Depression

Now, according to the ACR, a patient satisfies the diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia if the following three conditions are met: The Widespread Pain Index The Widespread Pain Index (WPI) rating looks at the areas where you've had pain over the last week. The score will be 0 to 19. Here are the 19 areas evaluated: […]

"Chronic fatigue" is a symptom, referring to continuing significant fatigue that lasts for months. It can be the result of a variety of ongoing or chronic conditions and illnesses (for example hypothyroidism, multiple sclerosis, anemia), nutritional deficiencies, sleep disorders like apnea, chronic pain, depression, and other health issues. Ongoing fatigue lasting at least six months […]

Melatonin is produced — primarily at night — by the pineal gland, a tiny gland located in the brain. The pineal acts as a controller of our body's clock, including the day-to-day 24-hour clock that tells us when to sleep and when to wake. It also controls our lifetime biological clock that decides on bigger […]

Let's talk about PMS, which is for some women, the next key mood-hormone link. For a variety of reasons — nutrition, genetics, hormone balance, etc. — some women sail through monthly cycles with few symptoms, while others struggle every month with debilitating depression, anxiety, and fatigue. While PMS may be a favorite joke of comedians, […]

While your symptoms resemble a mental health issue, they could be signs of Hashimoto's disease, one cause of hypothyroidism. Hashimoto's disease, also known as autoimmune thyroiditis or simply "Hashimoto's", is caused by an autoimmune disorder. In this case, the body's immune system sees the thyroid gland as a foreign body and begins to attack, damaging […]

If you had asked me ten years ago whether I thought I would still be alive today, I would have responded with "absolutely not." That's how surely I was convinced that I was slowly dying — emotionally, socially, intellectually, spiritually, and physically. The most frightening thing about it was that I perceived I was powerless […]

Obesity has become a major health crisis in the United States. In the last two decades, obesity rates have doubled among adults. As many as 60 million people, or 30% of the adult population, are now obese. Youth are at risk too. Since 1980, obesity rates have doubled in children and tripled in adolescents. And […]

Symptoms of Thyroid Dysfunction Can Be Mistaken for Mental Illness For patients with undiagnosed Hashimoto's thyroiditis the picture can be even more grim. Cognitive symptoms associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, including mental abnormalities, depression, irritability and confusion, can appear long before a patient shows signs of actual hypothyroidism. Patients can be mislabeled as having a major […]

To properly treat hypothyroidism, you must first know your Ts. Thyroxine, or T4, is the thyroid "storage hormone." Triodothyronine, or T3, is the "energy hormone." For the body to use T4, it must first convert it to the active hormone T3, giving energy to every cell in the body. Another critical thyroid hormone is reverse […]

Some people can take the "good" along with the "bad" in life, but for others, any stressful life event — whether the loss of a loved one, a dramatic break-up, or a layoff — can all act as depression triggers and lead to a downward spiral. Tips On How To Effectively Manage Your Mood Working […]

Untangling cause and effect can challenge even seasoned clinicians, and the potential for missed diagnoses is growing these days. Most mental-health counselors rely on primary-care doctors to spot medical issues, but those physicians are increasingly time-pressed and may not know their patients well. Neither do the psychiatrists who mainly write prescriptions and see patients only […]

Before puberty, the rates of mood and anxiety disorders are similar in boys and girls. It's only after females begin menstrual function that a gender differential in mood disorders manifests itself. This, coupled with the observation that women appear to be especially vulnerable to mood disturbances during times of hormonal flux, certainly confirms that a […]

The more women experience unusual periods, sporadic cycles, and surprising symptoms, the more it appears that a genuine physiological phenomenon is at play. After having babies and heading into the early 40s, women notice that their bodies are changing and that they are going down the long, hot-flash-ridden path to the "change of life," or […]

People who are dealing with serious diseases like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and thyroid disease must recognize the importance of dietary guidelines in their treatment. A healthy diet is a part of living a healthy life. Fibromyalgia And Nutrition Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition whose symptoms include muscle and tissue pain, fatigue, depression, and sleep […]

Some health benefits researchers have discovered about a good night's sleep are improved memory, longevity, reducing inflammation, spur creativity, enhance cognitive performance, improve attention, weight control and steering clear of depression and anxiety. Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder in the U.S., affecting nearly one out of every three adults at some point in […]

Clinical depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for a longer period of time. When someone develops depression, the brain usually becomes the focus of attention. But other organs can be the source of the problem. A common example is when the thyroid gland […]

The reality is that sex improves longevity, quality of life, and overall health. Menopausal sex without the fear of pregnancy, the mess of the monthly cycle, or young children knocking at the bedroom door can be a spontaneous and joyful part of the second half of life. You just need to find out how to […]

Studies show that even slightly reduced thyroid levels, even considered still in the "normal" range can dramatically decrease libido in women as well as causing fatigue, weight gain and depression. How Does Thyroid Dysfunction Affect Libido Hypothyroidism reveals itself in a very gradual manner. Low thyroid symptoms are very subtle and are often similar to […]

If libido is not present, our health and well-being may suffer. Here are the six most important reasons why sex and a healthy libido are so important and good for our health and to keep us feeling young: 1. Libido is life energy. Libido is often a reflection of a person's feelings of motivation, confidence, […]

A recent study in the Journal of American Medical Association showed that 31% of men and 43% of women suffer from sexual inadequacy at some point in their lives. It is shown that up to 40% of women suffer from symptoms of sexual dysfunction, with low desire being the most common symptom. Understand The Real Cause […]

The connection between birth control pill and low libido Antidepressant manufacturers estimate that 2% to 16% of antidepressant users experience sexual dysfunction. However, a 2001 study in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry examined 412 men with previously normal sexual functioning who were being treated with antidepressants, and it found that 59% reported sexual dysfunction, 62% of the men and 57% of the […]

Common symptoms of sexual dysfunction in men and women include a lack of desire, performance anxiety, premature ejaculation or pain during intercourse. Low libido is caused by a number of physiological, emotional, and lifestyle factors. If you were told otherwise, and that this was just a "normal" symptom of aging, you might be surprised to […]

It's important to address the real cause of your imbalances and use the most effective combination of thyroid hormones so you can feel at your best. Everything You Need To Know About Thyroid Treatment Hypothyroidism is generally treated with synthetic T4 (Levothyroxine). Products such as Synthroid and Levoxyl are the most widely accepted forms of […]

Because the thyroid hormone regulates cellular function, abnormal thyroid function can affect your fertility. Undiagnosed and untreated thyroid disease can be a cause for infertility or recurrent miscarriage. Hypothyroidism, an under active thyroid, is a frequent cause of infertility. If the thyroid in under active, the hypothalamus and pituitary gland can sense this and try […]