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How I Interpret Your Thyroid Lab Tests

By |2022-02-15T14:51:55-05:00February 15th, 2022|Categories: Thyroid|Tags: , , |0 Comments

At least once each year, most adults have — or should have — a blood test to evaluate thyroid health and function. For most people, these tests come back normal. That’s good news. It’s usually a sign that the thyroid is doing its job properly.

When everything is working well, the thyroid helps to regulate body functions. These functions include metabolism, which is the process of converting food into energy. Too little thyroid hormone causes weight gain; excessive thyroid hormone causes weight loss.

Heart rate and blood pressure also rely on proper functioning of the thyroid. A lack of thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) can cause fatigue, depression, brain fog, muscle cramps, cold intolerance, weight gain, or dry skin. Too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) can result in rapid heart rate, excessive sweating, nervousness/agitation, anxiety, weight loss, restless sleep, headaches, or chronic fatigue.

A Challenging Diagnosis

More than half the people with normal thyroid function will display some of the symptoms associated with thyroid dysfunction, and this can make it difficult to accurately diagnose the problem. What’s required is a closer look at blood tests, symptoms, medical and family history, and any previous diagnoses and treatments.

Some form of thyroid disease is apparent in about 6 percent of the population, with the majority of those cases showing low levels of the thyroid hormone (hypothyroid).

At BioDesign Wellness Clinic, a Tampa functional medicine clinic, I often see patients who are looking for a Continue reading…

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis – Yes, but what’s the cause?

I don’t know how many people are aware, but thyroid medication is the 4th most prescribed medication just below pain medication, cholesterol, and blood pressure. I think it’s quite interesting considering that low thyroid is associated with increased pain, elevated cholesterol and high blood pressure.

 

What’s more is that most cases of hypothyroid are actually caused by Hashimoto’s. I know this may all sound confusing, hypo this, hashi that! It’s simple to quickly get a handle on thyroid disease. Hypo – means low. Most people who suffer with thyroid problems are not producing enough thyroid hormone. The main reason is due to an autoimmune attack on the thyroid, whereby the immune system is  Continue reading…

14 Signs You Might Be Living with Hypothyroidism

By |2018-08-10T11:45:41-04:00May 17th, 2018|Categories: Thyroid|Tags: , , , , , |0 Comments

Nearly 5 percent of the nation’s population over the age of 12 suffers from hypothyroidism, with older women more likely than any other age group to experience this condition.

Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland — located in the front lower part of the neck below the voice box— doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones to keep up with the needs of the body. Simply put, the thyroid is underactive.

And that becomes a problem, because the thyroid is charged with overseeing the function of your metabolism, which determines how your body uses energy from food. For those suffering an underactive thyroid, body processes can slow down, which upsets the normal balance of chemical reactions to your body.

What are some of the signs? If you have any of the following symptoms, you may be suffering from hypothyroidism:

Aches and pains Anxiety
Constipation Depression
Dry skin Elevated cholesterol
Fatigue Hair loss or thinning
High or low blood sugar Memory loss
Morning headaches Restless sleep
Swelling of the face or body Weight gain or difficulty losing weight even with diet and exercise

These are just the short-term impacts. The long-term impacts are even more serious: Continue reading…

New Thyroid Treatment Options for Tampa Residents

By |2017-08-04T20:19:20-04:00August 4th, 2017|Categories: Thyroid|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

You may have recently read about the owner of a Tampa thyroid practice who agreed to pay $4 million to the Federal government to resolve allegations that he knowingly engaged in unlawful billing practices. The doctor, who shall remain nameless here but is easily identified by googling the situation I just described, was charged with violating the False Claims Act (a.k.a., the Lincoln Law), which imposes liability on those who defraud governmental programs. And while the Wesley Chapel physician in question clearly violated the law by overbilling the Federal government for the treatments he doled out, there’s nothing whatsoever false about the danger associated with an out of control thyroid!

For the uninitiated, the thyroid gland controls metabolism, and every cell in the body requires adequate thyroid hormone to function properly. When the level of thyroid hormone is insufficient to support healthy function, the following symptoms commonly arise: Continue reading…