Tired Of Being Tired

Some staggering new statistics have been released about the thyroid. It has now been shown that more people are diagnosed with a thyroid disorder than with diabetes (and that’s diagnosed and UNdiagnosed diabetes!) So, why is this important? Your thyroid sets your metabolic rate and can be compared to the gas/brake pedal in your car. If your thyroid is functioning at a lower level then it should, (which describes almost 90% of people who have a thyroid disorder) it is like slamming on the brakes in your body. This may slow down your body’s natural functions and result in some of these common signs:

• Hair thinning/ falling out
• Getting overly tired or sluggish
• Feeling cold (hands, feet, all over)
• Requiring excessive amounts of sleep to function properly
• Increase in weight gain even with a low-calorie diet
• Gaining weight easily
• Difficult, infrequent bowel movements
• Depression or lack of motivation
• Morning headaches that wear off as the day progresses
• Thinning of the outer ⅓ of the eyebrow
• Dryness of the skin and/or scalp
• Mental sluggishness

Considering that every cell in your body has receptor sites for thyroid hormone, the thyroid must be an important part of healthy, normal functioning. Right? The answer is ABSOLUTELY! Most people with thyroid disorders have a low-functioning (or hypo) thyroid, and almost all of those people suffer from a disorder where the immune system attacks the thyroid, therefore decreasing its function. It is important to monitor the function of the thyroid and to address the cause of abnormal functioning, especially if it is the immune system. It is very common form women to develop thyroid disorders after their first pregnancy as certain parts of the immune system increase their function in the 3rd trimester with other parts increasing their function post-labor. This change in the immune system is often the trigger for women developing the disorder where the immune system attacks the thyroid, causing it to slow down.

Since thyroid hormone is needed by every cell in your body, it is important to have your thyroid checked and to work with someone who will address the cause of thyroid dysfunction if it is found. There are many ways to alternatively manage the symptoms of thyroid disorders and to increase its function naturally. If you suspect that you have thyroid issues, please contact a healthcare provider that will assess your thyroid AND immune system while educating you on possible long-term management options. Also, please come learn more about the thyroid at the Greenville Thyroid Support Group which can be found on Facebook by searching “Greenville Thyroid Support Group” under groups.

 

In health and happiness,

Dr. Brian & Dr. Sarah

 

Make sure to follow us on Facebook @ www.Facebook.com/LifeLogicHealth

Infertility: There Is Hope!

It is becoming more and more common for couples to walk into our office with a primary complaint of infertility. They are usually having trouble conceiving their first child, are unable to carry a pregnancy to term, or have had one child and are having difficulty conceiving the second. No matter the circumstance, there is a certain sense of failure and defeat that comes along with infertility. The worst part is that out of desperation, most couples resort to high-cost options to try to get pregnant and have no guarantee of a positive outcome from treatment.

So, what causes infertility, what are the best treatments, and what options do couples have? First off, there are several factors affecting fertility, and lab testing is without a doubt the best way to determine the cause. In a traditional medical model, the cause is usually identified as low or high levels of certain hormones and the treatment typically consists of some type of hormone replacement. Unfortunately, it is not common for doctors to ask the question, “Why?” when considering treatment. If a woman’s progesterone levels are low, the treatment is usually to administer a drug or give progesterone shots to increase her hormone levels. Yet, there can be MANY reasons for low progesterone levels in the first place. Is there an issue with inflammation or blood sugar regulation that is interfering with proper hormone synthesis and release? Or is it an issue of decreased thyroid function influencing fertility? There are very few people who try to find the real CAUSE of infertility instead of simply affecting a symptom.

I’ve heard some people say they don’t care about the cause of their problem if the treatment allows them to have a child. Although this can be a fair statement (depending on the situation), I still challenge that finding the reason for infertility and correcting it with long-lasting treatments will allow a couple to conceive as many children as they would like in the future. This gives them a sense of empowerment in their health and allows the body to function in a capacity that it is intended for. In order to achieve this level of care, a patient should always get long-term hormone testing to monitor monthly hormone cycles and should have general blood work done to determine other issues that may be influencing fertility.

Having children is a personal, life-changing decision. Allowing any treatment for infertility is just as personal of a decision and should be carefully considered based upon as much information as possible. Your child’s life may depend on it!

In health & happiness,

Dr. Brian & Dr. Sarah

Make sure to follow us on Facebook @ www.Facebook.com/LifeLogicHealth

Why is Parenthood So Exhausting!?

As a parent, I’m sure that at some point you have been (or are) tired, stressed, overwhelmed, anxious, or feeling older than you would like. You may have even noticed some changes to your body over the past several years such as difficulty losing weight, hair loss, bouts of depression, brain fog, and/or weak and brittle nails. It seems that after you have children, your body starts doing things it shouldn’t, and doesn’t do certain things when you need it to. If you have ever questioned the reason for this, I’m sure you’ve heard this response: “You have kids! Of course you’re going to be tired, overweight, anxious,*fill in the blank*!” With this being such a common complaint especially among mothers, there has to be a reason that so many women suffer from these issues.

If we look at pregnancy and the numerous stressors placed on the body before, during, and after, then we can start to understand why you may feel the way you do. By no means are we trying to say that handling the daily to-do list of a mom isn’t reason enough to be stressed or even exhausted, but it doesn’t have to be as much of a struggle. Being the best parent possible will be less challenging when your body is working properly.

During pregnancy the body has to temporarily adapt in many different ways to compensate for the development and safety of the baby. On a basic level, your body’s immune system is divided into two groups: one that “attacks” dead tissue and foreign invaders (TH-1), and one that “tags” or identifies the dead tissue and invaders (TH-2).  You will attack what you tag. It makes perfect sense that this would happen on a daily basis, and especially during pregnancy, because you don’t want your immune system destroying parts of your body for no reason. These two systems need to work in unison for you to be healthy.

During the last trimester of pregnancy your body becomes TH-2 dominant, meaning that the tagging/identifying part of your immune system becomes more active or dominant than the attacking (TH-1) part. Upon giving birth, your immune system will flip-flop and become TH-1 dominant, primarily as a way of protecting your body and to help clean up extra tissues after the birth. As you can imagine, this drastic switch in your immune system  over the course of approximately 10-14 weeks, on top of the sheer stress of giving birth, can be quite a daunting task for your body.

It is quite common for new moms to develop autoimmune conditions after going through these natural, drastic changes in their immune system. Autoimmune conditions fundamentally occur when the immune system is out of balance (TH-1 or TH-2 dominance) and results in the destruction of your own tissues and organs. The most common autoimmune disorder is Hashimoto’s Hypothyroidism, which occurs when your immune system attacks and destroys your thyroid gland. Roughly 27 million Americans suffer from thyroid disorders (diabetes effects rough 25 million) and Hashimoto’s Hypothyroidism is the most common form of thyroid dysfunction. If you are diagnosed with Hashimoto’s it does not mean you have something wrong with your thyroid, it simply means that you have an immune system imbalance affecting your thyroid. You will frequently see Hashimoto’s listed as Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis which is an acute inflammatory response to the thyroid gland.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of your neck just below where your Adam’s Apple would be. It is responsible for the basal metabolic rate of your body, or simply put, your metabolism. Every single cell in your body is affected by the hormone produced by your thyroid, just as your thyroid is also effected by every single cell in your body. Since the thyroid has such a global affect on your body, immune system balance and thyroid health are vital for healthy metabolism and wellness.

When someone is suffering from Hashimoto’s their health becomes a roller coaster. Their thyroid begins to function less than normal (hypothyroidism) causing their metabolism to slow down. This leads to weight gain, sluggishness, brain fog, and even depression. People can also experience bouts of increased thyroid function (hyperthyroidism) resulting in heart palpitations, anxiety, restlessness, trembling, and trouble sleeping. This can be a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. Hashimoto’s sufferers often experience symptoms of hyper- AND hypo-thyroidism as their immune system fluctuates. It is common for people with this disorder to feel like hypochondriacs or like they are always sick with “mysterious” symptoms due to these fluctuations.

If you are concerned that you have Hashimoto’s Hypothyroidism, it is important to get checked by a healthcare professional. This is typically done through simple blood testing to screen for the presence of specific antibodies. While there is no “cure” for Hashimoto’s or any other autoimmune disease, the condition can be managed. The best management is one that specifically targets balancing the immune system and its many aggravating influences. This usually can not be done through medication or iodine supplementation alone (in fact, iodine may aggravate the condition!)

The best tool you have for improving your health is information- be responsible and educate yourself!

In Health and Happiness,

Dr. Brian & Dr. Sarah

Make sure to follow us on Facebook @ www.Facebook.com/LifeLogicHealth

For more information, please join our Greenville Thyroid Support Group!

http://www.meetup.com/Greenville-Thyroid-Support-Group/