health education | wellness

Month: July 2018

Signs of Thyroid Disease

The Thyroid – Your Master Gland of Metabolism

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck, and it represents the master gland of your metabolism. It produces an important body chemical known as the thyroid hormone. This hormone regulates many bodily functions, including temperature maintenance, the body’s systemic metabolism and importantly, your heartbeat.

When your thyroid doesn’t function properly, every aspect of your health is affected. Overproduction or underproduction of the thyroid hormone may lead to thyroid disease that can cause weight gain or loss, lack of energy and depression.

Undiagnosed thyroid problems can increase the risks of obesity, depression, anxiety, heart disease, hair loss, infertility, sexual dysfunction, and many other conditions. To be more aware if you have a problem with your thyroid, it is best to know the common signs of thyroid disease.

Common Signs of Thyroid Malfunction

As we mentioned, the thyroid can either have an overproduction or underproduction of the hormone. The most common signs of thyroid disease are:

• Fatigue

Feeling tired all the time, even after having a 10-hour sleep, and having little to no energy during your regular waking hours, are issues often associated with many different conditions. However, this can be strongly related with hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a disorder that is caused by reduced thyroid hormone production in the body. If you feel exhausted far too often than usual, this may be a sign that your thyroid is underactive. Fatigue is the number one symptom of thyroid disease.

• Depression and Anxiety

Low thyroid levels are typically associated with depression. Conversely, feelings of anxiety or panic attacks can be linked to excessively high thyroid levels in the body. If you suffer from depression, and you don’t respond to antidepressants, then there is a high probability you have undiagnosed thyroid hormone imbalance.

• Fertility Problems and Menstrual Irregularities

Painful and long menstrual periods, with heavier flow than usual, can be closely associated to a thyroid function disorder – hypothyroidism. On the other hand, infrequent and lighter menstrual flow is often a sign of its counterpart – hyperthyroidism. In hyperthyroidism, your menstrual period may become shorter, farther apart and very light. It is best therefore to observe your menstrual flow consistency (heavy or light), its monthly frequency (shorter or longer periods) and any atypical sensations you may experience.

• Fuzzy Brain

Cognitive functions can also be affected by the presence of a thyroid disease. Too much thyroid hormone production can cause difficulties in every day concentration, while too little of it may cause frequent forgetfulness and general brain fog. Brain fogginess is a summation of the feelings of confusion, lack of focus and lack of mental clarity; hence, you may experience difficulty and frustration going through your everyday tasks.

• Weight changes

Too much thyroid hormone can make you feel hungry all the time. This condition may cause you to have unpredicted blasts of increased appetite; and even if you keep on eating to satisfy your hunger pangs, it won’t result to gaining weight. This increase in appetite leading to increased food intake, but not gaining weight, is a sign of hyperthyroidism. On the other hand, hypothyroidism can result in the difficulty of losing weight amidst your efforts of taking in low-fat and low-calorie diet. No matter how strict you follow your diet plan, you are still unable to lose a single pound.

• Constipation or Diarrhea

Long-term constipation is often a sign of low thyroid levels. Under normal conditions, the body needs the thyroid hormone for the digestive muscles to contract and move. This action allows for the normal excretory processes in the digestive tract to happen. When thyroid hormone level is low, this causes the muscles of the digestive tract to be sluggish or slow in action. In the long run, this causes constipation as our body’s wastes are not released timely and correctly.

Irritable bowel syndrome or diarrhea, on the other hand, can be linked with too much thyroid production. Over activity of the digestive tract muscles, due to the increased levels of the hormone causes the small and large intestines to over react and thereby cause excessive release of body waste.

• Dry Skin and Hair Loss

Hair and skin are very sensitive to thyroid level changes. Hair loss is often linked with the thyroid disease. Hair texture becomes coarse and dry when thyroid levels drop too low; that is why hair falls and breaks easily. Similarly, when your skin is dry and itchy, this can be a symptom of hypothyroidism. This is because low levels of the thyroid hormone slows down your metabolism and changes your skin texture and appearance. It can reduce sweating that can lead to making the skin dry quickly and become flaky. Additionally, nails may also become brittle too.

• Muscle weakness and pain

If you feel aches in your muscles and joints, followed by unexplained weakness in arms and legs, this could be a sign of thyroid disease.

• Problems with Cholesterol

High cholesterol in the blood, which doesn’t respond to any diet, medications or exercise, is a very common sign of low thyroid levels. On the contrary, low cholesterol levels may be linked to high thyroid hormone production.

Health Insight

Being more aware of the effects of thyroid hormone imbalance helps us to think back and look closer as to how often or not, these symptoms have shown itself to us in our daily lives. Most often, these symptoms may have been existing, yet are ignored for the longest time. Only when we can no longer tolerate the effects of these imbalances do we give it a check or give it time to really know what lies behind. Thyroid conditions effect women more the men.

Since correct diagnosis is essential, of whether hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism is present, it is still best to reach out and talk to the right health care provider who can give you the correct initial assessment of your symptoms. It is important to know that thyroid conditions effect women more the men.

Thyroid conditions also need laboratory testing for a diagnosis.

Once that is established, the correct evaluative tests, the right clinical interpretation of the results along with the appropriate medical intervention, if need be, can be implemented. As a general rule however, it is still best to take action now through meaningful lifestyle changes, in order to prevent health complications and to get used to these adjustment so that in the long run, living a healthy lifestyle become effortless.

References:

Office on Women’s health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services http://womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/thyroid-disease.html

Genesys Medical Institute  http://www.genesysinstitute.com/thyroid-trouble-the-tell-tale-signs/

JAMA. 2004 Jan 14;291(2):228-38.
Subclinical thyroid disease: scientific review and guidelines for diagnosis and management.
Surks MI1, Ortiz E, Daniels GH, Sawin CT, Col NF, Cobin RH, Franklyn JA, Hershman JM, Burman KD, Denke MA, Gorman C, Cooper RS, Weissman NJ.

Climacteric. 2013 Oct;16(5):555-60. doi: 10.3109/13697137.2012.717995. Epub 2012 Oct 1.
Comparison of the symptoms of menopause and symptoms of thyroid disease in Japanese women aged 35-59 years.Oi N1, Ohi K.

Br Med Bull. 2011;99:39-51. doi: 10.1093/bmb/ldr030.
The epidemiology of thyroid disease.
Vanderpump MP1.

July 9, 2018
Optimal Hydration – Importance and Effects
The reason why hydration is so important:

(Hint-You are about 60% water)

The average human person is approximately made of 60% water by weight. Our fat tissue contains about 10% of water while our muscles and kidneys comprise around 75% water. Similarly, our brain as well as our heart are made of 73% water while our skin has 64%. These figures are general ratios and may vary from one person to another based on factors like health, age, gender and weight.

Every day, our bodies consume water in order for daily metabolic processes to go on and for us to survive. We constantly lose water each day, as we sweat and urinate, hence we need to replenish what we lost . It is important to drink the right amount of water each day. Generally, an adult male needs around 3 liters of water while an adult female needs approximately 2.2 liters. Again, these are general numbers as other factors like geographic location, level of activity, and temperature will affect the amount needed. If we don’t drink as much water as we lose, our bodies will not function optimally.

The Many Functions of Water

Our body needs water for a number of essential metabolic functions to enable us to work and to maintain a healthy well-being. We need water for the brain to produce hormones that help in balance and to generate neurotransmitters that help in proper nerve function and body reflex coordination and reaction.

We also need water to regulate our body’s temperature as our body adjusts to outside temperature changes or when our body fights off infection. It is also essential in regulating blood pressure to allow our blood to move more freely in our blood vessels. Similarly we need water to keep our mucosal membranes moist and to keep our joints lubricated.

Sufficient water allows body cells to reproduce, grow and survive. It also helps break down and convert food to needed components as it aids in the digestive process. Water helps oxygenate our body as it allows oxygen to diffuse faster in the blood. It also assists in expelling the body wastes we have as we flush out the toxins either through urine, sweat or when it assists in good bowel movement. These processes may be basic as these happen to us internally, but these are all essential body functions that aid in maintaining and sustaining life.

Forms of Hydration

To hydrate your body does not always literally mean to drink plenty of clear water. We can take in water in different forms and in most cases these methods are overlooked or we may not even be aware of.

Although taking in clear tap water is still the best method of hydrating yourself, you can also hydrate through other liquids or foods you ingest.

You may increase water consumption when you take in oatmeal, yogurt or soups as these foods contain more water than your regular fried or sautéed forms.

You may also take in water rich fruits and vegetables like celery, lettuce, watermelon, cucumbers, and strawberries. These fruits and vegetable are not only water packed, but they are also good sources of fiber, potassium, Vitamin A, B6, C, K and iron.

Non- alcoholic drinks, like juices, non-caffeinated teas, coconut water and smoothies help in hydrating your body without sacrificing taste. You can also add a piece of lemon or some of your favorite berries to your water if you find yourself bored of the usual tap water taste.

Effects of Good Hydration

Since water is a huge component of our overall bodily make up, it makes perfect sense that it is a major element in a multitude of metabolic functions our body undertakes. When your body is fully hydrated, not only do you enable your internal systems to work as they should, you also promote a good sense of overall well-being to yourself. These effects may not happen overnight, but in the long run, if you are used to hydrating yourself copiously, you will reap the benefits of good hydration in no time. Here are some benefits of ample hydration:
- Promotes weight loss and reduces gaining undesirable weight – enough water energizes the cells to create energy, hence if you have enough water in the body, signals to the brain to get more food is reduced; water also fills the stomach to increase satiety and reduce feelings of hunger
- Improves digestion and eliminates digestive illnesses – adequate water reduces constipation as it purges metabolic toxins and wastes better, and supports improved nutrient absorption; it also helps reduce, if not eradicate, occurrences of bloating, ulcers, gas formation, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), gastritis and acid reflux.
- Decreases the susceptibility to kidney stones and increases the elimination of unwanted bacteria from kidneys and bladder – good hydration decreases the incidence of bladder or kidney infections as water flushes out unhealthy microbes; since our kidneys and bladder are designed to eliminate toxins, it would be an extra benefit that remnants of eliminated wastes do not stay in the body.
- Improves skin texture and reduces the incidence of skin diseases and premature aging – improperly hydrated skin is more prone to irritation, inflammation, and congestion, which leads to acne, blackheads and redness; if properly hydrated, facial skin wrinkles and bags are lessened and the skin aging is slowed down.
- Fights fatigue and improves physical performance – water helps avoid overall lethargy and allows body cells to complete important enzymatic activities that facilitate better sleep, creation of ample energy and recuperation of organs from doing systemic processes.
- Supports prompt repair of joints and cartilage – Our joints, and cartilages will become dry and prone to irreparable wear and tear if you lack good hydration. Having enough water in the body ensures healthy lubrication of joints and cartilages and stops the degradation of the cartilage material.
- Halts allergies and asthma – since dehydration suppresses the immune system, the body becomes more prone to allergens, thereby triggering the increase of histamine in the body; if you are well hydrated, water dilutes the histamine in the body thereby reducing the symptoms of allergy.
Health Insight

Generally, it is never easy to ensure that one can drink 8 glasses of water religiously every day. Aside from keeping in mind the benefits of drinking copious amounts of water, there are ways by which you can make drinking water more creative. For some, they add slices of lemons, apples or cucumber wedges in their water while others infuse their water with herbs like holy basil, sage or mint and steep in the refrigerator overnight; all these are done to enhance flavor and increase the nutritive value of the water you drink.
July 9, 2018
Why basic cholesterol testing may not be good enough
Basic cholesterol testing may not be enough

According to lipidologist Dr. Tara Dall, we may not be understanding our risk of heart disease and diabetes with the basic cholesterol testing that many of us have during our annual physical. Here is the video and below is our synposis.

Synopsis and Key points

Here is our take on this video…

It is better to understand your risk for diabetes and heart disease sooner rather than later

Cholesterol and HBA1C tend to diagnose disease too late in the game. By the time someone is diagnosed with a borderline or elevated cholesterol and HbA1c much valuable time that could be focused on prevention has already passed
- Cholesterol is a fat that is used to make hormones and cell membranes.
- Our bodies make cholesterol. We also get cholesterol from our diets. Since cholesterol and triglycerides are fats they can not travel in the bloodstream alone. It goes back to high school chemistry, oil and water don’t mix.
Lipoproteins are needed to transport cholesterol.

Lipoproteins package cholesterol and triglycerides so they can travel in the blood.

Types of lipoproteins include Chylomicrons, VLDL, IDL, LDL, and HDL. Dr,Dall does a good job explaining how cholesterol and fats are “packaged” in lipoproteins.

Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) is the major protein found on all potentially atherogenic lipoprotein particles, i.e. very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL), and LDL (particles that increase the risk of plaque formation, heart disease and strokes). ApoB is strongly associated with increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease and is a better predictor than LDL.

Again, Apolipoprotein B (apoB) presents as a single molecule in all potentially atherogenic lipoprotein particles, (very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL), and LDL).

A better title for this video could have been “The need to go beyond standard cholestrol and diabetes testing”. While the title statement is true, What Is Insulin Resistance: Fat around the gut? Insulin resistance was not discussed in the video.

Dr. Dall is a renowned lipidologist. She has deep knowledge in cardiac primary prevention and is a diplomate of the American Board of Clinical Lipidology.She is considered an expert on advanced lipoprotein testing and especially the role it plays in early detection of insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk. She has lectures to numerous physicians on lipidology and cardiometabolic disease. You can learn more about her work on her website, http://www.taradall.com .

This video was found on Youtube

References:

J Biomed Res. 2011 Jul; 25(4): 266–273.doi: 10.1016/S1674-8301(11)60036-5 ApoB/apoA1 is an effective predictor of coronary heart disease risk in overweight and obesityMin Lu, Qun Lu, Yong Zhang, and Gang Tian*
July 7, 2018
Are you at risk for insulin resistance and why you should care
Insulin resistance effects more people than you think. In fact, obesity and insulin resistance are closely connected. This is a summary of a well-rounded video by the respected lipidologist, Dr.Tara Dall.

Synopsis and Key points:

Metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and prediabetes are the same thing.
- This video is a great explanation of how insulin should work. After a meal, insulin is secreted by pancreas in response to high blood sugars in the blood stream and brings the blood sugar level back to normal.
- With metabolic syndrome, the cells are resistance to insulin so the pancreas secrete more insulin to bring the blood sugar levels back to normal
- The mechanism of action of insulin is to bring glucose transporters located inside the cells to the surface. This is the way glucose enters the cells.
Insulin is a very inflammatory protein and causes weight gain especially around the belly.

Interesting.
- Dr.Dall states that if you exercise 60 to 90 minutes a day you can overcome insulin resistance
- If the pancreas secretes too much insulin, your blood sugar drops and you crave simple carbohydrates such as white bread and processed foods
Dietary Recommendations

A low sugar and reduced carb diet is more beneficial for insulin resistance. The key point is that you want a reduced carbohydrate diet not a no or very low carbohydrate diet.

Once insulin resistance is corrected people start to lose weight.

Dr. Dall is a renowned lipidologist. She has deep knowledge in cardiac primary prevention and is a diplomate of the American Board of Clinical Lipidology. She is considered an expert on advanced lipoprotein testing and especially the role it plays in early detection of insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk. She has lectures to numerous physicians on lipidology and cardiometabolic disease.You can learn more about her work on her website, http://www.taradall.com

This video is from a presentation she gave to GE employees and was found on YouTube.
July 7, 2018