Thyroid

Obesity plays such an important role in so many health problems in developed countries, and as such, is an important research topic. Recently, use of genetic sequencing allowed a team of researchers from Imperial College London to discover the first known person with a genetic deficiency formerly seen only in animal studies. The study, published […]

Let's take a look at the health impact of fireworks. What is in a firework? A little strontium nitrate, a pinch of calcium sulfate, black powder, oxidizing agent, and binder and we are all set. A firework, or its smaller cousin, the firecracker, are products intended to go out with a bang and sometimes a […]

With summer almost here, there are good reasons to heed the wisdom of "Slip-Slop-Slap — slip on a shirt, slop on the sunscreen, and slap on a hat." On the other hand, chemical sunscreens have their dangers too. What to do? A new study suggests your lifespan could be affected by solar activity that occurred […]

We've talked about new research that shows that artificial sweeteners do not help with weight loss. In fact, they actually contribute to weight gain and difficulty losing weight. We also pointed out the link between diet sodas — which use artificial sweeteners — and the link to metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. […]

A new study published in the European Journal of Public Health has found that regular consumption of some herbal teas may prevent thyroid problems, including thyroid cancer. In particular, the study found that consuming chamomile tea regularly, and for a longer duration, reduced the risk of thyroid cancer and benign thyroid disease, as compared to […]

Conventional medicine believes that if you have an underactive, chemically ablated or surgically-removed thyroid gland, that all you need is levothyroxine - the synthetic form of the T4 hormone. Levothyroxine is also known by its brand names: Synthroid, Levoxyl, Eltroxin, Tirosint, and Levothroid, among others. T4 is the inactive thyroid hormone, and must be converted […]

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 […]

The film is the idea of award-winning documentary producer Maggie Hadleigh-West, who struggled for decades to get her own thyroid condition properly diagnosed and treated. Sick to Death! exposes the darker side of the mainstream thyroid world, including: In addition to telling her own story, Maggie has filmed more than 50 interviews with other practitioners, […]

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 […]

Researchers have learned that sub-chronic sleep restriction — 4 hours of sleep or less in an evening — causes insulin resistance. And, when compared to normal sleep — defined as 8 hours in an evening — sleep restriction wreaks hormonal havoc. First, it caused insulin sensitivity to decrease by 25%. Second, the stress hormone cortisol […]

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 […]

Dr. Kent Holtorf is featured in the upcoming documentary, Sick to Death!, a feature-length film seeking to understand and change medical practices around treating and diagnosing thyroid disease. Director and patient Maggie Hadleigh-West met Dr. Holtorf in September 2014, after which he quickly became the most important medical expert in the interactive project, as well […]

Over at the About.com Thyroid site, patient advocate Mary Shomon is sharing details about the new 2015 Thyroid Awareness campaign being promoted by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE). Their effort hinges on two initiatives - "Same/Same/Same," and "Ten Questions to Ask About Your Thyroid Health." The central theme of their effort is their […]

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 […]

There are a variety of reasons why you may need to take a larger-than-usual dose of thyroid hormone replacement medication, but one of the most common reason is that you are taking a prescription or over-the-counter medication that affects absorption of your thyroid medication. For example, before you grab that Tums or Rolaids along with […]

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. […]

What is Metabolic Syndrome? Metabolic syndrome refers to a group of risk factors that, when present, increase your risk for developing heart disease, and as a result, increase the risk of heart attack, heart damage, and death. Metabolic syndrome is also linked to obesity and insulin resistance, which can increase the risk for type 2 […]

Sound confusing? How do you know if you are affected? And what are you supposed to do about this MTHFR business? First, your doctor can run the MTHFR serum (blood) test to determine if you have any defects in the gene. If any defects are found, your doctor will give you specific advice. But here […]

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 […]

Rosemarie's Baby Rosemarie was trying, and failing, to get pregnant for several years. Like many fertility clinics, the clinic she and her husband chose did NOT include any thyroid testing as part of Rosemarie's infertility workup. At first, Rosemarie didn't know to ask. Since infertility is rarely covered by insurance, Rosemarie was getting side-effect laden […]