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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…

In Focus: Dr. Matt Lewis

Editor’s Note: Dr. Matt Lewis, D.C, CFMP®, specializes in diagnosing and treating chronic and unexplained illnesses through proper nutrition, lifestyle changes, chiropractic, and other natural approaches to whole-health healing.

Dr. Lewis (left) and friends at high school graduation (1991 – Bayside High School, NY)

A Tampa, Fla.-based medical practitioner, Dr. Lewis began his career in medicine after earning a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Shenandoah University in Winchester, Va.; his Doctorate in Chiropractic from Life University in Marietta, Ga.; his CFMP® from Functional Medicine University in Greer, SC; and a certificate as a Digestive Health Specialist (DHS) through the Food Enzyme Institute in Madison, Wi.

We asked Dr. Lewis to fill us in on his career in healthcare thus far and to relate a little about his personal life.

Here’s what he had to say:

What was it that sparked your passion for resolving health issues and promoting wellness?

Dr. Lewis: My immediate family has a history of autoimmune conditions and diabetes, and my own lab tests demonstrated a genetic susceptibility to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (autoimmune thyroid). With much study, I learned how to restore my own health and vigor to prevent the onset of these and other illnesses. Today I live an incredibly active life and have acquired a deeper understanding of health and wellness, which I offer my patients in Tampa.

When did you decide the traditional route for treating patients was not how you wanted to practice medicine?

Dr. Lewis: After graduating from Shenandoah University where I studied pre-med and biology, I spent the next two years working as an advanced behavioral therapist in NYC with children on the autism spectrum. During that time, I gained a good deal of insight into how the environment, diet, heavy metals, and overuse of childhood vaccinations were influencing the rise in autism spectrum disorders. This was one of the main reasons I chose a holistic route, even though I did not continue to treat autistic children for very long.

At what point did you acquire an interest in pursuing functional medicine as a specialty?

Dr. Lewis: As a Certified Digestive Health Specialist (CFMP®), I practiced 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…