symptom thyroid

The early symptoms of thyroid

2008-08-07T02:02:00.000-07:00

The causes of thyroid is that the grand that convert the food we eat into energy for the body is not function properly and thus it cause all kinds of symptoms. Poor thyroid function are often due to high cholesterol level in our body. Alot of people who suffer this symptoms take no notice or simply take it as growing old age or stress. Thyroid disease can develop from a little of few weeks to a few months and if early symptoms is discover, treatment can be treat for thyroid problem.

The early symptoms of thyroid are weight gain, feeling yourself cold most of the time even the weather is hot or warm outside mostly the hand and feet parts. Loss of energy and sign of hair dropping. Feeling fatigue and weakness. Skin became coarse and dry, poor memory and easily forgetfulness. Nervousness and tremors. For some women their will experience heavy menstrual periods.

Less iodine intake in our diet cause Thyroids

2008-05-22T00:59:00.000-07:00

Thyroids diseases affect many people in this world. It is the function of our thyroids gland that convert our food into energy for the body. When the thyroids gland is not operating properly it cause many symptoms of thyroids diseases. The cause of poor thyroid function is most due to high cholesterol levels or taking imbalanced diet result in making our thyroid system under active which makes our thyroid glands less produce thyroid hormone than our body needs. If we feel a swollen thyroids in our neck called goiters, it show our body had not enough of iodine cause by not enough iodine in our diet

The most common symptoms of thyroid are depression, hair loss, dry and coarse skin, poor memory and forgetfulness, weakness and fatigue. Most of the time feeling cold hands and feet, nervousness and feeling tremors, Weight gain, insomnia and constipation. For women their will experience heavy menstrual periods.

Thyroxine treatment to reduced Thyroid size medically

2008-03-24T20:12:00.000-07:00

Treatment of thyroid disease as doctors used thyroxine treatment to reduce the gland or nodule size if a patients serum TSH is elevated or at the high end of normal. it is not quite effective if TSH is already or suppressed. A six months trail of thyroxine at a dose sufficient to supress TSH should be preceded by clinical size. If there is no response from the oatients then thyroxine should be stop. This procedure is most likely used by doctors to reduced the size of thyroid.

The symptoms of the thyroid mass are difficulty in swallowing or respiration distress, especially related to a change in position at night Patients and can be important symptoms of an obstruction goitre and these features may not be obvious if the gland is predominanty retrosternal. Patients with thyroid disease are encouraged to maintain a personal medical records, as follow up often extends beyond their period of contract with any one practitioner.

Important symptoms and sign of hyperthyroidism.

2007-12-04T02:41:00.000-08:00

The important sign and symptoms of hyperthyroidism are weight loss, fatique, anxiety, heat intolerence,palpitations, insomnia, diarrhoea or increased bowel frequency, irregular menses, neck mass or tenderness and eye osre ness and the physical signs are warm moist skin, tremor, tachycardia, hyperrefexia, proximal muscle weakness, goitre, rash and eye sign like lid lag or lid retraction.

A diffuse goitre with a bruit is commonly found in Graves disease, a nodular goitre may suggest either a toxic multinodular goitre or toxic adenoma, Although greaves disease can also occur within a pre-existing nodular gland. Subacute thyroiditis is associated with tender, asymmetrically enlarge thyroid, and patients are typically systemically unwell with fever, malaise and anterior neck pain. Eye lag and and eye lid retraction can occur in any thyrotoxic state, but proprosis and the rare pretibial myxoedema are specific for graves disease.

A Guild to thyroid dysfunction

2007-12-04T02:11:00.000-08:00

Thyroid dysfunction is commonin the community, the prevalence of hyperthyoidism is approximately one percent to two percent and hypothyroidism is about five percent to ten percent. Thyroid dysfunction has afemale to male predominance a ratio of five to one. and the disease is increased in age. A family history of thyroid disorder is common in affected patients. Thyroid hormone regulates cellular metabolism, facilities development of the central nervous system, and is important for normal grouth, puberty and protien synthesis. this variety of roles accounts for the constellation of symptoms and signs encounter in patients with thyroid dysfunction.

Thyroid storm is a life treatening form of hyperthyroidism, whereas myxoedematous coma refers to severe hypothyroidism. Thyroid dysfunstion is commonly primary arising from the thyroid but rarely it is secondary central arising from the pituitary or hypothalamus. Futhermore, primary thyroid dysfunstion can be overt or subclinical, the latter term being applied to individuals with an abnormal thyroid stimulating hormone level but normal free thyroxine level

Treatment of hypothyroidism

2007-09-24T02:13:00.000-07:00

Treatment of hypothyroidism with thyroxine therapy is relatively straightforward. Most patients required maintenance doses of 100 to 150 ug daily. Alower initial dose is generally recommened usally 50 ug daily because patients with longstanding severe hypothyroidism can experience unpleasant symptoms such as palpitations if thyroxine is introduced too quickly, but occasionally an initial dose of 100ug may be used if the TSH level is very high and the patients is young and fit.

In the elderly and patients with cardiac disease, a lower starting dose of 25ug daily is more appropriate. Throids function tests should be performed six weeks after introducing thyroxine and after any dose adjustment but not within five weeks of the change, with tests result guiding gradual dose increases. In patients with cardiac disease, increased should be made gradully in increments of 25 ug.

The aim is to restore euthyroidism, but occasionally patients require TSH levels to be at the lower end of the normal range before they feel completely well. Once euthyroidism is achieved, thyroid function tests should be repeated yearly, unless a dose adjustment is made.

Common symptom of hypothyroidism

2007-09-24T01:38:00.000-07:00

Common symptom of hypothyroidism included weight gain, fatique, cold intolerence, depression, constipation, dry skin, muscles and joint aches, menorrhagia and slowed mental processing. Physical signs may be few and may include cool and dry skin, bradycardia, hung up, reflexes, periorbital oedema, thinning of the outher third of the eyebrows, hoarse voice or goitre.

Hypothyroidism is suggested if several of these features occur in combination or with recent onset. Elderly patients may presents atypically, with congestive cardiac faolure or hypothermia. Some specialist groups advocate routine screening of thyroid fuction, particularly in older women, although currently there is insufficient evidence to support population based screening. However it is generally agreed that patients deemed to be at higher risk of developing hypothyroidism have throid fuction tests at regular intervals.

The cause of hypothyroidism include, Autoimmune thyroid disease which is the most common cause of primary hypothyroidism. Congential hypothyroidism for which new born TSH sceening is performed. Thyroid or head and neck surgery, Previous neck irradiation, Previous radioactive iodine treatment for thyrotoxicosis, Thyroiditis, Drug treatment such as amiodarone, lithium and interferon.

Patients with this conditions listed above and patients with other autoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes or a family history of autoimmune throid disease, should be screened regulars with thyroid function tests. The presence of hyperlipidaemia, hyponatraemia,hyperprolactinaemia or an elevated creatinine kinase level warrents screening with TSH measurement.

Thyroid disease is diagnosed by blood tests, thyroid scan

2007-07-26T02:55:00.000-07:00

The thyroid gland makes, stores, and releases two hormones — T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine). Thyroid hormones control the rate at which every part of your body works. This is called your metabolism. Thyroids gland disease will affect most parts of our body. Thyroids disease affect women more then men and treatment of thyroid disease are simple and safe.

Thyroid disease is diagnosed by your symptoms, an exam and tests as some disease are similar to the symptoms. The doctor will use tests to find the exact cause of the problem by blood tests, thyroid scan and ultrasound exam if the women is during her pregnancy time.

Hypothyroidism disorder known as thyroidtis and it cause of the inflammation of the thyroids gland as the thyroid gland is not working very hard enough and cause the enlargement of the thyroid gland called Hashimoto disease. Taking diet that has very little in iodine can cause hypothyroidism.

Get your doctor advice- notice a lump in your thyroid

2007-06-27T01:06:00.000-07:00

Thyroid helps to set your body metabolism by getting energy from the food you eat. It is a butterfly shape gland in your neck above your collarbone and one of your endocrine glands thats produce hormones. Women are more then men who are diagnoise with thyroid disease.

The symptoms of thyroids disease is weight gain, feel fatigued and difficulty dealing in cold temperature besides your body used more energy more faster or slower than it normaly used. This thyroid glands which is not active is called hypothyroidism. If you thyroid glands is too active which is called hyperthyroidism as it produce more thyroid hormones than your body needed and the symptoms is weight loss, make you very sensitive to heats and also rise the speed of your heard rate.

If you find a lump in your thyroid it is best to see your doctor as your doctor may recommend a fine needles aspiration biopsy. This is a most safe and painless prosedure and also this test gives the doctor more information on the nature of the lump in your thyroid gland. Treatment of thyroids glands involves trying to reset your body's metabolism to a normal rate.

Understanding hormones for treating thyroid symptoms

2007-06-06T01:33:00.000-07:00

Most women diagnose with having thyroid symptoms is related to hormone levels and hormone imbalance. Three related hormones for a woman are estrogen, thyroid hormone and progesterone. Understanding the interplay between these three hormones helps one better understand how to approach treating thyroid symptoms. Thyroid affected more women then men due to hormones and at times symptoms of thyroid problems often go undiagnosed.

The symptoms of throids which are most commom are fatique and body weakness, weight gain, depression, having difficuties in sleeping, women having heavy menstrual periods and notice drops of hairs.

If you notice this symptom it is best to see your doctor as your doctor can lessened the throids disease with natural progesterone supplementation to achieved the balance of the hormone.

Underactive thyroid, the overactive thyroid, and thyroid nodules the three commom disease

2007-04-19T21:35:00.000-07:00

The most accurate diagnostic tool for thyroid cancer is a biopsy. A sample of thyroid tissue is withdrawn and examined under a microscope and this tissue samples is drawn out through a needle. Underactive thyroid, the overactive thyroid, and thyroid nodules are the three most commom of thyroid problems. Underactive thyroid is where the gland is attacked by the body's immune system. Overactive thyroid releases excessive thyroid hormone into the bloodstream, resulting in hyperthyroidism using up more energy in the body rapidly. Thyroid Nodules begins where a small swelling or lumps in the thyroid gland.

Thyroid problems include inflammation, enlargement of the thyroid gland and leads to thyroid cancer. The symptom of thyroid cancer is a lump or nodule that can be felt in the neck and the lump is usually not painful and some may resulting in difficulty breathing or swallowing. The patients voice may become hoarse due to the lymph nodes become swollen and some patients may experience a tight or full feeling in the neck

Thyroid cancer attack mostly adults

2007-03-13T03:17:00.000-07:00

Most people who develop thyroid cancer are 50 years of age or older, but the disease can affect teenagers and young adults. Thyroid cancer develops as a result of the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the thyroid gland, resulting in a tumor. Most types of thyroid cancer can be treated successfully with early detection with appropriate surgical procedures. While some Symptoms associated with thyroid problems appear slowly and is therefore often misdiagnosed.

The most frequent symptom of thyroid cancer is a lump or nodule that can be felt in the neck. Other symptoms are rare. The lump usually is not painful, but some patients experience a tight or full feeling in the neck and have some difficulty breathing or swallowing. The lymph nodes may be swollen and the voice may become hoarse because the tumor presses on the nerves leading to the voice box.
Thyroid cancers tend to develop at a slow pace, and it may take some time before any symptoms of thyroid appear. Most types of thyroid cancer can be treated successfully with early detection and appropriate surgical procedures.

Knowing symptoms of thyroids cancer for early detection

2007-02-04T20:51:00.000-08:00

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck, below the Adam’s apple.Most types of thyroid cancer can be treated successfully with early detection and this cancer developed in a small pace and occurs more to women than men. The common symptoms of thyroids cancer is that you feel a lump in the neck and is usualy not painful. The lump will becomes swollen and will affect our voice box learning to our voice become hoarse. Other symptoms are difficulty in breathing and hard in swallowing.

Diagnosis of thyroid cancer, the doctors will used several test to confirm the size and location of the lump before determined whether the lump is non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). Surgical procedures will be done if the patient is diagnosis of thyroid cancer.

Thyroid problem

2006-11-22T23:16:00.000-08:00

Thyroid problem is found commonly in women and one of the most common dieseases that can affect the human body. Hormone pill is mainly one of the treatment of thyroid problem its a long terms life medications with varying doses. Having thyroid symptoms is related to hormone levels and hormone imbalance.

The symptoms of thyroid such as weight gain, fatigue, stress and depression may be the result due to underactive thyroid function when the metabolism slows down. Some unrelated symptoms may be experienced by the patients

diagnosis of thyroid cancer

2006-10-30T20:50:00.000-08:00

Thyroid cancer is a disease in which the thyroid cells become abnormal, grow uncontrollably, and form tumors. A woman's risk of developing thyroid cancer is three times greater than a man's. Most people who develop thyroid cancer are 50 years of age or older, but the disease can affect teenagers and young adults.

The doctor may use several tests to confirm a diagnosis of thyroid cancer. The size and location of the lump has to be identified and it has to be determined whether the lump is non-cancerous called benign or cancerous known as malignant. The most accurate diagnostic tool for thyroid cancer is a biopsy. In this process, a sample of thyroid tissue is withdrawn and examined under a microscope.

A radioactive scan can be used to identify any abnormal areas in the thyroid. The patient is given a very small amount of radioactive iodine, which can either be taken by mouth or injected into the thyroid.

Having hypothyroidism symptoms is related to hormone imbalance and it is the simplest of the three types of thyroid disorders to treat. The current method of treatment for hypothyroidism is some form of daily thyroid hormone replacement. Other treatment such as radioactive iodine, antithyroid drugs and surgery are all effective treatments for hyperthyroidism

Thyroid cancer can be treated successfully with early detection

2006-10-20T01:34:00.000-07:00

Thyroid cancer develops as a result of the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the thyroid gland, resulting in a tumor. Since the thyroid gland is close to the skin, tumors often appear as lumps called thyroid nodules in the neck. Lumps or thyroid nodules are mostly harmless. However, certain lumps are cancerous. A ‘fine needle aspiration biopsy’ done in doctor’s office is the most common method used to detect whether a lump is cancerous or not. If the nodule is cancerous, then surgical removal is the only option.

Thyroid cancer is more widespread among women than men. Most types of thyroid cancer can be treated successfully with early detection with appropriate surgical procedures. While some Symptoms associated with thyroid problems appear slowly and is therefore often misdiagnosed.

Studies reveal that people who are exposed to large amounts of radiation or those who have undergone radiation treatments for medical purposes, especially on the head and neck, face an increased risk of developing thyroid cancer.

The three most common thyroid problems are the underactive thyroid, the overactive thyroid, and thyroid nodules. Overactive thyroid releases excessive thyroid hormone into the bloodstream, resulting in hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism causes the body to use up energy more rapidly than it should, and chemical activities in the cells such as metabolism speeds up. In the case of underactive thyroid, the thyroid gland is attacked by the body's immune system. Thyroid Nodules is a condition that begins as a small swelling or lumps in the thyroid gland. Other thyroid problems include inflammation of the thyroid gland, enlargement of the thyroid gland, and thyroid cancer.

Diagnosis of thyroid cancer

2006-10-09T00:51:00.000-07:00

Thyroid cancer is a disease in which the thyroid cells become abnormal, grow uncontrollably, and form tumors. Thyroid cancers are grouped into four types, based on how the cell appears under the microscope. If left untreated, the cancer can spread to other parts of the body.
The thyroid is a small gland in the neck that takes up iodine from the body to produce hormones that help control the body's metabolism,

The most frequent symptom of thyroid cancer is a lump or nodule that can be felt in the neck. Other symptoms are rare. The lump usually is not painful, but some patients experience a tight or full feeling in the neck and have some difficulty breathing or swallowing. The lymph nodes may be swollen and the voice may become hoarse because the tumor presses on the nerves leading to the voice box.

The doctor may use several tests to confirm a diagnosis of thyroid cancer. The size and location of the lump has to be identified and it has to be determined whether the lump is non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). Blood tests, such as the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test, may be ordered to check how well the patient's thyroid is functioning.

The most accurate diagnostic tool for thyroid cancer is a biopsy. In this process, a sample of thyroid tissue is withdrawn and examined under a microscope. The tissue samples can be obtained either by drawing out a sample of tissue through a needle (needle biopsy) or by surgical removal of the nodule (surgical biopsy). If thyroid cancer is diagnosed, further tests may be done to learn about the stage of the disease and help the doctors plan appropriate treatment.

Person suffers from hypothyroidism

2006-10-02T00:47:00.000-07:00

The thyroid gland produces hormones that accelerate and in other wise regulate metabolism. A part of metabolism is the process of breaking down energy containing nutrients, and using the energy to produce molecules that all the processes and activities in the body use as fuel. Another part is the production of molecules that the body use as building materials.

An individual who suffers from hypothyroidism, referred to as a hypothyroid, has an abnormally slow metabolism. The patient’s slow metabolic rate can bring about health disorders ranging from mild complaints to fatal complications. The subtle and mild symptoms associated with hypothyroidism include drowsiness, difficulty in tolerating cool temperatures, physical exhaustion, weight gain despite loss of appetite, dry hair and pale skin, and stiffness of joints and muscular cramps. Life-threatening complications may also develop such as mental sluggishness and memory loss, visual disturbances that may lead to blindness, chronic depression, insanity, coma and, eventually, death, if the patient fails to be cured or diagnosed.

Having hypothyroidism symptoms is related to hormone imbalance. For a woman, three of the critical hormones are estrogen, thyroid hormone and progesterone. Understanding how these hormones work together helps one better understand how to approach treating thyroid disease symptoms.

Essentially, hypothyroidism is diagnosed by either blood tests or physical examination and review of a patient’s medical history. The most recent accessory to diagnosis the disorder is blood testing that involves measurement of T4 and TSH in the blood. Some thyroid specialists, however, prefer a physical examination, a thorough review of the medical history and a measurement of basal body temperature as diagnostic tests.

About thyroid

2006-09-20T21:18:00.000-07:00

symptom thyroid : Why They are So Common

2006-08-30T02:16:00.000-07:00

Some experts say a woman over 35 has a 30 percent chance of developing a thyroid disorder. One simple explanation is that today’s more sensitive and sophisticated tests catch the ailment sooner, leading to more diagnoses. But even if that’s true many experts think hypothyroidism is under-diagnosed, and researchers don’t know why. Possible explanations include:

Stress
It’s everywhere these days. Many thyroidologists recommend that patients try yoga, meditation, and other stress-reducers. Some experts believe that finding healthy ways to cope with stress might help prevent immune-system attacks like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the most frequent cause of hypothyroidism, or at least slow its onset.

Environmental toxins
Chemicals that disrupt the body’s endocrine system may be throwing people’s hormones out of whack. An American Thyroid Association investigative meeting in the spring tackled the topic of environmental effects on the thyroid.

Nutritional deficiencies and/or imbalances
Too much or too little iodine, selenium deficiency from soil, fluoride in water, and too much soy in today’s diet may be culprits.

by Melanie Haiken

symptom thyroid : Treatment Options for Hypothyroidism

2006-08-30T02:13:00.000-07:00

There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for hypothyroidism. It may take a few trips to the doctor to get the right remedy, and over time, your prescribed medication may change. Here’s a brief look at the possibilities:

Synthetic hormones.
Most people with hypothyroidism first receive a synthetic thyroid hormone known as levothyroxine; the brand names are Synthroid, Levoxyl, Unithroid, and Levothroid. This medication often gets you back to normal within weeks. And you’ll take it for the rest of your life. But it doesn’t work for everyone.

“About 80 percent of patients who test positive for hypothyroidism get a prescription for levothyroxine and feel better,” says endocrinologist Theodore Friedman, MD, PhD, an associate professor of medicine at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science and the University of California, Los Angeles. “For the other 20 percent, we need to be flexible. I get the patients who tell me conventional treatment isn’t working. And I believe them.”

Combination therapy.
Your thyroid produces two hormones, but synthetic levothyroxine replaces only one, known as T4. The biochemistry can get complicated, but basically your body has to convert T4 into yet another hormone called T3 for your thyroid to work well.

Experts like Friedman and Baylor University’s Ridha Arem, MD, a nationally known endocrinologist, believe T4 treatment alone doesn’t do the job for some patients. For them, Friedman also prescribes a small amount of supplemental T3 (brand name Cytomel), so-called combination therapy.

Other animal-based hormones.
Some experts may even reject this approach in favor of animal-based hormone treatment (the most common brand is Armour). Manufactured in the United States for more than 100 years, this medication is made from the desiccated thyroid tissue of pigs.

The major thyroid organizations consider it outdated, but some specialists swear by it. “I clearly have patients who do better on Armour,” Friedman says. Even its strongest advocates aren’t sure why Armour would be more effective. But it contains both T3 and T4, as well as lesser-known hormones called T1 and T2 and other substances.

by Melanie Haiken

symptom thyroid : Your Thyroid Stories

2006-08-30T02:08:00.000-07:00

Your Thyroid Stories
Since our article “The New Thyroid Cure” ran in the June 2006 issue, we’ve received dozens of e-mails from readers who’ve suffered because of thyroid disorders. See if you can relate.

Listening to Your Body
I highly recommend that anyone afflicted with hypo- or hyperthyroidism see an endocrinologist. I’ve been on Synthroid since 1988—though it was 2 months before I was correctly diagnosed and treated. When my family doctor wanted to lower my dosage due to my test levels, I decided to see an endocrinologist. Even though I still tested “high” on one level, I was allowed to keep my dosage steady. At least the specialist listens to how I feel, not just what the tests say. I have felt “normal” for a long time now, and I thank my endocrinologist for listening to me. After all, who knows my body better than I do?

– Annette Panek

All in the Family
I, too have hypothyroidism. Ironically, my sister was diagnosed and then my daughter. I don’t think enough emphasis is placed on the hereditary factors. Now that my sister and I both know what hypothyroidism is, we have no doubt our mother suffered from it also. Her daily naps were the family joke, but we had all become so used to them that they didn’t seem unusual at the time. Thanks again for a great article!

– Diane

Mistaking the Symptoms
Last fall, I was experiencing just about every symptom that (author) Melanie Haiken described. As a 53-year-old woman, I was attributing all the symptoms to menopause. But then I tested positive for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (a condition that causes your body to produce antibodies that attack the thyroid). An endocrinologist did a sonogram and found a small nodule. Fortunately, the nodule was benign, and I was placed on medication for hypothyroidism. Thank you for a great article and for helping to get the word out to many unsuspecting men and women!

– Julia A. Kuhn

Living a Full Life—Finally
After living what I call a “half-life” for the past 6 years due to sheer exhaustion, unrefreshed sleep, severe memory lapses, and weight that has kept creeping up no matter how much I would diet, I was diagnosed with having low thyroid. Prior to that, eight different doctors failed to accurately diagnose my symptoms because the TSH blood test they relied upon always showed a normal range. Ultimately, I located a physician who ordered a complete thyroid panel, which confirmed my hypothyroidism. I’m happy to say that I am now on the road to recovery.

symptom thyroid : The Magic Of The Thyroid Diet

2006-08-24T04:13:00.000-07:00

health & Fitness are considered most important in our daily life and our every day diet plays an important role in it. The thyroid diet has magical secrets of weight loss. thyroid diet includes food you want to eat and lose weight overnight. thyroid diet is the best for people who have weight challenges due to thyroid conditions. It helps us to return to a healthy weight, without a rigorous change in our diet and exercise.

The thyroid diet explores brands, mixtures and dosage of thyroid medicines right for us considering the other lifestyle issues and supplements that help to optimize thyroid treatment. It resolves nutritional deficiencies, treats depression and corrects brain chemistry imbalances, reduces stress, combats insulin resistance, treats food allergies and sensitivities, and exercise.

thyroid diet recommends a very low-calorie diet for weight loss in cases of hypothyroidism but it is necessary to maintain metabolism. Low calories and lower metabolism sends body into hoard mode, which is a process, thyroid patients are susceptible to. thyroid diet suggests breaking up calories into multiple "mini-meals" per day. The thyroid diet manages metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss. These thyroid conditions result in metabolic slowdown. The thyroid diet gives diagnosed and proper thyroid treatment for successfully loses weight.

This diet has many frustrating impediments for weight loss. It offers both conventional and alternative solution for help. The thyroid diet has optimal dietary changes. thyroid sufferer have to focus on a low-glycemic, high-fiber, lower-calorie diet, optimal timing of meals for maximum hormonal impact, thyroid-damaging foods to avoid, helpful herbs and supplements. They face unexpected weight gain, despite diet and exercise showing symptoms as:

- Fatigue and exhaustion
- More hair loss than usual
- Moodiness
- Muscle and joint pains and aches

Hyper thyroid leads to metabolism that stores every calorie even after rigorous diet and exercise programs. Even optimal treatment doesn't help weight problems plague for many thyroid patients. For the majority of thyroid patients, treatment alone doesn't seem to resolve our weight problems. thyroid diet is a simple, understandable way that offers you the support, encouragement and information to pursue the right diagnosis and treatment.

by Mark Dodd

symptom thyroid : Can't Lose Weight?

2006-08-24T04:06:00.000-07:00

A thyroid disorder called hypothyroidism means you have an underactive thyroid gland. If you have trouble losing weight no matter what you do, it could be because you are hypothyroid. There are almost 30 million Americans with thyroid disease and women are 7 times more likely than men to have it. Hypo thyroid is the most common thyroid disorder and often misdiagnosed by doctors.

You may get this because it is inherited, or because of previous problems, such as nodules, goiter, thyroid cancer, previous thyroid surgery, another autoimmune disease.

This is a condition where the thyroid gland, a small butterfly shaped organ located at the base of the neck, does not produce enough hormone to function properly.

What happens is that it takes in iodine, combines it with tyrosine (an amino acid) and converts it into the hormones T4 and T3. If your thyroid is normal, 80% will be T4 and 20% T3. These hormones travel through the bloodstream, converting oxygen and calories into energy. If this process doesn't work properly, then the calories and oxygen cannot convert the energy properly and you may gain weight or incapability to lose weight.

The symptoms can include : weight gain, depression, forgetfulness, fatigue, hoarseness, high cholesterol, constipation, feeling cold, hair loss, dry skin, low sex drive, tingling hands or feet, irregular periods, infertility. You may even experience recurrent pregnancy loss, resistant high cholesterol, difficult menopause, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, or mitral valve prolapse.

Do you feel sluggish and fatigued on a regular basis, or do you get bouts of depression and sadness? Are you always feeling cold, especially your hands and feet, or do you have brittle nails? These are just some of the possible signs of the disease. There may be other causes, but at least this may give you a clue as to why you do not feel well. Check with your doctor in all cases to be sure.

When your metabolism doesn't work right because you have this disorder, you may find that there's no amount of dieting or exercise that takes the weight off. You may in fact put on extra pounds, even though you are doing just what you are supposed to.

What can you do ? Meet with your doctor and ask if you need a thyroid examination and blood test. These likely will be a TSH ( thyroid stimulating hormone) blood test, along with T4, T3, free T4 and free T3 tests.

A drug called levothyroxine (often called Levo-T, Levoxyl, Synthroid, Unithroid) may be prescribed for you. It is usually inexpensive, has minimal side effects, and has uniform potency. However, all thyroid hormone replacement therapies, whether natural or synthetic, have the ability to restore thyroid hormone levels.

Supplements that contain the following might also help:

- L-Tyrosine - is one of the amino acids that your body needs to make thyroid hormones. It is included in some weight control products because it works to stimulate your metabolism. It's also an element in helping your brain operate more efficiently which makes you feel better.

- Guglipid - an extract from the Indian guggal tree, may improve thyroid function and assist in controlling your weight. Scientists are finding that guglipid lowers bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol, and thus can help somewhat to prevent heart disease.

There is always hope and lots of help out there for you. If you suspect that you have this condition and you are not sure what to do, talk to your physician for guidance and advice.

by ken black

symptom thyroid : Risk Factors for Thyroid Cancer & Nodules

2006-08-15T21:41:00.000-07:00

Following are risk factors for thyroid cancer and thyroid nodules:

Thyroid Cancer
Scientists have found a few risk factors that make a person more likely to develop thyroid cancer; however, most people with thyroid cancer have no apparent risk factors.

Following are some risk factors for thyroid cancer:

Being female
Younger than 30 or older than 50
Family history of thyroid cancer
Radiation exposure (i.e. radiation therapy)
Pregnancy when age 30 or older
Certain genetic disorders
Thyroid Nodules
Following are some risk factors for developing thyroid nodules:

Being female
Aging
Family history of thyroid nodules
Radiation exposure (i.e. radiation therapy)
History of thyroiditis (chronic inflammation of the thyroid)
Reducing the Risk of Thyroid Cancer & Nodules
There are no known ways to reduce the risk of developing thyroid cancer or thyroid nodules. However, a healthy diet that is high in fruits and vegetables and low in animal fat can reduce your risk of developing many types of cancer, including thyroid cancer.

Copyright © 2006 RIA.

symptom thyroid : Facts About Thyroid Cancer & Nodules

2006-08-15T21:38:00.000-07:00

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck, below the Adam’s apple. Although it only weighs about an ounce, the thyroid can have a tremendous impact on your health. The thyroid’s function is to create thyroid hormone, which regulates every aspect of your metabolism.

Thyroid Cancer
Cancerous thyroid nodules are often detected by a lump in the thyroid or swelling in the neck. The majority of people with thyroid cancer have excellent long term prognoses due to the availability of safe and effective therapies.

Here are some additional facts about thyroid cancer:

Thyroid cancer is the most common cancer of the endocrine system (glands).
The American Cancer Society estimates that in the year 2005 about 25,690 new cases of thyroid cancer will be diagnosed in the United States.
The rate of thyroid cancer is increasing (determined by a 3% per year increase in the actual rate per 100,000 people).
Women are more likely to suffer from thyroid disease than men.
Thyroid Nodules
Normal thyroid cells may grow, forming a solid or fluid-filled lump in the thyroid. There are generally no symptoms. However, nodules may grow large enough to press on the trachea or esophagus, or may cause hyperthyroidism. Only 5% of nodules are cancerous.

Copyright © 2006 RIA.

symptom thyroid : Woes from an Underactive Thyroid (Part 1)

2006-08-08T21:32:00.000-07:00

Just below your Adam's apple sits the butterfly-shaped thyroid gland. The thyroid secretes two hormones - and these hormones have everything to do with your metabolism (the conversion of nutrients into energy); body temperature; heart rate and blood pressure; bowel function; skin, hair, and nail growth; cholesterol levels; and numerous other functions.

An underactive thyroid fails to produce enough of the hormones it is supposed to produce. This condition is called hypothyroidism (it affects women more than men). An overactive thyroid produces too many hormones - this condition is called hyperthyroidism. Since an underactive thyroid is the most prevalent, we will limit this discussion to hypothyroidism.

There are several causes of hypothyroidism - but whatever the cause, the end result is the same: A slow metabolism which affects every single cell in your body. This leads to weight gain as well as feeling tired all of the time. Constant fatigue also affects your brain, leaving it too tired to motivate your body into action. To other people, you may appear lazy. Is it any wonder that hypothyroidism often leads to depression?

Besides weight gain, fatigue, and depression - there are other symptoms of hypothyroidism. Poor digestion, constipation, feeling cold while those around you are warm (a particularly miserable symptom if you're going through menopause and having hot flashes too), aching muscles and joints, dry skin and brittle nails, thinning hair, irregular menstrual cycles, high cholesterol, and recurring infections are all potential symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Four common reasons for hypothyroidism are (1) not enough of the mineral selenium, (2) a damaged thyroid gland, (3) miscommunication between the brain and the thyroid about hormone production, and (4) not enough of the mineral iodine.

Let's take a look at each dysfunction.

(1) The thyroid produces two hormones: T3 (which contains 3 iodine molecules) and T4 (which contains 4 iodine molecules). T3 is more active and about four times more potent than T4, and on an as-needed basis the body converts T4 to T3. Since roughly 80% of your thyroid hormones are T4 and 20% are T3, there is plenty of T4 hanging around to be converted to T3.

Conversion takes place mostly in the thyroid gland and liver, and conversion requires a special enzyme to remove one iodine from T4 to make it into T3. That enzyme can only do its job when the mineral - selenium - is available to 'activate' the enzyme. Too little selenium, and the conversion of T4 to T3 is sluggish, slowing down your metabolism.

(2) Sometimes the body attacks its own thyroid gland through a (still) mysterious autoimmune disease mechanism. This apparently happens when the immune system creates an antibody against something else, but the antibody 'cross-reacts' and attacks the thyroid gland.

Researchers think food allergies could be involved in producing this antibody; or, during pregnancy, cells from the fetus could be seen as foreign to the body, thus producing the antibody (helping to explain why hypothyroidism is mostly found in women).

(3) The thyroid gland is controlled by the pituitary gland - a peanut-sized gland located just under the brain. The pituitary gland is controlled by the hypothalamus - a part of the brain.

Here's how it works: When the brain detects low levels of T3 and T4 in the blood, it sends a hormone (TRH) to the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland then sends a hormone (TSH) to the thyroid that relates this message: Make more T3 and T4.

Any disease state involving the brain or pituitary gland could lead to a miscommunication with the thyroid about hormone levels. Most often, it is the pituitary gland that has a problem.

(4) A low iodine supply causes a problem for the thyroid in producing the (3-iodine) T3 hormone and (4-iodine) T4 hormone. This is not 'much' of a problem in the U.S. anymore because we use iodized salt. However, if you have all but given up salt (usually to control high blood pressure), you may be low in iodine.

T3, T4, antibodies that attack the thyroid, TRH, TSH, and iodine can all be measured with lab tests to determine if you have hypothyroidism. These tests are reasonably accurate, but sometimes miss low or moderately-low hypothyroid conditions.

If you have any of the symptoms listed above for hypothyroidism, get the lab tests done.

In Part 2, I'll say a bit more about thyroid tests and share some tips for supporting your thyroid function.

By Sharon Moore

symptom thyroid : Woes from an Underactive Thyroid (Part 2)

2006-08-08T21:28:00.000-07:00

In the previous article, I ended by stating that there are tests available for hypothyroidism and that these will: check the level of the two thyroid hormones (T3 and T4); check the level of the pituitary hormone (TSH) that stimulates the thyroid gland; check the level of brain hormone (TRH) that stimulates the pituitary gland; check the levels of thyroid-attacking antibodies, and; check the level of iodine.

The most common of the above tests is the TSH test, considered the standard 'screening' test for thyroid dysfunction. This test measures the level of TSH - the hormone excreted by the pituitary gland that stimulates the thyroid to produce more T3 and T4. The relationship between thyroid hormone levels and TSH levels is inverse - in other words, a high TSH level usually indicates that your body has a low thyroid hormone level.

Up until 2003, the range for a 'normal' TSH level was extremely wide: 0.5-5.0. That wide range for normal was reduced in 2003 to 0.3-3.04 ... but would it surprise you to learn that many family doctors are unaware of this change? Many millions of Americans, of course, are now considered 'hypothyroid' with this change in range - and many don't know it. Researchers now suspect that thyroid dysfunction has surpassed diabetes as the number one endocrine gland disease - and diabetes is considered at 'epidemic' levels.

The new range for the TSH test is good news. The bad news, however, is that you can have ALL of the symptoms of an underactive thyroid even with a normal TSH. Unfortunately, most doctors look at your TSH 'screening' test results only, and if this is in the 'normal' range (and remember, many doctors are still using the pre-2003 ranges) then they believe your thyroid function is fine. But there is almost NO correlation between TSH and T3 (the workhorse) hormone levels. Lack of correlation makes sense if you think about it. TSH is a pituitary hormone, T3 is a thyroid hormone.
To compound the problem, if your TSH does happen to fall outside the 'normal' range, the common practice is for doctors to write a one-size-fits-all prescription for a synthetic T4 thyroid supplement - usually Synthroid or Levoxyl. If you have problems converting T4 to T3, or if you have thyroid-attacking antibodies, synthetic T4 is unlikely to fix your underactive thyroid.

If you have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and still have symptoms - OR - if you have symptoms but have not been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, find a doctor that uses the Comprehensive Thyroid Assessment blood panel for testing. Every single aspect of your health could improve JUST by getting your hypothyroidism under control ... every single aspect. Please - make this investment in yourself! As someone once stated: 'Hypothyroidism has been called the great imitator for the vast number of medical conditions it can mimic.'

Tips for Improving Thyroid Function

It would not be surprising if half (or more) of all baby boomers have subclinical hypothyroidism. Like insulin resistance, hypothyroidism seems to be part of the aging process. The stress hormone cortisol, for example, negatively affects thyroid (hormone) receptors on cells, just as it negatively affects insulin (hormone) receptors on cells.

Insulin resistance (pre-diabetes/metabolic syndrome) and subclinical hypothyroidism make it extremely difficult (and sometimes impossible) to shed those unwanted pounds. When it comes to losing weight, remember that you need to be healthy to lose weight, not lose weight to be healthy.

There are some additional things you can do for subclinical hypothyroidism. First, supplementing with the mineral selenium is smart. The daily requirement for good health is 70 micrograms (mcg) of selenium. It is not enough, however, if you need support in converting T4 to T3. A better dose of this mineral is 200 mcg daily (but not to exceed 400 mcg). And because selenium is also recommended for protection against several cancers (prostate cancer in particular), I recommend this supplement at 200 mcg. Recall, if you will, Linus Pauling's statement: 'There is no disease, sickness or illness that cannot be traced back to a deficiency of one mineral or another.'

Second, subclinical hypothyroidism is present mostly in the over-40 age group, and so I also recommend a whole-natural thyroid extract supplement. Whole-natural thyroid extract provides both T3 and T4. Supplementation can have a wide range of health benefits - and in many 'anti-aging' programs it is considered important in slowing the aging process.

Final Words: If you have symptoms of hypothyroidism, find a doctor that uses the Comprehensive Thyroid Assessment blood panel and get tested - you're worth every nickel this will cost. If you want to supplement with whole-natural thyroid extract as the first step in an 'anti-aging' program, do so - but do it prudently.

By Sharon Moore

symptom thyroid : Common Drugs and Their Uses

2006-08-02T21:12:00.000-07:00

The five drugs that are discussed in this article are Ibuprofen which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is commonly used for relief of Arthritis, Warfarin which is an anticoagulant drug commonly prescribed by doctors to treat venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, to treat or prevent dangerous blood clotting in people with arterial fibrillation and to prevent strokes, a benzodiazepine drug called Diazepam which is commonly prescribed by doctors for relieve nervousness, anxiety, and anxiety disorders, a sulfonylureas drug called Glipizide which is used to help control blood sugar levels and used to treat type 2 diabetes and a thyroid medication called Armour Thyroid which is prescribed for the treatment of hypothyroidism.

Arthritis is a common illness in today’s society; doctors prescribe drugs called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for this condition. A common NSAID is Ibuprofen which reduces inflammation, pain and high temperature and is used widely to relieve the symptoms of arthritis. Ibuprofen is available in prescription and nonprescription. As well as rheumatoid arthritis, Ibuprofen is used to treat mild to moderate pain, primary dysmenorrhoea, osteoarthritis, menstrual cramps, bursitis, gout, migraine headaches and fever.

NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen can cause gastrointestinal (GI) irritation, bleeding, iron loss and kidney dysfunction and increased blood potassium levels, especially in older people. Ibuprofen may cause drowsiness, dizziness, or blurred vision especially when taken with alcohol.

Ibuprofen has adverse results when taken with lithium, sodium and white willow.

Lithium a mineral which is commonly prescribe to treat manic depression, many NSAID’s stop the excretion of lithium from the body which results in higher blood lithium levels which in tern can create unwanted side effects and interferes with efficacy. NSAID’s should be taken with caution for those people who are taking lithium whether in supplement form or for mood disorders. It is wise to reduce salt intake when taking Ibuprofen because Ibuprofen may cause sodium and water retention.

People who are taking the herb white willow should be aware that links have been made that white willow reduces the blood level of NSAID’s.

Warfarin is an anticoagulant drug commonly used to treat venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, treat or prevent dangerous blood clotting in people with arterial fibrillation and to prevent stroke.

Coenzyme Q10, Green tea, Iron, Magnesium, St. John’s wort, Vitamin C and Zinc should be avoid when taking Warfarin as they can reduced drug absorption/ bioavailability. Also American ginseng, Asian ginseng, Cranberry, Dan shen, Devil’s claw, Dong quai, Fenugreek, Garlic, Ginger, Ginkgo biloba, Horse chestnut, Lycium barbarum, Papain, Quilinggao, Quinine, Red clover, Reishi, Sweet clover, Sweet woodruff, Vitamin D and Vitamin K should be avoided as they can cause dangerous or undesirable results.

The long term of heavy drinking of alcohol can affect the efficiency of warfarin and also certain foods such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, parsley, spinach, which contain high amounts of vitamin K, can interfere with the effectiveness and safety of warfarin.

Known side effects of warfarin are difficulty breathing, closing of the throat, swelling of the lips, tongue, face, hives, black, bloody, or tarry stools, blood in urine or vomit, coughing up blood, bleeding gums or sores in the mouth, decreased urine production, yellowing of the skin or eyes, severe dizziness or headache, easy bleeding or bruising under the skin, purple discoloration of the toes or fingers, sudden leg or foot pain, unusually heavy menstrual periods, excessive gas or bloating, diarrhoea, nausea, or vomiting, hair loss and decreased appetite or weight.

Diazepam is commonly used to relieve nervousness, anxiety, and anxiety disorders. It is in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines which effect chemicals in the brain. People can become physically and psychologically dependent on diazepam, it is habit forming and withdrawal effects can occur when stopped. Diazepam can cause dizziness and drowsiness, alcohol can make these thyroid symptoms worst.

Diazepam can harm unborn babies and can be passed into breast milk. Known side effects of Diazepam are an allergic reaction, sores in the mouth or throat, yellowing of the skin or eye, a rash, hallucinations or severe confusion, changes in vision, drowsiness, dizziness, clumsiness, depression, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, difficulty urinating, vivid dreams, headache, dry mouth, decreased sex drive and changes in behaviour.

Glipizide is a sulfonylurea drug which is used to help control blood sugar levels and used to treat type 2 diabetes. Known side effects of glipizide are severe headaches in children, skin rash or hives, signs and symptoms of overdose, chest pain, confusion, fast or irregular heartbeat, mood swings, muscle weakness, psychosis, extreme restlessness, yellow eyes or skin, shortness of breath, changes in appetite, changes in menstrual periods, diarrhoea, fever, hand tremors, headache, increased sensitivity to heat, irritability, leg cramps, nervousness, sweating, trouble in sleeping, vomiting and weight loss.

Adverse reaction can take place when Glipizide is taken together with fenugreek and Ginkgo biloba. Fenugreek has been proved in studies to reduce blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes and ginkgo biloba worsened glucose tolerance in people who took oral anti-diabetes medication.

Thyroid medication are used for the treatment of hypothyroidism and are either synthetic or animal-derived hormones, Armour Thyroid is a common example of thyroid medication. Calcium and Soya may reduce drug absorption and bioavailability within the body, bugleweed and lemon balm cause adverse reaction when taken with thyroid medication.

Thyroid medication has been known to increase loss of calcium from the body through urine and calcium has been known to reduce the effectiveness of certain thyroid medication. Soya being taken at the same time as thyroid medication has been known to reduce it abilities.

Bugleweed and lemon balm should not be used with thyroid medication as it is known that they interfere with the action of thyroid hormones.

In conclusion, it is important for a Nutritional Therapist to ask patients what medication has been prescribed for them and to research these medications so that they know what side effects are caused by these and what supplement and food types can be used without causing further negative effects.

by Stewart Hare C.H.Ed Dip NutTh

symptom thyroid : Know Your Thermostat

2006-08-02T21:00:00.000-07:00

Women are more likely to develop hypothyroidism. Sometimes our thyroid does not produce enough hamones, this condition is known as hypothyroidism.

Thyroid gland is the internal thermostat of our body. Shaped like a butterfly, located below the Adam's apple and weighing less than an ounce, it regulates all aspects of our metabolism-the rate at which our heart beats to the rate at which we burn calories.

Sometimes our thyroid does not produce enough hormones, this condition is known as hypothyroidism.

Facts:
Women are more likely to develop hypothyroidism, especially in the age group of 30-50. Hormonal imbalance triggers hypothyroidism. During pregnancy, postpartum and menopause women have upset hormones. In rare cases, hypothyroidism occurs in infants and children too. Early treatment ensures normal development. Teens with hypothyroidism look younger than their age.

Symptoms:

Fatigue Loss of appetite inability to tolerate cold. A slow heart rate Weight gain Painful periods Hair loss Depression.

Causes:

Poor diet Fluoride in the water. Excessive consumption of vegetable consumption of vegetable oils Pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables. Radiation from X-rays, Alcohol, and drugs are some of the aggravating factors. A condition called Hashimoto's disease is the most common cause of under active thyroid. In this disorder, the body in effect becomes allergic to thyroid hormone then it produces antibodies against its own thyroid tissue.

Dos:

Consume apricots, dates, egg yolks, potatoes, prunes and whole grains. Eat fish or chicken.

Take medications several hours apart from thyroid medications.

Eat these in moderation Cabbage, peaches, pear, radishes, spinach, turnips, mustard green, sprouts.

Avoid:

Refined flour, processed foods, including sugar. Fluoride even from tooth paste and tap water.

Chlorine from tap water do not take thyroid medication with calcium supplements.

Thyroid Self-Test:

You can test this. To test yourself for an under active thyroid, place a thermometer inside your arm and hold it there for fifteen minutes first thing in the morning for five days.

A temperature of 97.6F or lower may indicate an under active thyroid.

By Subodh Jain

symptom thyroid : Thyroid

2006-07-31T01:32:00.000-07:00

The thyroid is a small, butterfly shaped gland located at the front of the neck. The thyroid produces the thyroid hormones, including the two major ones, namely the tri-iodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), which are essential for regulating the metabolic activities, growth, and several other body functions.

The thyroid gland is divided into two halves or lobes, and is connected by a thin ‘bridge’ of thyroid tissue known as the isthmus. The thyroid is usually larger in women in comparison to men.

The pituitary gland, which is situated at the bottom of the brain, and produces the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), controls the functioning of the thyroid. TSH activates the thyroid to produce more thyroid hormones. Noted among the most widespread medical conditions, diseases of the thyroid gland are very common and affect millions of Americans. Thyroid disease occurs when the thyroid doesn't supply sufficient hormones required by the body to carry out its various functions properly. As the symptoms of thyroid are often noticed over a period of time, they are usually misdiagnosed.

The three most common thyroid problems are the underactive thyroid, the overactive thyroid, and thyroid nodules. Overactive thyroid releases excessive thyroid hormone into the bloodstream, resulting in hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism causes the body to use up energy more rapidly than it should, and chemical activities in the cells such as metabolism speeds up. In the case of underactive thyroid, the thyroid gland is attacked by the body's immune system. Thyroid Nodules is a condition that begins as a small swelling or lumps in the thyroid gland. Other thyroid problems include inflammation of the thyroid gland, enlargement of the thyroid gland, and thyroid cancer.

In recent years, thyroid function tests have progressed significantly, allowing for diagnosis at an early stage, and better recovery rates than in the past.

Thyroid provides detailed information on Thyroid, Thyroid Cancer, Thyroid Disease, Thyroid Problems and more. Thyroid is affiliated with Cause Of Hypothyroidism.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kent_Pinkerton

symptom thyroid : Postpartum Depression

2006-07-31T01:27:00.000-07:00

Postpartum depression or peripartum depression occurs after a woman gives birth. Within a few hours of giving birth the amount of the two female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, return to their pre pregnancy levels. Many researchers feel that this drop in hormone levels, much like the smaller changes in hormone levels can affect a womans mood just before her menstrual cycle, is one of the causes of postpartum depression.

In some women the levels of thyroid hormones decrease as well. This decrease in these hormones can lead to symptoms of depression too. Some of these symptoms include a depressed mood, a loss of interest in daily things, problems sleeping and fatigue, irritability and weight gain.

Another factor that can lead to postpartum depression is genetics. This type of depression can be passed down from mother to daughter. There is also a correlation between postpartum depression and women who suffer from severe premenstrual syndrome.

Postpartum depression is also known as the baby blues and one in ten new mothers suffer from this to one degree or another. In addition to the drastic changes in hormone levels, the presence of a new baby in the house is also a major factor in postpartum depression. A new baby can be a major stress on a new mom and this can factor into becoming depressed. Some of these factors include:

Having less free time then before the baby was born and an inability to control the time needed to get things done. The baby demands all the mothers’ attention, leaving little time for herself.

Going through labor is extremely stressful and tiring for a new mom. A new mom does not have time to regain her strength post delivery because of the demands and needs of the new baby. Just getting a good nights sleep is nearly impossible with late night feedings and diaper changes.

Many new mothers question their own ability to be a good mom. They become overwhelmed with the care the new baby needs and start to worry that they aren't providing the care their baby needs.

For new moms, postpartum depression can occur with a feeling that they are no longer who they used to be. Their old schedule and ways of doing things have been replaced by the needs of their new baby. They can also feel like they have to do it all and try to take care of the new baby while doing all the things they used to do. This can be very overwhelming because chances are the care of the new baby will not allow them to accomplish all that they think they should.

New moms can also become disconnected from their partner and family. They find that their time is limited and they just don't have time to spend with the rest of their family.

For most women the "baby blues" will usually go away as their hormone levels get back to normal. But for some women the depression associated with a new baby does not go away and can steadily get worse. It is very important that women who experience any kind of depression after child birth talk to their doctor right away. Most cases of postpartum depression can be dealt with medication and some counseling.

Andrew Bicknell is a writer and owner of http://depression.worfdog.com. Visit his website for more information about postpartum depression and depression disorders.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Bicknell

symptom thyroid : Stomach Cancer is more closely linked to Stomach Ulcers than you think!

2006-07-29T01:07:00.000-07:00

Interestingly enough, both the causes and the signs and symptoms of stomach cancer (also called gastic cancer) are almost identical to those of peptic ulcers. It is important to note that you are more likely to have a peptic ulcer if you are showing any of these symptoms, so do not be too alarmed! Of course if your ulcers are already at an advanced stage, then you need to read on to see if you are at risk and what to do about it. Eradicating the H Pylori bacterium is a good way to avoid stomach cancer.

RISK GROUPS
Cancer of the stomach is twice as common in men as it is in women, and most people who develop this type of cancer are over the age of 50 years. Stomach cancer is very rare in people under 40. Even so, get yourself checked out by a doctor who will be able to give you a proper diagnosis.

CAUSES OF STOMACH CANCER
Stomach cancer can be caused by a number of factors that damage the DNA in your stomach cells. When the DNA is damaged, healthy cells can grow out of control and form a tumor (a mass of malignant cells).

These factors include:

H Pylori infection - 75% of the world's population is infected with a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori (H Pylori) that lives deep in the mucous layer which coats the lining of your stomach. It is the primary cause of stomach ulcers, accounting for at least 80 percent of all cases. Also, the World Health Organization have indicated that close to 50% of the annual new cases of stomach cancer can be attributed to H Pylori infection.

If 75% of the world's population is infected with the Helicobacter Pylori bacterium, that means that right now 4.6 billion people are infected across the world. Having ulcers doesn't necessarily put you at higher risk of stomach cancer, but having H Pylori infection does.

Statistics show that 816 million of those infected with H Pylori bacterium right now will develop a stomach ulcer in their lifetime.

That means that 1 in every 7 people (or 17.7% of the current population) are at high risk, and 1 in every 14 people will get stomach cancer from H Pylori. That is an astounding 408 million people.

Nitrates and nitrites - these chemicals are added to certain foods, such as processed or cured meats such as ham and bacon, sausages and other cold meats you normally find down at the deli. Nitrates and nitrites combine with other substances in your stomach to form carcinogens, which are known to cause stomach cancer.

Salted, smoked or pickled foods and red meat - in countries where consumption of salted meat and fish and pickled vegetables is high, the corresponding rates of stomach cancer are also high. Consuming high levels of red meat, especially when the meat is barbecued or well done, has also been linked to stomach cancer.

Tobacco and alcohol use - Both can irritate the stomach lining and are especially likely to cause cancer in the upper stomach area.

Low income groups - children and adults from low income groups are more likely to develop stomach cancer than are those in higher income groups. This is due to a number of reasons. The main problem is in poor countries with poor sanitation and unhygienic living conditions where H Pylori spreads quite quickly.

PREVENTION
From the above it is clear that the easiest way to prevent stomach cancer is to know the causes. Eradicating the H Pylori bacterium is the going to take most of the risk away but then you will also need to adjust your diet and general hygiene.

SYMPTOMS

The most common symptom is a gnawing or burning pain in your stomach just below your sternum
Stomach pains are triggered by hunger and occur between meals and in the early hours of the morning
Pains can be sharp or dull
Bloating of the stomach
Pain can come and go over long periods of time
The passing of foul smelling black, tarry stools could be one of the first symptoms of a gastric ulcer or a duodenal ulcer that has started bleeding
dark red blood in your stools
If your ulcer is already at an advanced stage then repeated and different signs of bleeding can be identified.
Vomiting of new blood which is bright red in color – this indicates that a gastric ulcer has started bleeding. This will be accompanied by repeated episodes of nausea.
Vomiting dark and grainy blood that looks like instant coffee granules. The dark color indicates that this is old blood.
unplanned weight loss
faintness and dizziness when standing up - this is due to loss of blood. Over a long period of time, you may become anemic and feel weak, dizzy, or tired all the time. This is typical of a slow bleed left untreated.

TYPES OF STOMACH CANCER
Most stomach cancers start in the glandular cells in the mucous layer which coats the lining of your stomach, and are called adenocarcinomas.

Although most stomach cancers are adenocarcinomas, there are other forms of the disease, including: Lymphomas, Carcinoid tumors, and GIST’s (or gastrointestinal stromal tumors)

TREATMENT
The primary goal of any effective treatment is to remove the cancer. Choosing a treatment plan is a major decision, and it's important spend some time researching all the options to make sure the treatment you select is right for you. It is always worthwhile getting a second opinion if you are unsure.

Treatment options include Surgery, Chemotherapy, Radiation therapy, and Clinical trials.

If you are at an advanced stage, you may be offered participation in a clinical trial. Beware! You may be used as a guinea-pig to test new new drugs, surgery or radiation. You must remember that the treatments used in clinical trials are experimental and have no recorded success rates. You could experience unexpected side effects, and there will be no guarantees offered.
symptom thyroid
Author Bio
My name is Gavin. My passion is to help others avoid the pitfalls and side effects of conventional medicines. I enjoy writing specifically for you, the patient, without all the medical jargon that only doctors can understand. My aim is to help you easily find a cure that works best for you. Please feel free to browse my website http://www.ulcer-cure.com for more information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gavin_Le_Roux

symptom thyroid : Thyroid Cancer

2006-07-29T01:03:00.000-07:00

Thyroid cancer develops as a result of the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the thyroid gland, resulting in a tumor. Some of these tumors are benign or non cancerous while some are malignant or cancerous. The malignant tumors spread to the nearby tissues and other parts of the body causing severe complications. Since the thyroid gland is close to the skin, tumors often appear as lumps called thyroid nodules in the neck. Thyroid cancer is more widespread among women than men; however, the reason for this is not clear. About 20,000 cases of thyroid cancer are reported each year in the United States.

The precise causes of thyroid cancer remain vague. Some studies reveal that people who are exposed to large amounts of radiation or those who have undergone radiation treatments for medical purposes, especially on the head and neck, face an increased risk of developing thyroid cancer. The occurrence of thyroid cancer is high in countries where people follow a low iodine diet. People with certain medical conditions or a family history of thyroid disease have a higher risk of developing thyroid cancer. Incidents of thyroid cancer arise mainly in the age group of 25 to 65 years.

Thyroid cancer may be papillary, follicular, medullary, or anaplastic. A fine needle aspiration (FNA) test is an ideal test for thyroid cancer. Papillary is the most usual type, while Follicular is a less common one usually found in older people. Medullary and anaplastic are rare types, the former often hereditary and the latter fast-growing one seen more among older people. The anaplastic type is difficult to treat. Thyroid cancers tend to develop at a slow pace, and it may take some time before any symptoms appear. Most types of thyroid cancer can be treated successfully with early detection and appropriate surgical procedures.

Thyroid provides detailed information on Thyroid, Thyroid Cancer, Thyroid Disease, Thyroid Problems and more. Thyroid is affiliated with Cause Of Hypothyroidism.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kent_Pinkerton

symptom thyroid : Thyroid Problems

2006-07-27T00:13:00.000-07:00

Thyroid problems are one of the most common ailments that can affect the human body. Thyroid is an endocrine gland and produces essential hormones like thyroxin. Hormones produced by thyroid gland are very crucial for the metabolism of the body. Hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and tumors are the most common thyroid problems. Symptoms associated with thyroid problems appear slowly and is therefore often misdiagnosed.

Under active thyroid or hypothyroidism is mainly caused due to Hashimoto's thyroiditis. This thyroid problem is found commonly in women. The cause of it is mistaken identity. In it, the antibodies attack the thyroid gland. Obesity, lack of interest, sensitivity to heat and cold, and memory loss are some of the common symptoms associated with hypothyroidism. Those diagnosed with hypothyroidism have low level of thyroxine. Treatment is mainly in the form of thyroid hormone pill. The medication is often a life- long commitment, with varying doses.

In hyperthyroidism, the level of thyroxine is very high and is caused mainly due to Grave’s disease. Middle-aged women are more prone to this thyroid problem. Weight loss, abnormal heartbeat, fatigue, unusual bowel movements, nervousness, and irritability are the common symptoms. Since the symptoms appear late, it is often misdiagnosed. Bulging of eyes and double vision are symptoms found in some patients. Radioactive iodine is the main treatment given for hyperthyroidism. In this treatment, a part of thyroid gland is destroyed to reduce the amount of thyroxine produced. An under active thyroid is the main side effect caused by this treatment. Medications used to treat thyroid problems mainly slow down the activity of the thyroid gland. Drugs for hyperthyroidism often have serious side effects.

Lumps or thyroid nodules are mostly harmless. However, certain lumps are cancerous. A ‘fine needle aspiration biopsy’ done in doctor’s office is the most common method used to detect whether a lump is cancerous or not. If the nodule is cancerous, then surgical removal is the only option.

Thyroid provides detailed information on Thyroid, Thyroid Cancer, Thyroid Disease, Thyroid Problems and more. Thyroid is affiliated with Cause Of Hypothyroidism.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kent_Pinkerton

symptom thyroid : Infantile Seborrheic Eczema

2006-07-27T00:08:00.000-07:00

This article will focus on the ailment known as seborrheic eczema. This is something that goes after infants that are less than a year old and though it is not harmful the parents usually freak out about it. Scientists are not really sure what causes infantile seborrheic eczema but the bright spot is that it usually goes away on its own. The initial signs of seborrheic eczema show up on the scalp most of the time and tend to spread very quickly.

Seborrheic eczema looks terrible but is not uncomfortable at all. There are creams and oils on the market that can help to get rid of seborrheic eczema faster than it will eliminate itself, which is usually in a few months. Though not considered harmful, if your child displays signs of seborrheic eczema you should contact your pediatrician or dermatologist for a true diagnosis.

I can only imagine the awful feeling of seeing your child deal with what appears to be a very painful and debilitating ailment but according to all of our research the seborrheic eczema is not painful and as hard as it may be a parent should stay calm and rational and not worry the child. Though the children are usually extremely young we feel that the baby can detect the heightened stress levels in their parents. Contact the doctor and do the right thing but do not worry unless a doctor gives you a reason to be concerned. All will be fine with your child.

Seborrheic eczema is not so bad when compared to some of the other types of eczema since it is not uncomfortable and does not stay permanently.

For more information about Infantile Seborrheic Eczema or Eczema in general, check out our Excema resources.
symptom thyroid
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Montag

symptom thyroid : Understanding Hypothyroidism Symptoms

2006-07-24T23:42:00.000-07:00

Thyroid disease symptoms and hypothyroidism symptoms afflict millions of adults in the USA alone. Thyroid disease symptoms are frequently misdiagnosed or undiagnosed. Approximately 10-20% of women and 1-2% of men have symptoms of thyroid problems. The most common type of thyroid dysfunction is the condition hypothyroidism, also called low thyroid or underactive thyroid.

When thyroid function slows too much, one of the consequences is that metabolism in the body slows down more than it should. When the body's metabolism slows down due to underactive thyroid function, the result can be hypothyroidism symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain and depression. And other thyroid symptoms may be experienced as well, and these other symptoms may appear to be unrelated.

The most common thyroid disease symptoms and hypothyroidism symptoms include:

• Cold intolerance, cold hands and feet
• Constipation
• Depression
• Dry and coarse skin
• Fatigue and weakness
• Forgetfulness, dementia
• Hair loss
• Heavy menstrual periods
• High cholesterol
• Immune system problems
• Nervousness, tremors
• Sleep difficulties
• Weight gain

Having hypothyroidism symptoms is related to hormone imbalance. For a woman, three of the critical hormones are estrogen, thyroid hormone and progesterone. Understanding how these hormones work together helps one better understand how to approach treating thyroid disease symptoms.

Harvard-trained Dr. John R. Lee, women's physician Dr. Jesse Hanley and Virginia Hopkins are co-authors of the best-seller What Your Doctor May NOT Tell You About Premenopause. Dr. Lee explains his observations over a twenty-year period when treating women having thyroid disease symptoms. Dr. Lee believed that elevated levels of estrogen interfere with normal thyroid function, while progesterone facilitates healthy thyroid function. As excess estrogen interferes with normal thyroid hormone function, progesterone helps the thyroid gland function more as it is supposed to.

He noticed that women who tested normal for thyroid function were often progesterone deficient. Dr. Lee found a clear pattern in his patients with a progesterone deficiency which was this -- their thyroid disease symptoms lessened when natural progesterone supplementation was done and hormone balance was achieved.

Read more about hormone imbalance, how progesterone deficiency happens and how to have balanced hormones for better health. There is a free online womens hormone health test you can take to find out more about your health and symptoms you may be experiencing. After the test, you will receive physician-based recommendations based on your answers. If you feel you may have thyroid disease symptoms, learn more about the natural approaches recommended by naturopathic physicians for treating hypothyroidism symptoms.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

Read more on thyroid disease symptoms and treatment, and take the online womens hormone health test. Olinda Rola is President of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com - visit the website to learn more about hormone balance, estrogen dominance symptoms, natural progesterone and related women's health issues.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Olinda_Rola

symptom thyroid : Do You Have Symptoms of Thyroid Problems?

2006-07-24T23:39:00.000-07:00

Thyroid symptoms afflict at least 10 million persons in the USA alone. Symptoms of thyroid problems often go undiagnosed, making it difficult to really know how many people are suffering from thyroid symptoms. Thyroid gland functions include the vital role of regulating the body's rate of metabolism.

Women are much more likely than men to have thyroid dysfunction -- as many as 10-20% of women and 1-2% of men may have symptoms of thyroid problems. One type of thyroid dysfunction is the condition called hypothyroidism, also referred to as low thyroid or underactive thyroid. When thyroid function is too sluggish, one effect is that the body's metabolism slows down more than it should. Much less common are thyroid symptoms caused by hyperthyroidism or an overactive thyroid.

When the metabolism slows down due to underactive thyroid function, the result can be symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain and depression. And other symptoms may be experienced, often seemingly unrelated. Hypothyroidism or low thyroid symptoms of thyroid problems include:

• Fatigue and weakness
• Depression
• Weight gain
• Low basal temperature, cold intolerance, cold hands and feet
• Dry and coarse skin
• Heavy menstrual periods
• Insomnia
• High cholesterol
• Sluggish bowels, constipation
• Poor memory, forgetfulness, dementia
• Nervousness and tremors
• Immune system problems
• Hair loss

Having thyroid symptoms is related to hormone levels and hormone imbalance. Three related hormones for a woman are estrogen, thyroid hormone and progesterone. Understanding the interplay between these three hormones helps one better understand how to approach treating thyroid symptoms.

In the best-seller What Your Doctor May NOT Tell You About Menopause, Harvard-trained family physician Dr. John R. Lee explains his results in treating women having symptoms of thyroid problems. In a broad sense, estrogen makes calories from food to be stored as fat. Thyroid hormone makes calories from food to be converted into energy. Excess estrogen interferes with normal thyroid hormone function. Progesterone helps "oppose" and keep undesirable side effects of excess estrogen from happening. Progesterone helps the body use fat for energy, and when progesterone is present in healthy levels, the thyroid functions more as it is supposed to. Dr. Lee found a clear pattern in his patients with a progesterone deficiency -- their underactive thyroid symptoms lessened when natural progesterone supplementation was done and hormone balance was achieved.

Read more about hormone imbalance, how progesterone deficiency happens and how to have balanced hormones for better health. There is an online women's hormone health test you can take to find out more about your health, with physician-based recommendations based on your answers. If you have thyroid symptoms, learn more about the natural approaches recommended by naturopathic physicians for treating symptoms of thyroid problems.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

Read more on thyroid symptoms and treatment, and take the online womens hormone health test. Olinda Rola is President of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com - visit the website and learn more about hormone imbalance and excess estrogen symptoms, natural progesterone benefits and related women's health issues.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Olinda_Rola

symptom thyroid : Thyroid Patient Advocacy Group Warns Thyroid Patients of Potential Problems With Thyroid Drug

2006-07-18T22:34:00.000-07:00

(FALLS CHURCH, VA) – The ATA Alliance for Thyroid Patient Education, an organization of leading patient education and advocacy groups, recommends that patients being treated with levothyroxine — a drug used to treat hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid — not make any changes in their brand of medication without first discussing the benefits, risks, and outcomes with their doctors.

This recommendation follows a recent decision by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve generic levothyroxine preparations as equivalent to branded preparations. The FDA ruling means that generic levothyroxine products are now deemed to be equivalent in treatment outcome and safety profile as the branded product. When drugs are considered therapeutic equivalents, pharmacists can change a prescription from one brand to another, often without the patient or physician being aware of the change.

Levothyroxine is a drug recognized to have a narrow toxic to therapeutic ratio with significant clinical consequences of excessive or inadequate treatment. There are 12 tablet strengths of levothyroxine available that vary by as little as 9 percent in drug content, reflecting the close titration that is required for optimal patient management. Thirteen million Americans are on levothyroxine products and those especially susceptible to incorrect titration include the elderly, pregnant women and their developing fetuses, and those with thyroid cancer.

“Even though having access to generic drugs can result in lower drug costs for patients, ensuring safety and effectiveness should always be the number one priority when providing generic alternatives,” said Alan P. Farwell, MD, Alliance Chair, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and a staff physician at UMassMemorial Health Care. “In this case, serious questions have repeatedly been raised about the methodology used by the FDA to determine bioequivalence between branded and generic levothyroxine preparations, which can result in dangerous health problems in some individuals.”

Despite assurances to the endocrinology medical community that the concerns regarding the limitations in current levothyroxine bioequivalence standards would be addressed before ruling on generic levothyroxine approval, the FDA made its decision without input from clinical endocrinologists, the recognized experts in this area and those who care for thyroid patients.

As a result of the FDA decision, the ATA Alliance is providing guidance for patients through a statement posted on the ATA web site, www.thyroid.org, including recommendations that patients to take charge of their health by:

Knowing which brand of levothyroxine that their doctor prescribes and asking to stay that brand;
Being aware that pharmacists may change their brand when a prescription is filled and, therefore, checking prescription before leaving the pharmacy;
Asking their doctors to check their thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in four to six weeks to determine if dose retitration is needed, in the case of a change in the brand of levothyroxine.
“We cannot emphasize enough the importance of staying on the medication that is specifically prescribed for Graves’ Disease patients,” said Nancy Patterson, of The National Graves’ Disease Foundation. “To change medications, especially without medical supervision, can be dangerous. The careful monitoring of one’s thyroid status is vital to maintaining optimal health.”

Joan Shey, President and Founder of the Light of Life Foundation, a group that focuses on thyroid cancer, also commented that “Thyroid health is a partnership between the patient and doctor. Patients should always check their prescription to be sure that it is filled by the pharmacy as the doctor wrote it. The bioequivalency level has to be exactly the same from prescription to prescription because the synthetic hormone is used to suppress any residual microscopic tumor that may be left behind.” She added, “TSH levels are maintained at a level optimal for controlling the cancer, balanced with the need for thyroid hormone due to surgical removal of the thyroid gland.”

The ATA Alliance for Thyroid Patient Education, an organization supported by the American Thyroid Association, is composed of the following thyroid patient education and advocacy groups: Thyroid Foundation of America, ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors Association, National Graves’ Disease Foundation, and the Light of Life Foundation. The mission of the ATA Alliance is to standardize and validate information provided to patients about the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of thyroid diseases, based upon evidence-based, unbiased, non-anecdotal, accurate data and provided for the patient’s best interest. The ATA Alliance supports patient education and public awareness of thyroid disease.

©2004 Thyroid Foundation Of America. All Rights Reserved.

symptom thyroid : Changing Thyroid Medications

2006-07-18T22:29:00.000-07:00

9/21/2004 to 4/30/2005 (PDF File, 251KB)

The physician was noted as the person advocating the change in prescription less than half the time.

Even more important and of real concern is the fact that follow-up TSH tests were abnormal in 85 of the 121 patients reporting. A higher TSH would mean inadequate thyroid suppression in anyone who has thyroid cancer and needs suppression of TSH to help prevent recurrence or spread of the cancer. A lower TSH could mean hyperthyroidism and an increased risk of serious heart arrhythmias, especially in individuals over the age of 50 and those with underlying heart disease. Finally, it is noteworthy that 62% of the patients reporting felt worse on the new medication, and nearly 60% expressed dissatisfaction with the result.

Lawrence C. Wood,
MD Medical Director
Thyroid Foundation of America.

symptom thyroid : Hyperthyroidism and Pregnancy

2006-07-13T08:04:00.000-07:00

Hyperthyroidism refers to the signs and symptoms which are due to the production of too much thyroid hormone. [Hyperthyroidism is covered in great deal on other pages on this site (about 8 in all), so only that part of hyperthyroidism which pertains to the pregnant mother will be discussed here]. An overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) often has its onset in younger women. Because a woman may think that feeling warm, having a hard or fast heartbeats, nervousness, trouble sleeping, or nausea with weight loss are just parts of being pregnant, the symptoms and signs of this condition may be overlooked during pregnancy.

In women who are not pregnant, hyperthyroidism can affect menstrual periods, making them irregular, lighter, or disappear altogether. It may be harder for hyperthyroid women to become pregnant, and they are more likely to have miscarriages. If a woman with infertility or repeated miscarriages has symptoms of hyperthyroidism, it is important to rule out this condition with thyroid blood tests. It is very important that hyperthyroidism be controlled in pregnant women since the risks of miscarriage or birth defects are much higher without therapy. Fortunately, there are effective treatments available. Antithyroid medications cut down the thyroid gland's overproduction of hormones and are reviewed on another page on this site. When taken faithfully, they control hyperthyroidism within a few weeks. In pregnant women thyroid experts consider propylthiouracil (PTU) the safest drug. Because PTU can also affect the baby's thyroid gland, it is very important that pregnant women be monitored closely with examinations and blood tests so that the PTU dose can be adjusted. In rare cases when a pregnant woman cannot take PTU for some reason (allergy or other side effects), surgery to remove the thyroid gland is the only alternative and should be undertaken prior to or even during the pregnancy if necessary. Although radioactive iodine is a very effective treatment for other patients with hyperthyroidism, it should never be given during pregnancy because the baby's thyroid gland could be damaged.

Because treating hyperthyroidism during pregnancy can be a bit tricky, it is usually best for women who plan to have children in the near future to have their thyroid condition permanently cured. Antithyroid medications alone may not be the best approach in these cases because hyperthyroidism often returns when medications is stopped. Radioactive iodine is the most widely recommended permanent treatment with surgical removal being the second (but widely used) choice. It is concentrated by thyroid cells and damages them with little radiation to the rest of the body. This is why it cannot be given to a pregnant woman, since the radioactive iodine could cross the placenta and destroy normal thyroid cells in the baby. The only common side effect of radioactive iodine treatment is underactivity of the thyroid gland, which occurs because too many thyroid cells were destroyed. This can be easily and safely treated with levothyroxine. There is no evidence that radioactive iodine treatment of hyperthyroidism interferes with a woman's future chances of becoming pregnant and delivering a healthy baby. For more information on the treatment options of hyperthyroidism see our page on this topic.

Copyright © 1997-2005. Endocrine Web and the Norman Endocrine Surgery Clinic. All rights reserved.

symptom thyroid : Thyroid Problems & Pregnancy

2006-07-13T08:01:00.000-07:00

The most common thyroid disorder occurring around or during pregnancy is thyroid hormone deficiency, or hypothyroidism. The details of hypothyroidism are covered on several other pages on our site, so only those factors pertaining to pregnancy are discussed here. Hypothyroidism can cause a variety of changes in a woman's menstrual periods: irregularity, heavy periods, or loss of periods. When hypothyroidism is severe, it can reduce a woman's chances of becoming pregnant. Checking thyroid gland function with a simple blood test is an important part of evaluating a woman who has trouble becoming pregnant. If detected, an underactive thyroid gland can be easily treated with thyroid hormone replacement therapy. If thyroid blood tests are normal, however, treating an infertile woman with thyroid hormones will not help at all, and may cause other problems.

Because some of the symptoms of hypothyroidism such as tiredness and weight gain are already quite common in pregnant women, it is often overlooked and not considered as a possible cause of these symptoms. Blood tests, particularly measuring the TSH level, can determine whether a pregnant woman's problems are due to hypothyroidism or not.

Since thyroid medications (particularly Levothyroxine) are essentially identical to the thyroid hormone made by the normal thyroid gland, a woman with an underactive thyroid gland can feel confident that it is perfectly safe to take thyroid hormone medication during pregnancy. There are no side effects for the mother or the baby as long as the proper dose is used. In the case where hypothyroidism in the mother is NOT detected, the thyroid will still develop normally in the baby.

Women with previously treated hypothyroidism should be aware that their dose of medication may have to be increased during pregnancy. They should contact their doctor, who should check their blood level of TSH periodically throughout pregnancy to see if their medication dose needs adjustment. Thyroid function tests should continue to be reviewed every 2-3 months throughout the pregnancy. After delivery, the thyroxine dose should be returned to the pre-pregnancy dose and thyroid function tests reviewed two months later.

Copyright © 1997-2005. Endocrine Web and the Norman Endocrine Surgery Clinic. All rights reserved.

symptom thyroid : Other Less Common Causes of Hyperthyroidism

2006-07-11T11:19:00.000-07:00

Hyperthyroidism can also be caused by a single nodule within the thyroid instead of the entire thyroid. As outlined in detail on our nodules page, thyroid nodules usually represent benign (non-cancerous) lumps or tumors in the gland. These nodules sometimes produce excessive amounts of thyroid hormones. This condition is called "toxic nodular goiter". The picture on the right is an iodine scan (also simply called a thyroid scan) which shows a normal sized thyroid gland (shaped like a butterfly). This scan is abnormal because a solitary "hot" nodule is located in the right lower lobe. This single nodule is comprised of thyroid cells which have lost their regulatory mechanism which dictates how much hormone to produce. Without this regulatory control, the cells in this nodule produce thyroid hormone at a dramatically increased rate causing the symptoms of hyperthyroidism. [As a point of reference, some nodules are "cold" since they don't produce any hormone at all. There is a picture of a cold nodule on the nodule page.]

Inflammation of the thyroid gland, called thyroiditis, can lead to the release of excess amounts of thyroid hormones that are normally stored in the gland. In subacute thyroiditis, the painful inflammation of the gland is believed to be caused by a virus, and the hyperthyroidism lasts a few weeks. A more common painless form of thyroiditis occurs in one out of 20 women, a few months after delivering a baby and is, therefore, known as postpartum thyroiditis. Although hyperthyroidism caused by thyroiditis causes the typical symptoms listed on our introduction to hyperthyroidism page, they generally last only a few weeks until the thyroid hormone stored in the gland has been exhausted. For more about thyroiditis see our page on this topic.

Hyperthyroidism can also occur in patients who take excessive doses of any of the available forms of thyroid hormone. This is a particular problem in patients who take forms of thyroid medication that contains T3, which is normally produced in relatively small amounts by the human thyroid gland. Other forms of hyperthyroidism are even rarer. It is important for your doctor to determine which form of hyperthyroidism you may have since the best treatment options will change depending on the underlying cause.

Copyright © 1997-2005. Endocrine Web and the Norman Endocrine Surgery Clinic. All rights reserved.

symptom thyroid : CAUSES OF HYPERTHYROIDISM

2006-07-11T11:18:00.000-07:00

There are several causes of hyperthyroidism. Most often, the entire gland is overproducing thyroid hormone This is called Graves Disease. Less commonly, a single nodule is responsible for the excess hormone secretion. We call this a "hot" nodule.

The most common underlying cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves' disease, a condition named for an Irish doctor who first described the condition. This condition can be summarized by noting that an enlarged thyroid (enlarged thyroids are called goiters) is producing way too much thyroid hormone. [Remember that only a small percentage of goiters produce too much thyroid hormone, the majority of thyroid goiters actually become large because they are not producing enough thyroid hormone]. Graves' disease is classified as an autoimmune disease, a condition caused by the patient's own immune system turning against the patient's own thyroid gland. The hyperthyroidism of Graves' disease, therefore, is caused by antibodies that the patient's immune system makes which attach to specific activating sites on thyroid gland which in turn cause the thyroid to make more hormone. There are actually three distinct parts of Graves' disease: [1] overactivity of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism), [2] inflammation of the tissues around the eyes causing swelling, and [3] thickening of the skin over the lower legs (pretibial myxedema). Most patients with Graves' disease, however, have no obvious eye involvement. Their eyes may feel irritated or they may look like they are staring. About one out of 20 people with Graves' disease will suffer more severe eye problems, which can include bulging of the eyes, severe inflammation, double vision, or blurred vision. If these serious problems are not recognized and treated, they can permanently damage the eyes and even cause blindness. Thyroid and eye involvement in Graves' disease generally run a parallel course, with eye problems resolving slowly after hyperthyroidism is controlled.

Characteristics of Graves Disease

Graves Disease effects women much more often than men (about 8:1 ratio, thus 8 women get Graves Disease for every man that gets it.

Graves Disease is often called diffuse toxic goiter because the entire thyroid gland is enlarged, usually moderately enlarged, sometimes quite big.

Graves disease is uncommon over the age of 50 (more common in the 30's and 40's)

Graves Disease tends to run in families (not known why)

Copyright © 1997-2005. Endocrine Web and the Norman Endocrine Surgery Clinic. All rights reserved.

symptom thyroid : SONGS ABOUT CANCER?!

2006-07-06T20:30:00.000-07:00

"In the fifth week of hypo hell
my symptoms gave to me --
FIVE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS!
four bouts of weeping,
three seafood cravings,
two migraine headaches,
and the need for a really
great nap!"

Take me to the songs!

Here's the story behind the songs...

When I was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer in 1997 at the age of 35, my life was changed forever. Now, 7years later, I am still going strong and fighting this rare disease, finding strength and courage by looking for whatever good I can find in the bad.

One of the amazing things that has happened to me as a result of the cancer is that when I went "hypothyroid" (off my thyroid hormone for several weeks) for a scan, I discovered I could rewrite the lyrics to songs and make them relate to thyroid cancer. Suddenly I was able to rhyme and find humor in a very black situation.

I shared my first song with the members of an on-line thyroid cancer support group, and the response was great. We had a good laugh, and talked about how important a positive attitude is in fighting cancer.

I wrote more songs and shared them with my on-line "thyca" friends. They started sharing the songs with their loved ones, and they began to tell me what a difference the songs had made in their lives:

"Thanks for the first laugh I have had since I was diagnosed."

"Your songs are hilarious!"

"My husband and I read your songs on the computer and laughed until we cried. Now he understands a little better what I am going through. Thank you."

Most of the songs are just plain funny. Some of them are powerful, intense, and could be called "black humor". But whatever category they fit in, all of my songs are written from my own experiences, and the stories of my on-line cancer survivor friends.

This site is dedicated to my beloved grandmother, Joan Farrell, who bought me the computer that helped change my life. She loved to hear how the Internet brought me information, friends, and a place to share my experiences and songs with others.

I'd also like to send my sincere thanks to my employer, the web site design and hosting company, ComSite International, Inc., for sponsoring this site.

And to all thyroid cancer survivors who thought they were the only ones out there, you are not alone. Welcome.

-Megan Stendebach

symptom thyroid : How to Have a Healthy Thyroid

2006-07-06T20:25:00.000-07:00

You can take several steps to help ensure thyroid health.

Have your thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels checked once a year if:
you have a family history of thyroid disease
you have been exposed to x-ray therapy or radiation
you are planning a pregnancy
you have given birth in the last 6 months
you are a woman over 50.
Do a neck check, or what I call a thyroid self-exam (TSE). Every couple of months, visually inspect your neck area for signs of a goiter or unusual lumps and bumps. You can do this in front of a mirror for best results. Tilt your head back to get a better look at the thyroid area. Starting with the nape, feel your way around the entire neck area. Hard lumps are especially suspicious, particularly if they are under your ear lobe or further around your neck area. If you do find a lump, request that a fine needle aspiration be done to rule out cancer.
If you experience any thyroid disease symptoms, request a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test, which will tell you whether your thyroid gland is functioning normally. Thyroid disease is often misdiagnosed, especially in women, because some of its symptoms mimic various forms of biological depression. Seniors are also a hugely misdiagnosed group.
If you are diagnosed with thyroid disease ask to be treated by a doctor knowledgeable about the subject. If you are on thyroid medication, carefully watch your bodily functions for signs of too high or too low medication dosages.
Finding the Right Doctor
Here are some guidelines for selecting a doctor for diagnosis or treatment of thyroid disease:

Ensure your primary care doctor knows what is involved in testing for thyroid disease and is willing to do it regularly, if appropriate.
If your primary care doctor avoids thyroid testing by telling you your symptoms are related to stress, menopause, chronic fatigue syndrome or depression, or even PMS, look for another doctor, or request a referral to an endocrinologist.
If you have been diagnosed with Graves' disease or Hashimoto's disease ask to be referred to an endocrinologist who specializes in thyroid disease as well as ophthalmologist who can monitor any eye changes.

Copyright ©2004 by Sarahealth.com

symptom thyroid : Important Information for Thyroid Patients

2006-07-03T02:21:00.000-07:00

Since thyroid hormones affect every cell in your body, an overactive or underactive thyroid can produce a wide variety of symptoms.

Your thyroid gland is located in the front of your neck below your Adam's apple. It plays an important role in regulating your body's metabolism.

HYPOTHYROIDISM (underactive thyroid)

Hypothyroidism may occur at any age but is especially common in older individuals. It affects 17% of women and 9% of men by age 60.

Do you have Hypothyroidism?

Check out these Possible Signs and Symptoms:

Skin, Hair, Nails: Is your skin: cold, thick, dry with little or no sweating, waxy, flaky, itchy, pale ivory or jaundiced? Do you bruise easily, do wounds heal slowly, are you always feeling cold?

Is your body temperature below normal? Have you noticed puffiness of hands and face-especially of the eyelids and under the eyes ?

Do you get "Pins and Needles"? Do you have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Have you noticed hair loss of scalp, groin, outer half of eyebrows? -are you constantly cleaning out the sink and tub drains after each shampoo? Is your scalp dry? Does your hair feel like straw? Is it starting to "frizzle"?

Are your nails brittle and thick and always breaking, splitting, layering?

Digestive system: Are you always constipated? Have you gained weight and feel "bloated?"

Is your cholesterol high?

Reproductive system: Do you have heavy menstruation(clotting is common),a tendency for low birth weight babies and early delivery? Did you miscarry your last pregnancy? Have you recently given birth? Post Partum Thyroiditis occurs in approx 8% of women after delivery and involves a hypothyroid stage 12-14 weeks after delivery.

Cardiac System: Is your pulse slower than normal? Do you experience skipped beats followed by a "boom", chest pain, shortness of breath? Are you sleeping excessively yet still feel totally "drained and lifeless"?, Do you "sigh" a lot? Is everything an extreme effort? Have you lost your "get up and go?". Do your family and co-workers (if you're still able to work) think of you as lazy?. Do you feel "100 years old" ? Do you take iron medication for chronic anemia?

Has your blood pressure changed -gone either up or down?

The Mind and Emotions: Does your mind feel "foggy?" Does your mental process seem slower than usual making thinking and decision making more difficult? Is your memory poor? Do you feel depressed, sad, and cry easily for no reason? Do you see "something" in your peripheral vision when nothing is there?

Musculator System: Is it hard to keep your arms up when curling your hair? Do you get muscle cramps, lose your balance and have a sluggish tendon reflex?

Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat: Although Thyroid Eye Disease is more commonly associated with Graves' Disease (Hyperthyroidism), it can also be associated with Hypothyroidism.

Do you find you have to listen harder to hear conversations and need the radio etc.turned up? Does your voice seem deeper and hoarse? Is your speech slurred at times? Do you notice swelling at the front of your neck and feel pressure on your throat which is making swallowing more difficult ?

Do you suffer from frequent chest colds and other infections?

Have you been treated for hyperthyroidism? ( hypothyroidism often develops after treatment ). Do you have a family history of thyroid disease and/or diabetes?

A TSH test is the most important test for detecting primary hypothyroidism.

Note: If you have had X-ray therapy as a child for enlarged adenoids or tonsils, enlargements of the thymus gland as a newborn, birthmarks, whooping cough, acne, or ringworm of the scalp, your physician should palpate your neck carefully to check for thyroid nodules as in almost every instance the thyroid function test will be normal, even in patients who have a proven carcinoma. The T4 ( a thyroid hormone) and TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) value can be misleading in this case, as they reflect the state of the total thyroid function, rather than the presence or significance of a thyroid nodule.

HYPERTHYROIDISM (overactive thyroid)

Hyperthyroidism is most common between the ages of 20-40 but may occur at any age.

Copyright © 1998-2003 Thyroid Federation International

symptom thyroid : Could you be hyperthyroid?

2006-07-03T02:13:00.000-07:00

Check out these possible signs and symptoms:

Skin, Hair, Nails: Do you always feel hot and can't stand the heat? Is your skin warm and velvety to touch? Is your face flushed ? Do you have increased sweating and frequent hives/itching? Have you noticed increased pigmentation of palms/soles? Do you have orange skin like lumps on the skin of the shins? Is your hair very soft, hard to curl and diffusely thinning?Are your nails soft, grow quickly and "lift" allowing dirt to get trapped underneath which is hard to get out?. Have you noticed your fingers taking on the shape of a "club?"-fingertips widen at sides of nail (rare).

Digestive System: Are you "shoveling food" into your system because of an excessive appetite but losing weight? Do you have frequent bowel movements/diarrhea?

Reproductive System: Is your period now scant or stopped altogether? Have you been told you are experiencing early menopause? Are you having difficulty to conceive? Decreased sex drive due to total exhaustion of constantly being "driven" is common. Have you recently given birth? Post partum thyroiditis involves a hyperthyroid stage 6-12 weeks after delivery followed by a hypothyroid stage 12-14 weeks post partum.

Cardiac System: Is your pulse faster than normal with times when it goes so fast(tachycardia) you become very weak? Are you short of breath? Do you have swelling of your ankles; Do you get chest pain and palpitations but a cardiac checkup reveals "nothing wrong?" When your doctor checks your blood pressure is your systolic blood pressure reading( top number) elevated with diastolic reading (bottom number) normal? This is known as wide pulse pressure.

The Mind and Emotions: Do you feel as if you"re in "overdrive and "out of control"? Are you restless, nervous, impatient, irritable, unable to stop cleaning house etc.? Do you feel "ready to explode", have mood swings, panic attacks, headaches, difficulty sleeping you're so wound up?

Muscular System: Do you find yourself pulling on the bannister with your arms to help you climb stairs due to weak thigh muscles? Have you noticed a fine tremor (you can check this by placing a sheet of paper on the back of your hand) or obvious shakiness of your hands? Is your knee jerk response exaggerated ? Are your ankles swollen?

Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat: Do you"stare" a lot without blinking? Have you noticed changes in your eyes such as eye lid elevation, a feeling of "sand in eyes", pain, watering, redness, possible protrusion. If you have thyroid eye disease symptoms, you should be seen by a specialist. Do not hesitate to ask for a second opinion on treatment options.

According to Dr. Robert Volpe, FRCP, FACP, Toronto, Canada, "the general view is that if patients do have eye signs to begin with and yet radioactive iodine is the treatment of choice, then Prednisone given concurrently with the radioactive iodine and for 6-8 weeks tends to prevent the aggravation of the eye signs. There is some suggested evidence that patients should not be allowed to become hypothyroid after treatment and possibly throxine should be given after the radioactive iodine so as to prevent hypothyroidism. However this is somewhat controversial, and most endocrinologists would wait until the TSH begins to rise before prescribing thyroxine."

Are you very sensitive to noise now ? Have you noticed a lump or swelling on the front of your neck?

Do you have a family history of thyroid disease and/or diabetes?

Please note the above symptoms are extensive in order to present the "whole picture". You probably won't have all of these symptoms. Seniors usually present atypically so TSH testing is very important. Early diagnosis with a simple TSH blood test followed by correct treatment will prevent serious complications.

It is extremely important for you to tell your doctor all of your symptoms-simply "highlight" or circle them above and take this article with you. Also write down any questions you may have and give a copy to your doctor.

We urge all doctors to take time to listen to your patients.. don't "isolate" symptoms but look at the whole spectrum. If a patient tells you s/he feels as if s/he's falling apart and "nothing seems to be working properly", chances are s/he's right!

Copyright © 1998-2003 Thyroid Federation International

symptom thyroid : ARE YOU BORDERLINE HYPOTHYROID

2006-07-01T12:16:00.000-07:00

Despite the sensitivity of all the tests the doctors
can give a patient today, a mildly low thyroid person
can still appear normal on paper.

I cannot tell you how many people who write to me and
tell me of all their symptoms that are clearly hypothyroid.
They complain that no doctors will help them, that all the
tests they take come up "normal", but still they suffer
tremendously with symptoms daily.

Why is it that so many people who need some thyroid
hormone simply cannot get it from their doctor?

Dr. Richard Shames of "Thyroid Power" believes one reason
so "many people cannot get thyroid therapy is because many physicians are not aware of the excessive prevalence of low thyroid in the population, or of its collective toll on the
nation's health". The Mayo Clinic has determined that as much as 10 percent of the population suffer from thyroid problems and it appears to be on the increase.

Every thyroid patient has a list of symptoms and complaints that may seem unrelated and even excessive to their doctor.
For example, my symptoms included severe fatigue, ovarian cysts and endometriosis, occasional anxiety, being cold all
the time, some brain fog and other minor symptoms, but nothing was life threatening really, so it didn't grab my gyno's attention.

When I was being diagnosed with endometriosis, the only answer they had for me was "We don't know what
causes this. All we can do is cut it out and give you
Lupron to stop the bleeding". The mentality was and still is, "Just cut that out and things will get better." Got a tumor?
Poison it or cut it out. Feeling some anxiety and a little depression? Here, take this anti-depressant!

Many doctors respond only to tests that reveal evidence of life threatening diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart attacks and the like. When your symptoms are mild and not going to kill you quickly, your doctor may not respond. Many people have told me that their doctors just think they are nuts and they themselves started to believe it. How tragic!

The truth of the matter is that thyroid disease does kill, but very slowly. There were days back a few months ago that I was so tired, that I did feel like I was dying. Those of you who suffer from fatigue know what I mean. Thyroid disease does kill, and if you are hypothyroid, you may develop all sorts of diseases like heart disease, cancer, diabetes if you do not receive treatment. It does not happen overnight, but it does happen.

Thyroid disease can be treated. First you need to stop stressing your body, and start eating healthy foods. Diet, exercise and reducing your stress level will start your recovery. Some people have stressed their body for too long and require a thyroid hormone. There are synthetic hormones and natural hormones. Natural is always better. In fact, synthetic hormones can cause more problems than they solve.

Without treatment, you are setting yourself up for cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and a list of other symptoms like Carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, PMS, infertility, dangerously high cholesterol, severe depression (including suicidal thoughts), obesity, heart failure, stroke, and death. This is about the health of every tissue and organ in your body. Every cell in your body is dependent upon your thyroid.

And if you are of child bearing years, it is very important to
be healthy before you conceive! If you aren't healthy you are
also setting your child up for health problems down the road.

by Victoria

symptom thyroid : MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A THYROID

2006-07-01T12:13:00.000-07:00

PROBLEM

While to some of you, this tip might be very basic (the
powerful info comes in tips five through seven), it is absolutely essential that you make sure your diagnosis is correct before you begin wasting time and money on treatments that are not designed to help your specific situation.

Do you really suffer from Hypothyroidism? That question needs an answer before you embark on a course of treating it.

Getting an accurate test from a physician to diagnose hypothyroidism can be difficult. The truth is, most medical doctors, and conventional medicine as a whole, have failed miserably to truly help the public with thyroid disorders, which is well supported by testimony from thousands of unhappy patients.

You may have been to your doctor and had a test, and the doctor tells you that you are in the "normal range". But you are still dealing with symptoms and know something is very wrong in your body.

Hypothyroidism is the root cause of many symptoms of disease. Because your doctor has given you one test that determines you to be normal does not mean you are in fact normal and not dealing with hypothyroidism.

Victoria

The Living Well Plan

symptom thyroid : SYMPTOMS OF HYPOTHYROIDISM AND WHY THEY ARE IMPORTANT

2006-06-26T00:02:00.000-07:00

If you have fatigue, weight gain, low motivation and ambition, heat and/or cold intolerance, headaches and migraines, dry skin and hair, irritability, anxiety and panic attacks, hair loss, fluid retention, depression, decreased memory and concentration, unhealthy nails, brittle nails, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, low sex drive, insomnia, hives, asthma, allergies, slow healing, acne, or carpal
tunnel syndrome, you may have a thyroid disorder.

If you have you experienced female problems (tumors, fibroids, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, PMS, cramps, (dysmenorrhea), amenorrhea, female cancers, spontaneous abortion, cyclic seizures, dry vagina and infertility), weight problems (usually high, sometimes low), gallbladder disease (six times higher in women with excess estrogen or on birth control pills or ERT), heart disease, cancer, colon problems, low blood sugar, attention deficit disorder (ADD), adrenal exhaustion from excess secretion of adrenaline, and osteoporosis (from excess estrogen leading to excess adrenaline and then to excess cortisol), you may have thyroid disease.

Why is it so important to take note of your symptoms?

If you don't get your thyroid disease diagnosed and start a course of proper treatment, you are setting yourself up for many problems down the road. The longer you leave it untreated, the harder it is to respond to the treatment when you do get it.

Victoria
The Living Well Plan

symptom thyroid : Treatment for Thyroid Disorder

2006-06-25T23:57:00.000-07:00

Treatment for thyroid disorder depends upon the type of condition.

Hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone)

Hypothyroidism, including Hashimoto's thyroiditis, is the simplest of the three types of thyroid disorders to treat. The current method of treatment for hypothyroidism is some form of daily thyroid hormone replacement that provides either T3 or T4, or a combination of the two. The most commonly prescribed thyroid therapy is the T4 medication levothyroxine or
L-thyroxine, with brand names such as Synthroid®, Levothroid®, or Levoxyl®. Synthetic T3 is available as Cytomel®.

Another alternative is natural thyroid therapy, which is desiccated (or dried) animal thyroid, with brand names such as Armour® thyroid. Some practitioners believe the natural thyroid more closely resembles the entire range of human thyroid hormones, including both T3 and T4, as well as other potentially active thyroid hormones. Other healthcare professionals discourage the use of desiccated thyroid, believing it produces variable blood levels of thyroid hormones, not the steady and predictable levels needed for optimal health.

Those with hypothyroidism take T4 for the rest of their lives and, most likely, will need occasional changes in the dosage as well as periodic blood tests. There are many factors that can impair conversion of T4 to T3, and a significant number of patients do not convert T4 to T3 at a sufficient rate (or at all), necessitating a treatment that combines both hormones. Thyroid hormone medications can be individually compounded to include both T3 and T4, however, finding the dose that is right for you may take time.

Hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone)

Radioactive iodine, antithyroid drugs and surgery are all effective treatments for hyperthyroidism and you should discuss these options with your health care professional to help decide which treatment is best for you. Treatment factors to be considered by your healthcare provider include your age, general health and the severity of the condition.

Because iodine is needed to produce thyroid hormone, the most common treatment for hyperthyroidism is administration of a dose of radioactive iodine. After the dose is given, the gland shrinks and the blood levels of thyroid hormone drop over several weeks.

Some hyperthyroid patients are given antithyroid drugs such as propylthiouracil (PTU) or methimazole (Tapazole). These drugs are designed to interfere with the thyroid gland's uptake of iodine.

Surgery to remove part of the overactive thyroid gland is occasionally recommended for treatment of hyperthyroidism.

Many patients treated for hyperthyroidism become hypothyroid so it is important to be aware of the symptoms of hypothyroidism (depression, low body temperature, dry or itchy skin, poor memory, muscle aches, slowed reflexes, among other symptoms) and get additional proper treatment.

Copyright © 2006 Women's Health America, Inc. All rights reserved.

symptom thyroid : Hypothyroidism Low Thyroid

2006-06-22T01:08:00.000-07:00

Hypothyroidism (low thyroid)is a hormone imbalance caused when the thyroid does not produce enough thyroid hormone.

What are the Symptoms of Hypothyroid? The most common are fatigue and intolerance to cold. If everybody is wearing short sleeves and you are wearing a jacket, you most likely have a hypothyroid issue. Other common symptoms are mental instability or depression, muscle weakness and fatigue, poor memory, lethargy and headaches. Still other symptoms are deep slow speech, loss of hair, cold hands and feet, constipation, pale thick skin, brittle nails, and swelling of the face and eyelids. And finally… excessive and painful menstrual flow, nervousness and palpitations.

How to Know for Sure?
You can ask your doctor to perform a thyroid test and/or conduct the following simple self-test at home:

You must first sleep through a full night. (The test will not work if you have gotten up or gone to the bathroom.) When you are awake but still in bed, take your temperature in your armpit. Do this and record the temperatures 3 days in a row. A normal reading would be between 97.8 - 98.2 Fahrenheit. A reading below 97.8 would indicate hypothyroid activity. (Above 98.2 would indicate hyperthyroid activity.) If you are menstruating, take your temperature on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th day of the period.

Causative Influences
Influences which can contribute to Hypothryroidism are malnourishment, and thyroid and pituitary exhaustion due to excessive caffeine, sugar, alcohol and other stimulants. Malnourishment, of course, does not mean lack of food, but rather, a diet of processed, unnatural foods that are not nourishing. Other environmental factors include the consumption of fluoridated water, and pesticides and radiation.

Women Take Note
One out of eight women will develop hypothyroid problems in their life. The condition often manifests between 30 and 50, along with the hormonal changes taking place then. As soon as you enter this age range, it pays to stay alert to this issue. By "nipping it in the bud' you can spare yourself unnecessary suffering. This is why the regular use of a natural progesterone hormone cream like Prosperin can be very helpful.

Helpful Supplements

1. 2000 - 3000 mg. of kelp each day (kelp is rich in iodine, vitamin B and folic acid.) and/or
2. L tyrosine, 500 mg. twice daily, taken on an empty stomach, and not with milk.
3. Raw thyroid glandular - available from your physician.
4. Prosperine for women, Prosperon for men. To learn the value of natural progesterone creams.
5. 2000 mg. vitamin C, to support the adrenal glands

And as always, avoid stress, rest, enjoy your life, eat a healthy diet, and do all your disciplines with joy, every moment.

Warmly, Pieternel van Giersbergen.

symptom thyroid : Can't Lose Weight?

2006-06-22T01:02:00.000-07:00

A thyroid disorder called hypothyroidism means you have an underactive thyroid gland. If you have trouble losing weight no matter what you do, it could be because you are hypothyroid. There are almost 30 million Americans with thyroid disease and women are 7 times more likely than men to have it. Hypothyroid is the most common thyroid disorder and often misdiagnosed by doctors.

You may get this because it is inherited, or because of previous problems, such as nodules, goiter, thyroid cancer, previous thyroid surgery, another autoimmune disease.

This is a condition where the thyroid gland, a small butterfly shaped organ located at the base of the neck, does not produce enough hormone to function properly.

What happens is that it takes in iodine, combines it with tyrosine (an amino acid) and converts it into the hormones T4 and T3. If your thyroid is normal, 80% will be T4 and 20% T3. These hormones travel through the bloodstream, converting oxygen and calories into energy. If this process doesn't work properly, then the calories and oxygen cannot convert the energy properly and you may gain weight or incapability to lose weight.

The symptoms can include : weight gain, depression, forgetfulness, fatigue, hoarseness, high cholesterol, constipation, feeling cold, hair loss, dry skin, low sex drive, tingling hands or feet, irregular periods, infertility. You may even experience recurrent pregnancy loss, resistant high cholesterol, difficult menopause, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, or mitral valve prolapse.

Do you feel sluggish and fatigued on a regular basis, or do you get bouts of depression and sadness? Are you always feeling cold, especially your hands and feet, or do you have brittle nails? These are just some of the possible signs of the disease. There may be other causes, but at least this may give you a clue as to why you do not feel well. Check with your doctor in all cases to be sure.

When your metabolism doesn't work right because you have this disorder, you may find that there's no amount of dieting or exercise that takes the weight off. You may in fact put on extra pounds, even though you are doing just what you are supposed to.

What can you do ? Meet with your doctor and ask if you need a thyroid examination and blood test. These likely will be a TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) blood test, along with T4, T3, Free T4 and Free T3 tests.

A drug called levothyroxine (often called Levo-T, Levoxyl, Synthroid, Unithroid) may be prescribed for you. It is usually inexpensive, has minimal side effects, and has uniform potency. However, all thyroid hormone replacement therapies, whether natural or synthetic, have the ability to restore thyroid hormone levels.

Supplements that contain the following might also help:

- L-Tyrosine - is one of the amino acids that your body needs to make thyroid hormones. It is included in some weight control products because it works to stimulate your metabolism. It's also an element in helping your brain operate more efficiently which makes you feel better.

- Guglipid - an extract from the Indian guggal tree, may improve thyroid function and assist in controlling your weight. Scientists are finding that guglipid lowers bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol, and thus can help somewhat to prevent heart disease.

There is always hope and lots of help out there for you. If you suspect that you have this condition and you are not sure what to do, talk to your physician for guidance and advice.

by Ken Black

symptom thyroid : The Dangers of "Explaining Away Your Symptoms."

2006-06-13T02:50:00.000-07:00

Assess Your Risks -- What are the key risk factors? Your chance of having a thyroid problem is greater if any of the following are true for you:

Family history of thyroid disease -- having parents, grandparents, siblings, and children with thyroid problems significantly increases your risk of also having a thyroid problem
Gender -- women are seven times more likely than men to develop a thyroid problem.
Age -- the risk of thyroid problems increase with age. By the age of 60, a woman has a one in five chance of having a thyroid problem.
Hormonal Change -- the post-partum and menopausal periods seem to be times when women are particularly vulnerable to the appearance of thyroid problems.
Other Autoimmune Diseases -- if you or family members of other autoimmune diseases, like lupus, multiple sclerosis, or rheumatoid arthritis, for example, you have an increased risk of thyroid problems

From Mary Shomon,

symptom thyroid : Could You Have a Thyroid Problem?

2006-06-13T02:45:00.000-07:00

You may be wondering if you have a thyroid problem. But, if you're like many of the people who write to me every day, you may also be wondering if you're looking too much into symptoms you're experiencing, and perhaps struggling too hard to make a diagnosis fit. Or maybe you worry that trying to figure out if you have a thyroid problem will make you look like a hypochondriac to your doctor, friends and family.

Most of the symptoms of thyroid conditions are similar to the symptoms of other conditions and health issues. These symptoms don't automatically suggest "thyroid disease" to practitioners, much less patients. Therefore, it's dangerously easy -- and far too common -- for you or your doctor to explain away thyroid symptoms.

After all, you work long hours, take care of your family, juggle many responsibilities, and are getting older...of course you're tired! You don't get enough exercise, and take one too many trip through the fast food drive-through window each week? It's no surprise you're gaining a few pounds! Are you frazzled by a stressful job or responsibilities? It's no wonder you're experiencing anxiety, panic attacks or depression -- they're common in today's hectic and overburdened society. Do you find it hard to concentrate and remember things, notice you're not sleeping so easily, suffering a diminishing sex drive, and your hair is getting thinner? So, what else is new when you're over 60?

It's very easy to explain away symptoms. For example, a period when hypothyroidism is more common is after having a baby. And what woman who has just had a baby isn't complaining about difficulty losing weight, fatigue, hair loss, and general malaise? Coincidentally, those happen to be the same exact symptoms you might encounter with post-partum hypothyroidism.

Unfortunately, while your symptoms may not be anything more than needing more exercise, or more sleep, or may be normal for a woman for post-partum or menopause, they may point to a diagnosable and treatable condition like thyroid disease.

Compounding the tendency to explain away thyroid symptoms is the fact that, like other autoimmune diseases, the thyroid conditions Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and Graves' Disease also frequently appear during and after periods of great stress -- mental and/or physical. Whether it's coping with another illness, death of a loved one, changes of job or house, going through a divorce, experiencing a car accident -- autoimmune thyroid problems more commonly manifest themselves after these types of crises and stressors. But that's also the same time that you -- and your doctor -- might expect you to suffer symptoms such as fatigue, depression, sleep disorders, and weight changes.

Should You Be Tested for Thyroid Disease?

Some thyroid experts are suggesting that everyone should have thyroid testing at 35 years of age, and every several years thereafter. And researchers recently found that thyroid disease is far more prevalent than previously thought. In fact, more than 13 million Americans may have thyroid disease, but be unaware of it, undiagnosed and untreated.

Despite the vast numbers of undiagnosed people, recommendations for widespread thyroid testing have not been widely adopted or followed. The majority of adults, therefore, have never had a thyroid test, and probably won't receive one unless they request it, or their doctor specifically suspects a thyroid problem.

From Mary Shomon,

symptom thyroid : Thyroid Helper

2006-06-09T01:56:00.000-07:00

Finally, there is a safe and effective nutritional formula to boost thyroid function, energy, mood, and weight loss! Thousands of individuals have benefited from the effective nutrient combination in Thyroid Helper?/strong>. Formulated by thyroid expert Byron Richards and backed by 20 years of expertise and nutritional research, Thyroid Helper?/strong> is designed to support the normal function of thyroid hormone at the cellular level and helps convert basic thyroid hormone (T4) into the active thyroid hormone (T3). It also helps protect the thyroid, liver, and nerves from free-radical stress, a newly emerging scientific issue of great importance to normal and healthy metabolism. See how the quality and potency of the nutrient combination in Thyroid Helper?/strong> can make a difference for you!

Millions Struggle with Sluggish Thyroid Function
Selenium is Vital to Thyroid Function
Helps the Body Form Thyroid Hormone
Enhances Conversion of T4 to Active T3
Warming Up and Energizing
Manganese, a Thyroid and Liver Protector
Enhancing Fat Burning and Insulin Function
Ashwagandha, the Stress-Busting Thyroid Booster
Helps Promote Normal Gall Bladder Function
Supports Healthy Cholesterol Metabolism
Helps Support Bone Metabolism

Millions Struggle with Sluggish Thyroid Function
Thyroid function is weakened by stress, pollution, poor lifestyle, bad eating habits, and a history of yo-yo dieting. It is now proven that various nutrients directly support the healthy structure of the thyroid gland, the formation of thyroid hormone, and the activation of thyroid hormone throughout the body. These are all normal and natural functions that need to be properly maintained to support health.

New science is showing that free radical problems, especially when there are deficiencies of selenium and manganese containing antioxidant enzymes, stress thyroid hormone function. If these nutritional deficiencies are not corrected a person is much more likely to struggle with body weight, insulin function, and poor metabolism.

Sluggish thyroid hormone function is common, a different issue that medical thyroid problems such as hypothyroidism ?which should be addressed by medical doctors. Many individuals have symptoms of slow metabolism, including low body temperature, fatigue, weight gain, trouble losing weight and keeping it off, constipation, poor mood, heavy head, dry skin, and energy problems in the afternoon. Thyroid Helper offers significant nutritional support to help maintain the normal function of thyroid hormone. A considerable amount of exciting new science helps to explain why Thyroid Helper is such a popular product.

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Selenium is Vital to Thyroid Function
Selenium is a mineral that is typically lacking in the American diet due to depleted soils. Selenium plays numerous important roles in health, especially supporting proper thyroid function.

Selenium combines with the sulfur-containing amino acid cysteine to make a special protein known as selenocysteine. This is called a selenoprotein, considered by researchers to be the 21st amino acid. There are 30 selenoproteins that are currently identified, mostly involving the antioxidant defense system and thyroid function.

The selenium-containing antioxidant enzymes are known as glutathione peroxidases (GSH). Six different GSH enzymes have now been identified; helping to protect the inside of cells, the GI tract, the reproductive system, and operating in fluids between cells. GSH enzymes are vital to maintaining normal health. They are now proven to protect the thyroid gland during thyroid hormone formation.

Basic thyroid hormone, thyroxine, contains the amino acid tyrosine in the center, surrounded by four iodine molecules. This is known as T4. It is the hormone produced in the thyroid gland, but it is not biologically active. Selenoproteins act in various ways to change T4 into T3 (active thyroid hormone) and reverseT3 (which inactivates T3). A lack of selenium significantly impairs the formation of thyroid hormone (T4) in the thyroid gland and activation of it to T3 throughout the body.

Selenium is highly concentrated in the thyroid gland, more so than in any other organ in the human body, indicating its vital need in normal thyroid function. Three main selenoproteins activate and inactivate thyroid hormone, known as D1, D2, and D3.

D1 is the main primary activator of thyroid hormone in the body, working mostly in the liver and to some degree in the kidneys. D2 is active in the thyroid gland, brain, nerves, and heart. It plays the primary role in thyroid activation in the brain under normal conditions, and produces thyroid hormone under stressed conditions. D3 is mostly a brake on thyroid hormone activity, turning off active hormone.

When selenium is lacking D1 activity is lessened and GSH antioxidant function is handicapped, leading to slower metabolism and increased free radical stress. Thus, adequate selenium is vital to the preferred way the body would like to metabolize thyroid hormone.

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Helping the Body Form Thyroid Hormone
In order to form thyroid hormone in the first place iodine is added to tyrosine-containing thyroglobulin, which takes place on the cell membrane of thyrocytes (thyroid cells). This process is stimulated by thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) coming from the pituitary gland and the enzyme thyroid peroxidase (TPO), a process that generates tremendous numbers of free radicals within the thyroid gland in the form of H2O2 and lipid peroxides. These must be deactivated by GSH enzymes, otherwise the production of thyroid hormone stresses the thyroid gland and/or the rate of thyroid hormone formation is reduced.

This means that the nutrients selenium, tyrosine, and iodine are essential to normal thyroid hormone formation. Thyroid Helper supplies selenium and tyrosine. Iodine is supplied in a special product called Iosol Iodine. This form of iodine easily ionizes, producing a free iodide that is the preferred form for thyroid gland use. Cheap salts of iodine, such as potassium iodide, sodium iodide, or kelp are much more difficult for the body to use and may congest thyroid function, which is why we don抰 put them in Thyroid Helper.

Copyright © Wellness Resources, Inc. 1999-2006 - Terms & Conditions of Use

symptom thyroid : Could Your Thyroid Be Causing Your Symptoms?

2006-06-09T01:38:00.000-07:00

would like to clarify the tests that one might order to evaluate whether a low thyroid is the cause (or one of the causes) of your symptoms. I will preface the below recommendations based upon what I do in my clinical practice, and that my opinions are not a consensus statement by any means. I am definitely an “outlier" and I interpret my laboratory tests more generously than my colleagues. I believe I have sound science to back up my practice pattern, but it doesn’t mean that I am 100% right, 100% of the time. Other clinicians may have had other training and other clinical experience, and they may find other diagnostic tests to work better for them. I just seem to get results that I am pleased with (and my patients are pleased with as well).

If you suspect hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid function) – you may consider the following methods and tests to help identify this problem:

Basal Temperature

Record your underarm basal body temperature with a glass thermometer (not digital). The procedure for doing so is the following:

1. Get a glass thermometer, not digital (the digital ones stop reading after a minute or two and are not as accurate). Non-mercury glass thermometers are now commercially available at Walgreen’s and other pharmacies (if you have trouble locating a mercury thermometer).

2. Shake down the thermometer the night before you do the test (using your muscles to shake the thermometer will raise your temperature and throw off the test).

Place the thermometer at your bedside with a book (the book will be obvious in a moment).

3. Go to sleep without an extraneous heat source such as a bed partner (spouse, dog, etc), an electric blanket or on a waterbed (they are heated). You are allowed to wear pajamas and use as many blankets as you desire, as they do not throw off the test.

When you wake up in the morning (or if you sleep during the day, when you wake up after at least 4 hours of sleep), use as little movement as possible (all movement moves your muscles and raises your temperature) and place the thermometer in your armpit. Why the armpit? Patients with low thyroid often have allergies or get sinus infections – which raise the temperature inside the mouth. Patients rarely get armpit infections, so this site is more reliable. I have had only one patient who had a difference in temperature between armpits, but that was due to unusual anatomy (she had something called an atrial-venous malformation (AVM) in one armpit). Leave it there for at least ten minutes (hence, you have a book to read. J)

4. Women who still have periods should take their temperature over the first 3 days of their period and average the numbers. Women who have had a hysterectomy but still have at least one ovary will probably want to test over a period of 14 days and use the 3 days with the “lowest" readings. Men and postmenopausal women can test for any 3 days and average.

5. Normal axillary body temperature is between 97.4 and 98.2 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures below that are suggestive of low thyroid.

By Ken Woliner,

symptom thyroid : Hypothyroidism Reaching Epidemic Proportions

2006-06-05T01:24:00.000-07:00

In 1995, researchers studied 25,862 participants at the Colorado statewide health fair. They discovered that among patients not taking thyroid medication, 8.9 percent were hypothyroid (under-active thyroid) and 1.1 percent were hyperthyroid (over-active thyroid). This indicates 9.9 percent of the population had a thyroid problem that had most likely gone unrecognized. These figures suggest that nationally, there may be as many as 13 million Americans with an undiagnosed thyroid problem.1

In her book Living Well With Hypothyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You. . . That You Need to Know, Mary Shomon quotes endocrinologist Kenneth Blanchard, M.D., of Lower Newton Falls, Massachusetts as saying, “The key thing is . . . doctors are always told that TSH is the test that gives us a yes or no answer. And, in fact, I think that's fundamentally wrong. The pituitary TSH is controlled not just by how much T4 and T3 is in circulation, but T4 is getting converted to T3 at the pituitary level. Excess T3 generated at the pituitary level can falsely suppress TSH.”2 Hence, many people who are simply tested for TSH levels and are found to be within “normal” range are, in fact, suffering from thyroid problems that are going undetected.

Ridha Arem, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Baylor College of Medicine, agrees. He says that hypothyroidism may exist despite "normal range" TSH levels. In his book The Thyroid Solution he says:

Many people may be suffering from minute imbalances that have not yet resulted in abnormal blood tests. If we included people with low-grade hypothyroidism whose blood tests are normal, the frequency of hypothyroidism would no doubt exceed 10 percent of the population. What is of special concern, though, is that many people whose test results are dismissed as normal could continue to have symptoms of an under active thyroid. Their moods, emotions, and overall well-being are affected by this imbalance, yet they are not receiving the care they need to get to the root of their problems. Even if the TSH level is in the lower segment of normal range, a person may still be suffering from low-grade hypothyroidism.3

Thus, if we were to include those who may be suffering from “low-grade hypothyroidism,” the number could well be double the 13 million estimate from the Colorado study.

What is Causing This Epidemic?

While more research needs to be done, it is generally accepted that diet plays a major role in thyroid health. For decades we have known that low iodine intake leads to low thyroid function and eventually to goiter. Iodized salt was intended to solve this problem, but it has not been the answer. There are a number of foods known as goitrogens that block iodine. Two goitrogens are quite prevalent in the American diet—peanuts and peanut butter and soybeans used most often in prepared foods as textured vegetable protein (a refined soy food) and soybean oil.

The rise of industrialization, corporate farming, and mass production of food has drastically changed our food supply from what our ancestors ate. Many studies show the detrimental effects of refined sugars and grains on our health. These foods are very taxing on the thyroid gland, and we consume them in large quantities.

Environmental stress such as chemical pollutants, pesticides, mercury, and fluoride are also tough on the thyroid. A growing body of evidence suggests that fluoride, which is prevalent in toothpaste and water treatment, may inhibit the functioning of the thyroid gland. Additionally, mercury may diminish thyroid function because it displaces the trace mineral selenium, and selenium is involved in conversion of thyroid hormones T4 to T3.

Copyright © 2004-2005 Mt. Banahaw Health Products Corp. All Rights Reserved.

symptom thyroid :Thyroid Health and The Coconut Diet

2006-06-05T01:10:00.000-07:00

Many Americans suffer from symptoms such as cold hands and feet, low body temperature, sensitivity to cold, a feeling of always being chilled, headaches, insomnia, dry skin, puffy eyes, hair loss, brittle nails, joint aches, constipation, mental dullness, fatigue, frequent infections, hoarse voice, ringing in the ears, dizziness, loss of libido, and weight gain, which is sometimes uncontrollable. Approximately 65 percent of the U. S. population is overweight; 30 percent is clinically obese. Research is pointing to the fact that an under active thyroid might be the number one cause of weight problems, especially among women, in the US today.

Virgin Coconut Oil offers great hope for those suffering from hypothyroidism (low thyroid function) today. I didn't even realize how much hypothyroidism was affecting my life till I started on the Virgin Coconut Oil and suddenly had energy like the Energizer Bunny! I also gave up the white toxins (wheat flour, refined sugar, potatoes, and other high-glycemic index foods) and that, in combination with my Virgin Coconut Oil consumption has made a tremendous difference in my hormonal balance, mood stability, stamina and overall energy. And, I'm slowly but steadily losing a little bit of weight without effort. Ya gotta love that! Julia (Coconut Diet Forums)

I began taking coconut oil to address a hypothyroid issue. Recently, especially over the last month, thyroid activity plunged and my temperatures would top out for the day somewhere between 97.2 and 97.8. Definitely hypothyroid territory. Now in just a couple of days the coconut oil has boosted my metabolism back toward the normal range (still subnormal but getting there) and my sleep has been incredible. From past experience with thyroid management, I know that--in my case--greatly improved sleep and feelings of rejuvenation after sleep are related to more normal thyroid activity. Whatever the precise mechanism, it's a welcome development. Mike (Coconut Diet Forums)

We have received many other comments such as these from those using Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil with hypothyroidism.

Copyright © 2004-2005 Mt. Banahaw Health Products Corp. All Rights Reserved.

symptom thyroid : Thyroid gland

2006-06-02T03:39:00.000-07:00

Thyroid gland: Hormone gland in the neck around the trachea
Introduction: The thyroid is a small gland in the neck that takes up iodine from the body to produce hormones that help control the body's metabolism, and regulate how quickly the body should work and use energy.1
The thyroid is a gland in the neck. It has two kinds of cells that make hormones. Follicular cells make thyroid hormone, which affects heart rate, body temperature, and energy level. C cells make calcitonin, a hormone that helps control the level of calcium in the blood.

The thyroid is shaped like a butterfly and lies at the front of the neck, beneath the voice box (larynx). It has two parts, or lobes. The two lobes are separated by a thin section called the isthmus.

A healthy thyroid is a little larger than a quarter. It usually cannot be felt through the skin. A swollen lobe might look or feel like a lump in the front of the neck. A swollen thyroid is called a goiter. Most goiters are caused by not enough iodine in the diet. Iodine is a substance found in shellfish and iodized salt.2

Copyright © 2000-2006 Adviware Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.

symptom thyroid : INTRODUCTION TO HYPERTHYROIDISM

2006-06-02T03:32:00.000-07:00

Hyperthyroidism is a large topic so we have split it into four manageable sized portions.
This page introduces hyperthyroidism. Subsequent pages are listed at the bottom which
address more specific details of making the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism, the causes of hyperthyroidism, and different treatment options available for hyperthyroidism.
In healthy people, the thyroid makes just the right amounts of two hormones, T4 and T3, which have important actions throughout the body. These hormones regulate many aspects of our metabolism, eventually affecting how many calories we burn, how warm we feel, and how much we weigh. In short, the thyroid "runs" our metabolism. These hormones also have direct effects on most organs, including the heart which beats faster and harder under the influence of thyroid hormones. Essentially all cells in the body will respond to increases in thyroid hormone with an increase in the rate at which they conduct their business. Hyperthyroidism is the medical term to describe the signs and symptoms associated with an over production of thyroid hormone.
Hyperthyroidism is a condition caused by the effects of too much thyroid hormone on tissues of the body. Although there are several different causes of hyperthyroidism, most of the symptoms that patients experience are the same regardless of the cause (see the list of symptoms below). Because the body's metabolism is increased, patients often feel hotter than those around them and can slowly lose weight even though they may be eating more. The weight issue is confusing sometimes since some patients actually gain weight because of an increase in their appetite. Patients with hyperthyroidism usually experience fatigue at the end of the day, but have trouble sleeping. Trembling of the hands and a hard or irregular heartbeat (called palpitations) may develop. These individuals may become irritable and easily upset. When hyperthyroidism is severe, patients can suffer shortness of breath, chest pain, and muscle weakness. Usually the symptoms of hyperthyroidism are so gradual in their onset that patients don't realize the symptoms until they become more severe. This means the symptoms may continue for weeks or months before patients fully realize that they are sick. In older people, some or all of the typical symptoms of hyperthyroidism may be absent, and the patient may just lose weight or become depressed.

Copyright © 1997-2005. Endocrine Web and the Norman Endocrine Surgery Clinic. All rights reserved.

thyroid symptoms: Thyroid cancer treatment

2006-05-29T19:52:00.000-07:00

Diagnosis Thyroid

The doctor may use several tests to confirm a diagnosis of thyroid cancer. The size and location of the lump has to be identified and it has to be determined whether the lump is non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). Blood tests, such as the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test, may be ordered to check how well the patient's thyroid is functioning.

A test known as the calcitonin test may be ordered if medullary thyroid cancer is suspected. Calcitonin is a hormone produced by the C cells (also called the parafollicular cells) of the thyroid gland, in response to rising levels of calcium in the blood. This hormone lowers calcium levels in blood serum by slowing the rate at which the bones absorb it and increasing the rate at which the kidneys discharge it. When the parafollicular cells of the thyroid become cancerous, they produce too much calcitonin. Because increased serum levels of the calcitonin hormone are characteristic of medullary thyroid cancer, the calcitonin test, which measures serum levels of calcitonin, can be used to confirm a diagnosis of medullary thyroid cancer.

Imaging tests such, as a computed tomography scan (CT scan) or an ultrasound scan, may be used to produce a picture of the thyroid. In ultrasonography, high-frequency sound waves are bounced off the thyroid. The pattern of echoes that is produced by these waves is converted into an image by a computer. This test can determine whether the lumps found in the thyroid are fluid-filled cysts or solid malignant tumors.

A radioactive scan can be used to identify any abnormal areas in the thyroid. The patient is given a very small amount of radioactive iodine, which can either be taken by mouth or injected into the thyroid. Since the thyroid is the only gland in the body that absorbs iodine, the radioactive iodine accumulates there. A x-ray image can then be taken or an instrument called a "scanner" can be used to identify areas in the thyroid that do not absorb iodine normally. These abnormal spots are called "cold spots" and further tests are performed to check whether the cold spots are benign or malignant tumors. If a significant amount of radioactive iodine is concentrated in the nodule, then it is termed "hot" and is usually benign.

The most accurate diagnostic tool for thyroid cancer is a biopsy. In this process, a sample of thyroid tissue is withdrawn and examined under a microscope. The tissue samples can be obtained either by drawing out a sample of tissue through a needle (needle biopsy) or by surgical removal of the nodule (surgical biopsy). If thyroid cancer is diagnosed, further tests may be done to learn about the stage of the disease and help the doctors plan appropriate treatment.

Thyroid Treatment

Treatment for thyroid cancer depends on the type of cancer and its stage. Cancer staging considers the size of the tumor, whether it has grown into surrounding lymph nodes, and whether it has spread to distant parts of the body (metastasized). The patient's age and general health status are also taken into account. Four types of treatment are used: surgical removal, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy.

If the cancer has not spread to distant parts of the body, surgical removal is the usual treatment. The surgeon may remove the side or lobe of the thyroid where the cancer is found (lobectomy) or all of it (total thyroidectomy). If the adjoining lymph nodes are affected, they may also be removed during surgery.

Radiation therapy uses high-energy x rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. The radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external beam radiation) or the patient may be asked to swallow a drink containing radioactive iodine. Because the thyroid cells take up iodine, the radioactive iodine collects in any thyroid tissue remaining in the body and kills the cancer cells.

Hormone therapy uses hormones to stop the cancer cells from growing. When the thyroid gland is removed and levels of thyroid hormones fall, the pituitary gland starts producing a hormone called "thyroid stimulating hormone" (TSH). TSH stimulates the thyroid cells to grow. This stimulation would also induce growth of the cancerous thyroid cells. To prevent cancerous growth, the natural hormones that are produced by the thyroid are taken in the form of pills. Thus, their levels remain normal and inhibit the pituitary from making TSH.

If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body and surgery is not possible, the treatment is aimed at killing or slowing the growth of cancer cells throughout the body. Chemotherapy may be used, either in a pill or an injection through a vein in the arm.

Prognosis

Like most cancers, cancer of the thyroid is best treated when it is found early. More than 90% of patients who are treated for papillary or follicular cancer will live for 15 years or longer after having had thyroid cancer. Eighty percent of patients with medullary thyroid cancer will live for at least 10 years after surgery. The fourth type of thyroid cancer, anaplastic, is usually fatal. Only 3-17% of patients with this cancer survive for 5 years.
Prevention

Because most people with thyroid cancer have no known risk factor, it is not possible to completely prevent this disease. However, inherited cases of medullary thyroid cancer can be prevented. If a family member has had this disease, the rest of the family can be tested.

The National Cancer Institute recommends that a doctor examine anyone who has received radiation to the head and neck during childhood at intervals of one or two years. The neck and the thyroid should be carefully examined for any lumps or enlargement of the nearby lymph nodes. Ultrasonography may be used for people at risk for thyroid cancer.

Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Gale Research, 1999.

thyroid symptoms: Thyroid cancer

2006-05-29T19:48:00.001-07:00

Thyroid cancer Definition

Thyroid cancer is a disease in which the thyroid cells become abnormal, grow uncontrollably, and form tumors. Thyroid cancers are grouped into four types, based on how the cell appears under the microscope. If left untreated, the cancer can spread to other parts of the body.
Description

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland, located at the base of the throat. It has two lobes, the left and the right. The thyroid gland makes hormones that regulate heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and metabolism. The hormones produced by the thyroid also affect the nervous system, muscles, and other organs, and play an important role in regulating childhood growth and development. The thyroid uses iodine, a mineral found in some foods, to make several of its hormones.

Diseases of the thyroid gland occur frequently, affecting millions of Americans. The most common diseases are an overactive or an underactive thyroid gland. These conditions are called hyperthyroidism (Grave's disease) or hypothyroidism. Sometimes, lumps or masses may develop in the thyroid glands. Ninety-five percent of these lumps or nodules are non-cancerous (benign), but all thyroid lumps should be taken seriously.

According to the estimates of the American Cancer Society, approximately 17,200 new cases of thyroid cancer will occur in the United States in 1998. This disease accounts for 1% of all cancers.

A woman's risk of developing thyroid cancer is three times greater than a man's. Most people who develop thyroid cancer are 50 years of age or older, but the disease can affect teenagers and young adults.

Thyroid cancers are grouped into four types, depending on how the cells look under the microscope. The types are papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic thyroid cancers. The cancers grow at different rates, so the aggressiveness of each cancer is different.

Papillary cancer develops in the cells that produce thyroid hormones containing iodine. It is a slow-growing cancer and can be treated successfully. About 60-80% of all thyroid cancers are papillary cancers.

Follicular cancers also develop in the cells that produce iodine-containing hormones. Many of the follicular cancers have a good cure rate, but if the cancer invades blood vessels or grows into nearby structures in the neck, it may be difficult to control. About 30-50% of thyroid cancers are follicular cancers.

Medullary cancers develop in the parafollicular cells (also known as the C cells). These cells produce a hormone called calcitonin, which does not contain iodine. These cancers are more difficult to control because they have a tendency to spread to other parts of the body. About 5-7% of all thyroid cancers are medullary cancers. Approximately 7% of medullary cancers are caused by the alteration (mutation) of a gene called the RET gene; these cancers can be passed on in families.

Anaplastic cancer is the fastest growing of all thyroid cancers. The cells rapidly spread to the different parts of the body. About 2% of all thyroid cancers are anaplastic cancers.

thyroid Causes & symptoms

Although the exact cause of thyroid cancer has not yet been determined, it has been observed that thyroid cancer affects women three times as often as it affects men. The rate of thyroid cancer is also higher in whites than in African Americans.

Exposure to radiation during childhood is a known risk factor for thyroid cancer. In the 1950s and 1960s, radiation was used to treat acne and to reduce swelling and infection of organs in the neck, such as the tonsils, adenoids, and lymph nodes. Recent studies have proved that people who received radiation to the head and neck during their childhood have a higher than average chance of developing thyroid cancer.

In areas of the world where people's diets are low in iodine, papillary and follicular cancers occur more frequently. In the United States, dietary iodine is plentiful because it is added to table salt and other foods.

The most frequent symptom of thyroid cancer is a lump or nodule that can be felt in the neck. Other symptoms are rare. The lump usually is not painful, but some patients experience a tight or full feeling in the neck and have some difficulty breathing or swallowing. The lymph nodes may be swollen and the voice may become hoarse because the tumor presses on the nerves leading to the voice box.
Encyclopedia of Medicine by Lata Cherath

symptom thyroid : Thyroid hormones

2006-05-29T19:42:00.000-07:00

Thyroid Definition

Thyroid hormones are artificially made hormones that make up for a lack of natural hormones produced by the thyroid gland.

Thyroid Purpose

The thyroid gland, a butterfly-shaped structure in the lower part of the neck, normally produces a hormone called thyroxine. This hormone controls the rate of metabolism -- all the physical and chemical processes that occur in cells to allow growth and maintain body functions. When the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroxine, body processes slow down. People with underactive thyroid glands feel unusually tired and may gain weight, even though they eat less. They may also have trouble staying warm and may have other symptoms, such as dry skin, dry hair, and a puffy face. By making up for the lack of natural thyroxine and bringing the rate of metabolism back to normal, artificially made thyroid hormone improves these symptoms.

Thyroid hormones also may be used to treat goiter (enlarged thyroid gland) and certain types of thyroid cancer.
Description

Thyroid hormones, also called thyroid drugs, are available only with a physician's prescription. They are sold in tablet form. A commonly used thyroid hormone is levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid).
Recommended dosage

For adults and teenagers, the usual starting dose of levothyroxine tablets is 0.0125 mg (12.5 micrograms) to 0.05 mg (50 micrograms) per day. The physician who prescribes the medicine may gradually increase the dose over time.

For children, the dose depends on body weight and must be determined by a physician.

Taking thyroid hormones exactly as directed is very important. The physician who prescribes the medicine will figure out exactly how much of the medicine a patient needs. Taking too much or too little can make the thyroid gland overactive or underactive.

This medicine should be taken at the same time every day.

Thyroid Precautions

People who take thyroid hormones because their thyroid glands do not produce enough natural hormone may need to take the medicine for the rest of their lives. Seeing a physician regularly while taking this medicine is important. The physician will make sure that the medicine is working and that the dosage is correct.

In patients with certain kinds of heart disease, this medicine may cause chest pains and shortness of breath during exercise. People who have this problem should be careful not to exert themselves too much.

Anyone who is taking thyroid hormones should be sure to tell the health care professional in charge before having any surgical or dental procedures or receiving emergency treatment.

This medicine is safe to take during pregnancy, but the dosage may need to be changed. Women who are pregnant should check with their physicians to make sure they are taking the proper dosage.

Anyone who has had unusual reactions to thyroid hormones in the past should let his or her physician know before taking the drugs again. The physician should also be told about any allergies to foods, dyes, preservatives, or other substances.

Before using thyroid hormones, people with any of these medical problems should make sure their physicians are aware of their conditions:

* Heart disease
* High blood pressure
* Hardening of the arteries
* Diabetes
* History of overactive thyroid
* Underactive adrenal gland
* Underactive pituitary gland.

Side effects

This medicine usually does not cause side effects if the dosage is right. Certain symptoms may be signs that the dose needs to be changed. Check with a physician if any of these symptoms occur:

* Headache
* Fever
* Diarrhea
* Vomiting
* Changes in appetite
* Weight loss
* Changes in menstrual period
* Tremors of the hands
* Leg cramps
* Increased sensitivity to heat
* Sweating
* Irritability
* Nervousness
* Sleep problems.

Other side effects are possible. Anyone who has unusual symptoms while taking thyroid hormones should get in touch with his or her physician.
Interactions

Thyroid hormones may interact with other medicines. This may increase or decrease the effects of the thyroid medicine and may interfere with treatment. Anyone who takes thyroid hormones should not take any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines without the approval of his or her physician. Among the drugs that may interact with thyroid hormones are:

* Medicine for colds, hay fever, and other allergies
* Medicine for asthma and other breathing problems
* Medicine for diabetes
* Blood thinners
* Amphetamines
* Diet pills (appetite suppressants)
* Cholesterol-lowering drugs such as cholestyramine (Questran) and colestipol (Colestid).
Encyclopedia of Medicine by Nancy Ross-Flanigan

Jamo Debuts iPod Home Stereo

2006-05-16T22:53:00.000-07:00

Jamo Debuts iPod Home Stereo
Jamo which is distributed in Australia by Qualifi has launched the i300, a stand-alone powered subwoofer/satellite speaker system that turns an iPod into the heart of a full-fledged home entertainment system, offering full-strength hi-fi performance. The system will sell for $599 in Australia.

The Jamo i300 comprises of an a iPod control dock, an active subwoofer plus two compact satellite loudspeakers. It also comes with a long-range radio frequency remote control that allows remote control from various rooms in a house.

The 2.1-channel system's versatility includes a control dock which charges the iPod is also fitted with an extra auxiliary input on its rear panel so that one can hook up a computer, portable DVD player or games console to the system. One can also direct input into the subwoofer itself.

A Jaemo Spoksman said "How can we guarantee hi-fi quality sound? Using solidly constructed 2-way satellites helps. The speakers supplied with this system are magnetically-shielded boxes - finished in high gloss white - that can be wall or table-top mounted. These little marvels feature a precision-engineered 76mm/3in co-axial driver that delivers truly pin-point sonic imaging".

He added "What's more, the subwoofer (which also has a high gloss white finish) is just as capable with a high-efficiency class D digital amplifier powering an 6.5in bass driver, all housed in a solid but very compact reflex-ported enclosure."

"Who's going to buy the Jamo i300? Anybody who wants to make more of the music they've lovingly stored on their iPod. Where's it going to end up? Bedrooms, college dorms, studies, home offices… even music mixing desks: the possibilities for the i300 are endless."

by David Richards

The Perils of Home Theater

2006-05-13T21:34:00.000-07:00

Anyone who thinks that the computer industry has made things difficult for customers, wait till you look at home theater. There is a major opportunity here to enlarge the market considerably by setting, agreeing upon, and implementing industry-wide standards for interconnection, aimed at making the result easier to install and use, far more comprehensible, and therefore more attractive to the average family.
I am appalled by the lack of understanding of consumers in the home theater industry, by the complexity, by the emphasis on jargon, by the lack of standards (and the competing standards wars), and in general, by the whole mess.

I am putting together a home theater. I bought a high-definition TV set, a receiver, and the 8 speakers required to give THX 7.1 surround sound. And a digital satellite receiver, capable of receiving HDTV signals, even though hardly any are being sent, plus, of course the set-top box controller for the High Definition satellite receiver. And a TiVo digital video recorder to time shift shows. And a progressive DVD player, a VCR, and my old laser-disc player. And, well, that's enough.

So there I was, seated in my brand new home theater, holding a pile of thick instruction manuals plus 7 remote controls, not including the programmable remote control that is intended to replace those other seven, once I learn to program it.

First problem: Jargon. Ordinary human beings should not have to understand jargon like this: progressive, interlaced, 5.1, 7.1, 480i, 480p, 960i, 1080i, 16/9, 4/3, 3:2 pulldown, anamorphic, stretched, expanded, large speakers, small speakers, matrix sound. It is too much. Why should the ordinary consumer have to know all this?.

Worse, the different components fight with one another. Who is in control? My satellite receiver? The DVD player? The Receiver? The TV set? Each wants to control the resolution and the picture format. Do I want the image to be distorted to fit the whole screen or to be shown the way it was originally produced, always wary of those bold warnings included with the TV set that if I watched pictures that didn't cover every bit of the screen, why I would risk getting the dreaded CRT burn-in. And then, if I make the wrong choices, I end up deadlocked, with the components battling the TV set, with the end result being not only no picture on the screen, but the inability to regain control because without on-screen menus, all control is lost. (This happened when I tried to send the output of the High Definition TV satellite receiver to the TiVo and then to the TV set. Thank goodness for the fine print in the manuals that revealed secret button sequences on one of the remote controls that allowed me to get back a picture. I haven't used the TiVo since.)

The smart, programmable remote control is supposed to solve these problems. After considerable study, I purchased the Philips Pronto. Yes, one can program the Pronto to make everything transition gracefully with a single button push, but the required programming is not for the faint of heart. I am still waiting for the equipment installers to do that -- just one more visit, they promise, and it will all be solved.

Copyright © 2001 Donald A. Norman. All rights reserved.

Learning to Play Roulette

2006-05-10T23:29:00.000-07:00

Roulette is a casino game played at a table with a numbered grid, a wheel and a small white ball.

The first think a player must do if you are playing Roulette in a Casino is exchange your chips for the special roulette chips. These chips are special because several layers may want to place a bet on the same number as other players so each player has their own color chips so there can be no confusion.

There is a numbered grid on the Roulette table broken into 2 parts the inside and the outside. The inside of a Roulette table is 3 numbers across and 12 numbers long and each group of 12 is its own section. On top of this is either a single zero or single and double zeros.

The outside of the Roulette grid is where you can bet if the winning number will be an odd or even number and what color it will be, also you can bet on what group of 12 or what column the winner will be in.

Betting on the outside pays of less then the inside but is more easily won. A player is smarter to play the outside and maybe drop the occasional chip on a lucky number on the inside. Playing smart on the outside you can see a return about 55% of the time.

After a pre determined amount of time the dealer will spin the wheel and drop the ball in the groove. The Roulette dealer will then wave his hands over the table and call no more bets. At this point the only thing to do is wait and see who will win

© Copyrights 2005 Black Jack 21 Net

Encyclopedia of Asian Food

2006-05-07T23:49:00.000-07:00

I have a distant but naggingly persistent memory of eating a most unusual fruit while traveling through Asia some two decades ago. The outer skin "sticks" in my mind most - this is an intentional pun, for as the illustration shows, the skin of this small, oval fruit is covered with soft spikes. I remember touching these spikes and delighting at their surprisingly flexible texture, then being treated to the white, sweet flesh inside. Regretfully, I never caught the name of this fruit, or if I did, I never retained it. And my frustration of not knowing the fruit's name and never tasting it since - despite wide and futile searches through Little Asia neighborhoods - has fueled my vigilant quest for food reference books of all types, not just Asian ones. What makes a food reference book "good" can be a subject of debate. Some books focus on history, like James Trager's excellent The Food Chronology. Others seek to define foods and food terms more practically, as in Sharon Tyler Herbst's outstanding Food Lover's Companion, which I never let out of my reach when writing or researching. Both of these volumes stand out just for their scope: Herbst's contains over 900 listings in the Second Edition, and Trager's covers events from 1 million BC to 1995, with a phenomenal index that's 60 pages long in itself. But as comprehensive as these books are, I still seek other food reference books that focus on different subjects or themes.

My collection of food reference books is fairly extensive, though it will never be complete. As wars, trade and economics import both emigrants and their foods into this country, guides to shopping for, eating and cooking with so-called ethnic foods begin to crop up. In particular, books that define and illustrate those elusive, unusual and literally foreign foods and ingredients of Asian lands and cultures always seem to have a solid audience. Just as travel guidebooks often include pictograms with definitions, the same type of language barrier dictates a need for food reference books that fully detail those odd products and produce one encounters in ethnic markets. Without the aid of a live foreign language translator, especially one knowledgeable in the ways of food, these reference books are essential to dedicated and adventuresome foodies like me. I've found that Charmaine Solomon's Encyclopedia of Asian Food is almost like having a tour guide and translator right by my side.

Charmaine Solomon's Encyclopedia of Asian Food is far too big and fat to comfortably pack in your purse as a shopping guide (that would be like cramming a Sumo wrestler into a coach airline seat). But what a book it is! Ingredients aren't just listed and described, they're discussed with attention to region, techniques, explanations of how to use them, names in various languages, and in the cases of fruits and vegetables, many include illustrations (though I would love to see even more).

But knowing the description of a food you've never eaten before doesn't help much when trying to prepare it, and over 500 recipes in the book are catalogued right next to the ingredient entry. For instance, the listing for Water Spinach includes an illustration of leaves and stem (both are edible), a description of each, where it's found (throughout Asia), and its name in nine Asian nations ranging from China (ong choy) to Vietnam (rau muong). The author describes how to prepare it - and then offers five recipes, two from Thailand, and one each from Sri Lanka, Malaysia and China. At this point, I feel very comfortable walking out of an Asian market with a plump bag of water spinach and a plan for its use.

Words for typical dishes you might encounter are also included, such as Laksa, a type of spicy soup that comes in many varieties (two of these recipes accompany the listing). Countries even get their own entry, as in Japan and Burma, in which the author encapsulates the predominant traits and common dishes of each. Which brings to mind the scope of this book in terms of countries. "Asia" in this compendium embraces the world from Pakistan and the Indian subcontinent through North Asia, South East Asia, Indochina, and even to the Pacific Islands.

Not all good food reference books make for good reads as well, but this one does. I leave it around the house and always find something interesting to peruse and then discuss over drinks or dinner. Did you know that the mango, so common to Mexican and Latin American meals, is native to India and Malaysia? And of the many varieties that exist, one in particular is known as the turpentine mango "because that is exactly what they smell and taste like... if you find a tree laden with fruit that nobody seems to want, there is usually good reason."

And by the way, I finally found that prickly little fruit I've been so long searching for. Charmaine Solomon's Encyclopedia of Asian Food identifies it as a rambutan, ripe in July and August, and it's best eaten fresh, not cooked. So now that I know what I'm looking for, finding it in a local Asian market should be a piece of cake, right? Of course, it will! Well, at least knowing what's called has given me some satisfaction. In fact, I saw some cans of rambutans the other day and almost bought one. But having tasted it fresh, I'm on a quest for the real thing, one with those ticklish little spikes I once so enjoyed. And thanks to Charlaine Solomon's book, perhaps this summer my quest will be fulfilled. At least, now having read her entry on rambutan, I'll at least know to cut, serve and eat this luscious fruit whenever I do find it!

By Charlaine Solomon

Where the South meets the sea

2006-05-03T21:11:00.000-07:00

The South's beaches rank among the most beautiful in the world. ranging from action-packed resort areas to quiet pockets of paradise.

Like the tides that rise to the pull of the goon and sun, we're irresistibly drawn to the sand-streaked edges of the South. From diet buff-off colored grains that dapple the southern Atlantic shores to the snowy fringes of the Gulf Coast, they lure us with their awesome beauty and promises of fun, relaxation, and discovery.

I've always felt that choosing the right beach for leisure time requires almost as much thought as selecting a neighborhood in which to raise a family. The choice is all about quality, value, and making memories.

The textures and tones of Southern beaches are rich and varied, and sampling them remains one of life's great pleasures.

Bumper to bumper, Friday night traffic crawls ata turtle's pace during summer along Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. On the strip, neon signs vie with the bright lights of the Myrtle Beach Pavilion Amusement Park-an 11-acre playground of rides and games that sits right in the heart of town and across from the beach. Tomorrow the brightest light will be the sun, under which parents will play golf or shop the outlet malls, while lithe young bodies soak up the sun's rays.

Another teen scene flourishes at Panama City Beach on Florida's Gulf Coast. One of the biggest draws is the Miracle Strip amusement park. No matter how much water the ocean holds, the younger set can't resist the wave pool at Shipwreck Island Water Park. There's still plenty of action out in the emerald Gulf waters, though, from waterskiing to snorkeling to scuba diving. As the sun sinks toward the horizon, many find their way to Capt. Anderson'svoted the South's top seafood restaurant in the Southern Living 2002 Readers' Choice Awards.

Follow the Boardwalks

Seafood also graces the best tables in Ocean City, Maryland. But the real attraction is the 3-mile-long boardwalk, which always appears to be more populated than the beach. It resembles a treadmill running alongside a smorgasbord of activities and tasty treats, with folks briefly stepping off to buy French fries or try a ride.

by Lingo, Karen

Stretch marks. by Vigdis Tange Andersen

2006-04-28T22:33:00.000-07:00

What is a stretch mark? A stretch mark is depression the streaks the skin and is caused by tears in the elasticity of the skin tissues. They may be pink, reddish brown, very dark brown, or in between colors. The colors of stretch marks depend on the color of the skin. Usually they will fade with time, but not totally disappear. Woman or men with darker skin, it is harder to tell and it may appear very faint.

Anyone can get stretch marks and even men. Woman and men will get stretch marks when they gain or lose weight quickly. The more you gain and lose the more marks that will probably show on your body. All woman get stretch marks during a pregnancy. It happens usually in the later stages because the belly is more rapidly growing. Some woman will get stretch marks on their hips, thighs, abdomen, back, and buttocks. Because the mother's breasts will swell during pregnancy, it is common to get stretch marks around the bust area.

Everyone can get stretch marks. Sometimes it is from the loss or extreme gain of weight. It all depends on how elastic your skin is. Your elasticity lies in the genes. If your mother or sister has stretch marks caused from a pregnancy or other reasons, it is most likely that you will too. The reason why pregnant woman get stretch marks are because of the weight gain, carrying more than one child, or you have excess amniotic fluid.

There is nothing that you can do to prevent stretch marks. Some tips to prevent stretch marks during a pregnancy are to keep your skin moisturized, gain only the recommended amount of weight, and try to gain the weight slowly. Although they will fade, stretch marks take away that smooth feeling of the skin. It is best to try to prevent them during a pregnancy, but there's not much you can do.

A laser can remove stretch marks, but this can be costly and is considered cosmetic surgery. If your stretch marks bother you, you may want to talk to a dermatologist and ask if there is any creams that will help them fade more quickly. A dermatologist cannot help the texture of skin that is caused by the stretch marks.

Stretch marks can be embarrassing, but everyone will get some at some point in their lives. It's only natural for humans to gain and lose weight so stretch marks seem only cosmetic surgery too. As long as the skin is kept moisturized, the skin shouldn't develop stretch marks. However, there is not guarantee that they won't appear. There is really nothing anyone can do to prevent stretch marks and they are on the body for life, though they will fade to be hardly noticeable.

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Vigdis Tange Andersen: http://www.stretchmarkremoval.biz