Guest guest Posted November 13, 2001 Report Share Posted November 13, 2001 - Hypothyroidism Diagnosis > Hypothyroidism > Diagnosishttp://www.mercola.com/article/hypothyroid/diagnosis.htm > > How To Know If Your Thyroid Is Working Properly With Blood Tests. > A recent study showed that nearly 13 million Americans may be unaware of and > undiagnosed for their thyroid conditions. Are you one of them? Another study > showed that if you are a pregnant woman and you have a low thyroid your > child's IQ will be affected. Yet another recent study showed that if you an > elderly woman with thyroid problems you will have an increased risk of heart > disease > The big myth that persists regarding thyroid diagnosis is that an elevated > TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) level is always required before a > diagnosis of hypothyroidism can be made. Normally, the pituitary gland will > secrete TSH in response to a low thyroid hormone level. Thus an elevated TSH > level would typically suggest an underactive thyroid. > If you find this information helpful click here to to the FREE > weekly newsletter so you will get all the updates. > Click here to read my interview with Mary Shomon, the Thyroid guide from > About.com. > Your Doctor Does Not Likely Understand How To Interpret Your Tests Properly > Thyroid function tests have always presented doctors with difficulties in > their interpretation. Laboratory testing is often misleading due to the > complexity and inherent shortcomings of the tests themselves. Many doctors > not having an adequate understanding of what the test results mean, will > often make incorrect assumptions based on them or interpret them too > strictly. A narrow interpretation of thyroid function testing leads to many > people not being treated for subclinical hypothyroidism. > Old Laboratory Tests Unreliable > Most all older thyroid function panels include the following: > Total T4 > T3 Uptake and > Free Thyroxine Index (FTI). > These tests should be abandoned because they are unreliable as gauges of > thyroid function. The most common traditional way to diagnose hypothyroidism > is with a TSH that is elevated beyond the normal reference range. For most > labs, this is about 4.0 to 4.5. This is thought to reflect the pituitary's > sensing of inadequate thyroid hormone levels in the blood which would be > consistent with hypothyroidism. There is no question that this will diagnose > hypothyroidism, but it is far too insensitive a measure, and the vast > majority of patients who have hypothyroidism will be missed. > Basal Body Temperature > Basal body temperature popularized by the late Broda Barnes, M.D. He found > the clinical symptoms and the body temperature to be more reliable than the > standard laboratory tests was provided. This is clearly better than using > the standard tests. However there are problems with using body temperature. > Sleeping under electric blankets or water beds falsely raise temperature > Sensitive and accurate thermometer required > Inconvenient and many people will not do (poor compliance) > New and More Accurate Way To Check for Hypothyroidism > This revised method of diagnosing and treating hypothyroidism seems superior > to the temperature regulation method promoted by Broda Barnes and many > natural medicine physicians. Most patients continue to have classic > hypothyroid symptoms because excessive reliance is placed on the TSH. This > test is a highly-accurate measure of TSH but not of the height of thyroid > hormone levels. > New Range for TSH to Diagnose Hypothyroidism > The basic problem that traditional medicine has with diagnosing > hypothyroidism is the so-called " normal range " of TSH is far too high: Many > patients with TSH's of greater than 2.0 (not 4.5) have classic symptoms and > signs of hypothyroidism (see below). > So, if your TSH is above 2.0 there is a strong chance your thyroid gland is > not working properly. > Free Thyroid Hormone Levels > One can also use the Free T3 and Free T4 and TSH levels to help one identify > how well the thyroid gland is working. Free T3 and Free T4 levels are the > only accurate measure of the actual active thyroid hormone levels in the > blood. > When one uses free hormone levels one will find that it is relatively common > to find the Free T4 and Free T3 hormone levels below normal when TSH is in > its normal range, even in the low end of its normal range. When patients > with these lab values are treated, one typically finds tremendous > improvement in the patient, and a reduction of the classic hypothyroid > symptoms. > Secondary or Tertiary Hypothyroidism > There are a significant number of individuals who have a TSH even below the > new 1.5 reference range mentioned above, but their Free T3 (and possibly the > Free T4 as well) will be below normal. These are cases of secondary or > tertiary hypothyroidism, so, TSH alone is not an accurate test of all forms > of hypothyroidism, only primary hypothyroidism. > Symptoms of Low Thyroid > The most common is fatigue. > Skin can become dry, cold, rough and scaly. > Hair becomes coarse, brittle and grows slowly or may fall out excessively. > Sensitivity to cold with feelings of being chilly in rooms of normal > temperature. > Difficult for a person to sweat and their perspiration may be decreased or > even absent even during heavy exercise and hot weather. > Constipation that is resistant to magnesium supplementation and other mild > laxatives is also another common symptom. > Difficulty in losing weight despite rigid adherence to a low grain diet > seems to be a common finding especially in women. > Depression and muscle weakness are other common symptoms. > Treatment of Hypothyroidism > You can click here for an article on how you can treat your thyroid problem > with natural hormone therapy. > If you find this information helpful click here to to the FREE > weekly newsletter so you will get all the updates. > If you are interested in a more comprehensive articles directed towards > health care professionals Also available is an excellent text > book article on thyroid testing for those with more technical interests. > Living Well With Hypothyroidism > Mary Shomon is the www.about.com thyroid expert. Her $11 352 page book > published in March of 2000 is one of the most cost effective and valuable > resources that you could own on this subject. If you have thyroid disease > this book should be in your library. > Click here to Purchase: Living Well With Hypothyroidism > The Los Angeles Times wrote: March 27, 2000 > " Hypothyroidism is a common, very treatable disorder that is also poorly > managed by doctors. In this first-rate book by Mary Shomon...the disorder, > its myths, and medicine's successes and failures at dealing with it are > thoroughly examined. This is not a book that rehashes old facts on thyroid > disease. Shomon instead challenges patients and their doctors to look deeper > and try harder to resolve the complicated symptoms of hypothyroidism...In a > fascinating chapter, Shomon, who also has a Web site and an online > newsletter about the disease, explores recent evidence that the addition of > the thyroid hormone T3 to the standard T4 (levothyroxine) may help some > people feel better. In addition, the section on babies born with > hypothyroidism, although brief, has the best advice on how to give > medication to an infant that I've seen. As Shomon writes: 'or years, thyroid > problems have been downplayed, misunderstood and portrayed as unimportant.' > With her advocacy, perhaps no more. " --Shari Roan > Dr. John Lowe, author of " Speeding Up to Normal " wrote: > Mary Shomon is the harbinger of the latest scientifically-sound information > on hypothyroidism. With keen intellect, loyalty to truth, and plain > language, she sweeps away the medical dogma that bars millions of patients > from rational thyroid hormone therapies. In this book, she describes > practical thyroid therapies that can improve patients' health and extend > their lives. The book is vital for hypothyroid patients who want to get > well, and for physicians who want to help them do so. > > Shomon is the www.about.com thyroid expert. Her $11 352 page book published > in March of 2000 is one of the most cost effective and valuable resources > that you could own on this subject. If you have thyroid disease this book > should be in your library. > Click here to Purchase: Living Well With Hypothyroidism > The Los Angeles Times wrote: March 27, 2000 > " Hypothyroidism is a common, very treatable disorder that is also poorly > managed by doctors. In this first-rate book by Mary Shomon...the disorder, > its myths, and medicine's successes and failures at dealing with it are > thoroughly examined. This is not a book that rehashes old facts on thyroid > disease. Shomon instead challenges patients and their doctors to look deeper > and try harder to resolve the complicated symptoms of hypothyroidism...In a > fascinating chapter, Shomon, who also has a Web site and an online > newsletter about the disease, explores recent evidence that the addition of > the thyroid hormone T3 to the standard T4 (levothyroxine) may help some > people feel better. In addition, the section on babies born with > hypothyroidism, although brief, has the best advice on how to give > medication to an infant that I've seen. As Shomon writes: 'or years, thyroid > problems have been downplayed, misunderstood and portrayed as unimportant.' > With her advocacy, perhaps no more. " --Shari Roan > Dr. John Lowe, author of " Speeding Up to Normal " wrote: > Mary Shomon is the harbinger of the latest scientifically-sound information > on hypothyroidism. With keen intellect, loyalty to truth, and plain > language, she sweeps away the medical dogma that bars millions of patients > from rational thyroid hormone therapies. In this book, she describes > practical thyroid therapies that can improve patients' health and extend > their lives. The book is vital for hypothyroid patients who want to get > well, and for physicians who want to help them do so. > Home Page Health Articles Nutrition Help Newsletter > > > ©Copyright 1997-2001 by Joseph M. Mercola, DO. . This > content may be copied in full, with copyright; contact; creation; and > information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a > not-for-profit format. If any other use is desired, permission in writing > from Dr. Mercola is required. > > > > Disclaimer - Newsletters are based upon the opinions of Dr. Mercola. They > are not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified > health care professional and they are not intended as medical advice. They > are intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and > experience of Dr. Mercola and his community. Dr. Mercola encourages you to > make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in > partnership with a qualified health care professional. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 20, 2001 Report Share Posted November 20, 2001 I agree She also has a newsletter which is very helpful and encouraging Donna In a message dated 01/20/11 3:55:48 AM, Elaine121 writes: << > Shomon is the www.about.com thyroid expert. Her $11 352 page book published > in March of 2000 is one of the most cost effective and valuable resources > that you could own on this subject. If you have thyroid disease this book > should be in your library. >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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