benefit from taking prescription medicine, but these drugs have side effects and can affect your quality of life. Therefore, Dr. Cavaiola combines them with healthy lifestyle changes to ensure optimal results.

Depending on the type of thyroid problem you have and its severity, Dr. Cavaiola might suggest:

• Eating a thyroid-friendly diet
• Taking nutritional supplements to improve thyroid function
• Exercising to improve thyroid function
• Botanical medicine (using plants like herbs to promote healing)
• Conventional thyroid medications (when needed)

Most people with thyroid disease benefit from combining two or more treatments. Dr. Cavaiola monitors your symptoms at routine checkups and adjusts your treatment plan as necessary.

Call Best Naturopathic Medicine today to schedule a thyroid health appointment, or book your visit online.