Hyperthyroidism (high thyroid)
Beware of Biotin Interfering With Thyroid Tests
It's alarming to get a laboratory test result that shows a serious problem. Learning later that the test might have given a false reading is also frustrating. One reader discovered that you should bew…
Do You Want a Natural Thyroid Treatment?
Thyroid problems are far more common than you might guess. Pharmacists dispense approximately 120 million prescriptions each year for levothyroxine (Levoxyl, Synthroid, Tirosint, Unithroid). People wh…
Does It Make Sense to Order Your Own Laboratory …
At one time, only physicians could order laboratory tests such as thyroid-stimulating hormone or cholesterol. Now, however, many companies offer lab tests direct to consumers using the internet. Does …
Iodine for Scans Triggers Hyperthyroidism
Americans undergo an enormous number of scans each year. Experts estimate that over 80 million CT scans are performed annually. That doesn’t include other scans such as coronary angiography, arthrog…
When Treating Hyperthyroidism Results in Too Lit…
An overactive thyroid gland that pumps out too much thyroid hormone can be extremely uncomfortable or even dangerous. When this condition is caused by the immune system attacking the thyroid gland, it…
Excessive Sweating Might Be Caused by Overactive…
Some people really sweat! We’re not talking about a few drops of perspiration on the forehead. There is an actual medical term for excessive sweating: hyperhidrosis. These individuals are often emba…
Show 1301: What Are Forever Chemicals Doing in F…
In our nationally syndicated radio show this week, our guests discuss “forever chemicals” (PFAS) used in a wide range of products. How do they affect our health? What Are PFAS, or Forever Chemical…
Show 1289: Living with an Overactive Thyroid Gla…
For such a small organ, your thyroid gland has an outsize impact. It controls energy utilization throughout every tissue in your body. When the thyroid gland isn’t working well, you may notice chang…
Is There a Way to Calm Hyperthyroidism?
Underactive thyroid function is incredibly common. The government says 4.6% of the population experience hypothyroidism. We suspect it might be substantially higher. That’s because over 20 million …
Do You Need T3 as Well as T4 for Your Thyroid Pr…
You may never have thought much about your thyroid gland. Unlike your heart or your intestines, it's inconspicuous. Its effect on your body is profound, but symptoms of your thyroid problem may be non…
How to Test Your Thyroid During a Pandemic
COVID-19 has made it hard to visit a doctor. Getting blood drawn for a lab analysis is also difficult. How can you test your thyroid to find out what’s happening while you are stuck at home? Some st…
When Levothyroxine Doesn’t Do the Job After Gr…
People who develop Graves’ disease because of an autoimmune disorder make too much thyroid hormone. This is diagnosed as hyperthyroidism. Symptoms include: hand or finger tremors, anxiety, wei…
What Are the Pros and Cons of Biotin for Strong …
Biotin is a naturally occurring vitamin found in foods such as beef liver, eggs, salmon or pork. Some plants are also good sources of biotin, although levels are lower in sunflower seeds, sweet potato…
Radioactive Iodine for Hyperthyroidism Increases…
A new study in JAMA Internal Medicine (July 1, 2019) has linked exposure to radioactive iodine for hyperthyroidism to a 6 percent increased risk of death for all solid cancers and a 12 percent increas…
Is the Salt in Prepared Foods Iodized?
Iodine is essential for thyroid function, which is why many countries add iodine to their salt. Much, but not all, of the salt sold in the supermarket for home use is iodized. But what about the salt …
Show 1162: How to Treat Common Thyroid Problems
The thyroid gland on your neck is not very big, but it is super important. It secretes hormones that control the activity of every cell in your body. Consequently, the thyroid regulates your metabolis…
Why Lower Your Blood Pressure If It Was Measured…
New guidelines from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology mean that about half of all Americans will be classified as hypertensive. Prior to this decree, the CDC stated…
How Do Phthalates Affect Hormones?
A few weeks ago researchers reported that many packaged mac and cheese products contained detectable levels of the endocrine-disrupting chemicals called phthalates. These compounds are generally used …
Why Should You Order Your Own Blood Tests?
Do you know what your vitamin levels are? What about Vitamin B12 in particular? How about thyroid status? Why not order your own blood tests so you can have data on TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), …
Misdiagnosis of Hyperactive Thyroid
Q. I was misdiagnosed for five years and it nearly cost me my life. I was eventually told I had Parkinson's disease and referred to a neurologist. During the neurological exam, I was asked if I had ev…
Kelp Supplement Corrected Thyroid Problem But Be…
Thyroid dysfunction is common, so common, in fact, that Synthroid is the most prescribed drug in the country. That is a synthetic thyroid hormone, levothyroxine. But while many people take Synthroid o…