Underactive thyroid function is becoming alarmingly common — and is horribly under-diagnosed. The good news is that once it is diagnosed, it can be very easy to treat, and treatment can save your life in addition to making life worth living.

The thyroid gland, located in the neck area, is the body's gas pedal. It regulates the body's metabolic speed.

If the thyroid gland produces insufficient amounts of thyroid hormones, the metabolism decreases and the person gains weight. Other symptoms of hypothyroidism include intolerance to cold, fatigue, achiness, confusion and constipation.

Unfortunately, the current blood testing misses the majority of people who need thyroid hormone treatment.

Sadly, many physicians don’t know that the testing is unreliable, and continue to treat the tests instead of the person.

Holistic physicians know how to treat taking both your symptoms and labs into account. Anyone with even two of the above symptoms should consider a trial of natural prescription thyroid.

Low thyroid problems are increasing in frequency. In the U.S., they mostly occur because the thyroid is being attacked by our own immune system (an autoimmune process called "Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis" — diagnosed by having an elevated anti-TPO antibody which is a simple blood test).

A resurgence of iodine and selenium deficiencies is also contributing to thyroid problems.

Having the problem is no big deal — as long as you get treated properly with natural thyroid hormone.