Health Matters Blog
Useful News in Endocrinology: Things that Are Harmful to Your Thyroid Gland
Things that Are Harmful to Your Thyroid Gland CT Scans and Contrast Die First, a new study in the Archives of Internal Medicine (1) reveals that imaging studies which use Iodide as a contrast agent in CT scans and cardiac catheterizations increase the risk of over active thyroid (hyperthyroidism) by two to 2.5 times. The risk of severe low thyroid states (severe hypothyroidism) in increased 3-fold. Doctors and patients should take these risks into consideration when ordering these tests, as these tests use anywhere between…
Should ‘Mother’s Day’ Be Replaced by ‘Women’s Day’?
Today women have more opportunities than at any prior time but still are expected to fill an almost comically large number of roles”, writes psychiatrist Anna Fels, author of the book “Necessary Dreams: ambition in women’s changing lives”. Fels notes that: • Women view ambition as selfishness, self-aggrandizement, egotism, or manipulation of others for one’s own ends • Women who deplored ambition in reference to their own lives freely admitted to admiring it in men • Today’s women of accomplishment in the public eye often…
How do you know when your thyroid function is low? Why is it important to know?
High Rate of Thyroid Dysfunction in Non-ill According to a very large study, the NHANES study (see reference below), conducted over 10 years, there is “a high rate of thyroid dysfunction in the general “non-ill” population (5.9%)*. Thyroid Dysfunction and Affective Disorders There is an increased rate of thyroid dysfunction in those with affective disorders (40%)** Additionally the mean TSH , in the healthy adult U.S. population is 1.4 units. Because the commonly cited reference range at most laboratories is very wide (about 0.5 to…
Japan and Radiation: What should you do?
With the ongoing release of radiation into the atmosphere from the damaged Japanese nuclear facilities, many people are wondering whether they should protect themselves as well as what they can do to protect themselves and their families. Some authorities expect the radiation to spread from Japan in an easterly direction, to the west coast of the United States, while others state that the thousands of miles between Japan and the west coast, will protect the US population from any harmful effects. It seems very likely,…
Lying to Your Doctor Has Unitended Consequences
I am a bit naïve. Yes, I am a psychiatrist, a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, and the founder of the National Center for Whole Psychiatry. Given my experience, I should, you would think, know better. Yet I was in practice for probably 20 or more years before I realized that some times my patients lie to me about how they are doing, and whether they are following our jointly agreed upon recommendations. I am prompted to write about this, because a week ago I had…
Institute for Functional Medicine
Being on the faculty of the Institute of Functional Medicine is a rewarding part of my professional life. On Sunday, I returned from an intense weeklong meeting with other members of the faculty and leadership of the Institute for Functional Medicine. I’m excited to report that we brought the Functional Medicine Health Matrix (for diagnosis and treatment) protocol to a new level. One of the things that is so exciting about this is that this proceeds from the same structural premise found in THE age-old…
Nutrition and Depression: Nutrition, Detoxification, and Depression, Part 4
Nutrition, Detoxification, and Depression An additional avenue through which nutrition can help mood disorders is via liver detoxification, which can influence mood via the modification of steroid hormone metabolism (e.g., DHEA, testosterone, estrogen, cortisol). Detoxification occurs in two phases: In phase one the CYP 450 enzymes are supported by a variety of nutrients (B2, B3, B6, folic acid, B12,Glutathione, branched-chain amino acids, flavinoids, phospholipids). Once these CYP450 enzymes have acted on the lipid soluble molecule, (drug, hormones, toxins), by adding an oxygen, these activated intermediates,…
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is the result of infection with the spirochete Borrelia Burgdorferi. It is generally thought that the infection is the result of a tick bite, which about 50% of the time results in a rash, often described as a ‘bulls eye’ rash, but which can vary in appearance. Symptoms of untreated Lyme disease typically include joint aches which seem to migrate from one joint to another over days), flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, body aches, headache), neuro-psychiatric problems (e.g., Bell’s palsy-paralysis of one side of…
Memory Matters
Memory loss creates fear in the very core of one’s being because it threatens one’s identity, and raises the specter of losing one’s independence. Forgetfulness can be a signal that dementia is imminent, but it can also be a warning that other problems are present, which untreated, may develop into pseudo-dementia (a false dementia). The idea that it is normal to lose memory as one ages is not correct. Memory loss is always a result of some abnormal body processes. In this article I will…
Panic Disorders: Part 2
Biological Theory of Panic Disorder (Recurrent Panic Attacks) The prevailing theory of panic disorder states that there are two types of panic attacks, non-phobic spontaneous panic and triggered panic attacks. Nonphobic panic attacks are thought to be the result of abnormal, over- sensitivity of a brain alarm system whose function is to detect early signs of suffocation. This theory is called the suffocation alarm theory. The cardinal symptoms of nonphobic panic are respiratory: shortness of breath, chest discomfort, palpitations and choking or suffocation sensations. Normally,…