Immune System

Introduced in the United States in 1964, Diet Pepsi was the first nationally marketed diet soda. In 1983, Coca Cola introduced Diet Coke, a beverage that celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2013. Today, four carbonated, low calorie, diet drinks rank in the top ten best-selling carbonated beverages in the country. In order, they are: In […]

There are so many stories and "old wives' tales" out there that it's hard to decipher which are true and which aren't. This is the case with some diseases, as well. One condition that seems to have countless myths and misconceptions attached to it is Lyme disease. These falsehoods range from where the disease is […]

We sometimes call it "hay fever", but it's not just hay that can trigger spring allergies. Pollen from a variety of trees, grasses and weeds are the culprits for many seasonal allergy sufferers. Some of the worst offenders? For serious allergy symptoms, you may need an over-the-counter or prescription antihistamine, as well as a visit […]

The "Take a Bite Out of Lyme Disease" challenge began last month with the goal of raising awareness for this debilitating illness. The challenge is simple (and sour). You are asked to take a photo or video of yourself biting a lime and share a fact about the disease. Don't forget to use the hash […]

Specifically, some research has shown that the Borrelia bacteria that causes Lyme Disease can trigger Hashimoto's thyroiditis in some people. So there are some patients who had undiagnosed or untreated Lyme Disease, only to go on to develop an underactive thyroid later. If you have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, but are not seemingly responding to […]

For more than a decade, doctors have been disagreeing about the benefits of thyroid screening before or during early pregnancy, even though there is clear evidence that even mild hypothyroidism in a woman can cause infertility or miscarriage, and can negatively affect the health and cognitive function of the baby. At the 2012 annual meeting […]

We know that full-on fasting - such as ultra-low calorie diets, or low-cal juice cleanses — tend to lower the metabolism and bring down the metabolic set-point, especially in people with thyroid issues such as hypothyroidism. But research has shown that short-term fasting does not have this permanent impact on metabolism, while potentially offering a […]

Why are people choosing not to vaccinate? Why do others want to take away the right to choose? Maybe both can be explained by a lack of information. So let's get informed. What is the Measles? The measles is a highly contagious viral infection. It affects the skin, immune system, and the respiratory system. The […]

January is Thyroid Awareness Month - a month typically focused on promoting increased visibility and awareness of thyroid issues. But what if during this Thyroid Awareness Month, in addition to helping spread the word and make more people aware of....

Let's take a look at seven things that every smart patient should do in 2017 that may help you manage and improve your health in the new year. 1. Schedule an annual checkup. If you are in an HMO, or have health insurance, your annual checkup is likely to be scheduled as a longer visit, […]

Researchers took a look at some of the key factors that cause patients to need larger-than-expected dosages of thyroid medication. The study looked at levothyroxine dosages in hypothyroid patients, but the factors they identified - the reasons why you may need more thyroid medication - are relevant whether you're taking levothyroxine, liothyronine (T3), or natural […]

A research team, led by Melanie Ceko, looked at the role of selenium in the ovaries, and found that selenium is crucial to the development of healthy ovarian follicles. Follicles are responsible for production of eggs in women. According to Ceko: Selenium is an essential trace element found in protein-rich foods like red meat, seafood […]

Researchers looked at whether subclinical hypothyroidism and/or autoimmune thyroid disease during early pregnancy — the 4 to 8 week period — was also associated with higher rates of miscarriage. The researchers evaluated more than 3,000 women in early pregnancy. They grouped the women according to the severity of their subclinical hypothyroidism, as well as presence […]

Most people who have Hashimoto's disease -approximately 90% - have antibodies that can be measured in the blood. The Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPO) test detects those antibodies. At the same time, around 5% of people who have the disease and were diagnosed by other means (i.e., ultrasound, biopsy, etc.) do not have measurable thyroid antibodies. […]

In a Chinese study, researchers looked at vitamin D and autoimmune thyroid disease status in their patients. Their study evaluated 66 patients (34 had Hashimoto's disease and 32 had Graves' disease), compared to 52 healthy controls. They measured the serum D3, calcium, parathyroid hormone, Free T3, Free T4, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies […]

It's possible you may not know you have Lyme disease because the typical diagnosis is a "bulls eye" rash, a red rash with another ring of red around it. Many people don't remember being bit by a tick or ever getting such a rash. If you don't have or remember the rash, don't discount the […]

There are so many things wrong with these Guidelines that we could write volumes, but let's cut to the chase. Here are five ways the new ATA hypothyroidism guidelines hurt thyroid patients. 1. The ATA's Conflict of Interest Makes the Guidelines Findings Questionable at Best While the ATA goes out of its way to assert […]

In initial animal studies, the research found that all of the artificial sweeteners caused increased blood sugar. Their theory was that the sweeteners change gut microbes — the bacteria in the stomach that, when balanced, help with proper digestion. By transplanting microbes from artificial-sweetening using mice to germ-free mice, they were able to create glucose […]

2.5 OR LOWER Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) levels above 2.5 are considered to be suspicious for subclinical hypothyroidism by many integrative physicians. The "normal" reference range for the TSH test tends to run from .3 to 4.5, and many patients with levels above 2.5 are told their thyroid is "normal," while their physicians fail to […]

It also seems that the media is finally starting to recognize what integrative physicians have been saying for years — helping maintain healthy bacterial balance in the gut has a positive effect on many aspects of health, and probiotics can be a key step. Let's take a look at some probiotics basics, and the latest […]

Researchers know that obesity and Type 2 diabetes frequently go along with Vitamin D deficiency, but they wanted to study whether low Vitamin D levels actually contribute to these conditions. According to the study's principal investigator, Stephanie Sisley, MD, "Our results suggest that Vitamin D may play a role in the onset of both obesity […]

A British study was developed, to look at the connection between childhood obesity and weight gain, and the later development of an underactive thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions in the 60 to 64 age range. The researchers were able to access a study group of more 2500+ women, and 2500+ men who were born in […]

On the one hand, it's promising to think that a group of prominent endocrinologists are joining together to discuss this important issue. The endocrinology community, after all, is not typically known for acknowledging — much less being curious about — the complexities of thyroid hormone treatment. The tendency is usually to prescribe Synthroid, Levoxyl or […]

According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), 50 to 70 million Americans are affected by chronic sleep disorders as well as periodic sleep problems — issues that that can significantly impact health, alertness, and safety. The NSF also says that studies show that healthy adults have a "basal sleep need of seven to eight hours […]