Hormone Health Hub: Expert Insights on Testing, Balance & Better Living — Hashimoto’s disease

The thyroid gland may be small, but it plays a monumental role in maintaining your body’s health. Located in the neck and shaped like a butterfly, this endocrine powerhouse regulates everything from metabolism to mood through the hormones it produces. Yet, thyroid hormone imbalances often go unnoticed—despite affecting millions. According to the American Thyroid Association, more than 12% of the U.S. population will develop a thyroid condition during their lifetime, and up to 60% of those affected may not even know it. These disorders are frequently misdiagnosed or overlooked, often dismissed as symptoms of stress, ageing, or other common conditions....

At 24, Dr. Kate Placzek was sleeping 16 hours a day and barely functioning — yet her standard blood tests came back normal. It took a TSH result in the mid-thirties to finally explain her debilitating fatigue. In this candid personal account, she shares her thyroid diagnosis, what she learned about optimal TSH levels, and why testing beyond TSH alone can make all the difference.