However, some studies have found that only 5 percent of people have a TSH above 2.5 (though others say it's more like 15 percent). That is to say, being above 2.5 is statistically abnormal. And abnormalities are, by and large, how medicine decides what a disease is.

My take on this new research is that we have a lot more to learn about treating thyroid disease. Clearly there are some treatments that don’t seem to provide much benefit, or at least no more benefit than a placebo pill. But, my experience in treating patients in the real world is vastly different.

They're your body's secret weapon: Hormones keep your heart thumping, your digestive system churning, and your brain sharp. "Whenever you feel off, your hormones could be the cause," says Scott Isaacs, MD, an endocrinologist at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.

What is the difference between synthetic and natural thyroid medications? The main difference is what they are made from. Synthetic thyroid medications are made from levothyroxine sodium while natural thyroid medications are made from dessicated pig thyroid. The other major difference is what thyroid hormones they contain. Most synthetic thyroid medicines, like Synthroid, contain only T4. The natural medications, like Armour contain both T4 and T3. There is a synthetic T3 medication available called Cytomel. Some people take both a synthetic T4 and a synthetic T3 medication to get both thyroid hormones.

New research has found that a relatively common genetic mutation can result in impaired ability of the body to convert inactive T4 to active T3. This mutation of the type 2 deiodinase gene known as Thr92Ala predicts decreased responsiveness of symptoms of hypothyroidism to levothyroxine treatment, even if blood tests are normal.

If there’s a positive aspect about hypothyroidism is that it is treatable. Although it may take time to find the ideal treatment, in my experience, most people do eventually achieve ideal thyroid hormone balance. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment. You need to work with your physician (preferably an endocrinologist) closely to make sure you are taking the right type and the correct dose of thyroid medication.

I am pleased to announce the release of the third edition of my book, Hormonal Balance: How to Lose Weight by Understanding Your Hormones and Metabolism (Bull Publishing Company, June 2012). It is the latest edition of the revolutionary book that pioneered the idea that hormones play a pivotal role in weight loss and weight control. The book is scientifically backed by years of medical research and proven results. I have made the latest scientific information accessible and interesting for a general audience. In this updated and expanded edition, I offer a directive “how-to” approach to stopping the yo-yo diet cycle and balancing the body’s hormones for effective, permanent weight control. Complete with a meal plan and a symptoms guide to spot possible hormone disruptions, this third edition of Hormonal Balance is the most comprehensive, up-to-date, medically and celebrity endorsed book ever written on hormones and weight management.

The thyroid helps maintain organ function, brain function, body temperature, sleep, energy level, sex drive, mood, and much more. Many people struggle with a wide variety of symptoms and don’t know the symptoms are caused by their thyroid. It is easy to overlook the effects of a dysfunctional thyroid gland because the symptoms can come on slowly and are often blamed on old age, stress, or depression.

This is the third in a series of articles on the basics of endocrinology. Hormone problems can occur if a gland makes too little or too much of a particular hormone. In my last article I discussed what happens when hormones are too low, such as with hypothyroidism, menopause or type 1 diabetes. But, problems can also occur when hormones are too high.

When I was in the seventh grade, I remember my friend Michael Root’s science project on the endocrine system. As a twelve-year-old, I remember thinking to myself, what a complicated system. How do all these glands know what hormones to make and how do those hormones know what to do?