TSH – Wilson's Syndrome

How Hypothyroidism Affects Pregnancy

Tags: hypothyroidism, pregnancy, subclinical hypothyroid, TSH, Wilson's Temperature Syndrome|

Thyroid hormones regulate the body’s metabolism and affect nearly every organ in the body. When the body produces too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) it causes many functions is the body to speed up too much. When the body produces too little thyroid hormone it causes many of our body functions to slow down (hypothyroidism).

It’s well-known in the medical community that the thyroid plays a critical role in the development of a healthy baby as well as maintaining the health of the mother. Women with hypothyroidism can have a healthy pregnancy by being aware of how their pregnancy affects the

When Inflammation Leads to Autoimmune Disease

Tags: atherosclerosis, cardiovascular, hashimoto's disease, hypothyroid, metabolic syndrome, TSH|

Over the next few blog posts, I’d like to talk about the important role of inflammation in causing thyroid dysfunction. Scientists are discovering that inflammation is at the root cause of many chronic illnesses. It can be triggered by foods you eat, such as sugar, acid forming foods, dairy, meat and allergenic foods, like soy. It also worsens with a common condition known as leaky gut syndrome. This is when the lining of the intestinal tract is damaged (by alcohol, medications, or poor food choices), causing gaps which allow oversized particles to leak through. When these particles fail to exit

Balancing stress, cholesterol and thyroid

Tags: cholesterol, exercise, hypothyroid, stress, thyroid, thyroid meds, TSH, yoga|

High cholesterol is one of the many common co- symptoms that occurs with hypothyroidism. Elevated cholesterol can lead to atherosclerosis or “clogged arteries”, putting a person at risk for coronary artery disease, stroke and heart attack. Statin drugs are commonly prescribed to reduce cholesterol levels, but they come with risk for other side effects, such as muscle pain, liver damage, or neurological effects. So it makes sense to consider alternative, natural approaches to help maintain normal cholesterol levels.

A recent small study was conducted in India, where hypothyroidism is quite prevalent, to determine if a consistent yoga program could help address

Could Holiday Stress Impact Your Health?

Tags: holiday stress, Low body temperature, low thyroid, stress, T3, thyroid hormone receptor, trauma, TSH, wilson's syndrome|

Life gets complicated around the holidays; we tend to overbook our social schedules to squeeze in as many events as possible. Although it is intended to be fun, sometimes there is an underlying pressure to create the perfect holiday ambiance, which can cause more stress than enjoyment.

Stress can upset your thyroid gland in complicated and profound ways. New research shows that the effects of stress on your thyroid can be long-lasting and hinder your resilience (your ability to recover from trauma).

One study found that women who had experienced

Optimize Thyroid – Adrenal Cross-talk

Tags: adrenals, cortisol, fatigue, hypothyroid, stress, thyroid, TSH|

Last week we talked about how chronic stress and cortisol wears out the adrenals, and how tired adrenals affect thyroid function. But there’s actually more to the story. Did you know that not only is thyroid hormone activity regulated in part by stress hormone activity, but the reverse is also true. The two hormonal systems interact throughout your body, in different tissues. Thyroid hormone sets a kind of “baseline” activity level and stress hormones, secreted from your adrenal glands, speed it up or slow it down.

The interaction is complicated and affects body heat, blood flow, heart rate, blood

Can low thyroid prevent pregnancy?

Tags: fertility, hypothyroidism, pregnancy, TSH|

Normal thyroid function is important for normal ovulation. Doctors know enough about this connection to screen for thyroid problems with Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) if a woman is having trouble getting pregnant. Being treated for hypothyroidism increases the likelihood of becoming pregnant, both naturally and with assistance, as with in vitro fertilization. Treatment also cuts down on problems during pregnancy, including miscarriage and preterm birth. (Pregnancy can also cause thyroid problems- read more here)

However, I believe that the usual screening methods for hypothyroidism, such as the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) test, miss many women who have low

Is it More than Menopause?

Tags: Low body temperature, menopause, Synthroid, T3, TSH|

As women get older, a lot of symptoms, both physical and mental, are simply attributed to menopause. Doctors may even suggest this, leaving many women to believe their symptoms can not improve.

However, there are some symptoms that should be recognized as a red flag for the possibility of associated hypothyroidism, or low-thyroid function, which can exacerbate just about all of the symptoms of menopause. Fatigue, depressed mood, foggy thinking, cold intolerance, sudden high cholesterol, thinning hair, and weight gain despite exercise and healthy eating mean it’s time to check your thyroid function.

Hypothyroidism becomes more common in women as they

Why TSH Testing is Not Enough and Why you Should Check your Body Temperature

Tags: Low body temperature, T3, T4, thyroid hormone resistance, TSH, TSH testing|

Most doctors, including endocrinologists, rely on a standard thyroid test, TSH, to screen for thyroid problems. This test measures Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), a pituitary hormone whose function is to stimulate thyroid hormone production by the thyroid gland. When thyroid hormone production goes down, TSH goes up. There is a range of TSH levels that is considered normal. For most doctors, TSH is the only diagnostic test for hypothyroidism that they use and the most sensitive marker of peripheral tissue availability of thyroid hormone. If TSH is within a normal range, most doctors will “rule out” thyroid problems as

What do Migraines, Raynaud’s, Carpal Tunnel and Arrhythmia Have in Common?

Tags: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, heart arrhythmia, Low body temperature, low thyroid hormone function, migraine headaches, nerve damage, Raynaud's Syndrome, T3, TSH|

People with several different types of disorders, such as migraine headaches, Raynaud’s Syndrome, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and heart arrhythmia are likely to have something in common: low thyroid function. Two recent studies suggest why this may be so.

One study found that even a slightly underactive thyroid gland causes endothelial dysfunction. That is, it interferes with the function of cells lining blood vessels. These cells respond to hormonal cues that help blood vessels relax and contract; therefore, they are important for healthy blood pressure and normal blood flow.

Another study found that low thyroid function interferes with the body’s electrophysiology—the functions

Do you Dread Winter? Check your Body Temperature!

Tags: depression, Low body temperature, SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder, T3, TSH, winter blues|

If all you want to do is burrow into your couch and hibernate when winter comes around, check your body temperature. It’s possible that you have low thyroid hormone function.

Low thyroid hormone function causes low metabolism, which leads to low body temperature–consistently below 98.5 F., or 36.94 C, but typically lower than 97.8 F, or 36.56 C.

Low body temperature due to low thyroid hormone activity can cause many of the symptoms you might blame on chilly winds and dark days such as dry skin, cold hands and feet, fatigue, weight gain and carb cravings, leg cramps, poor immunity and