Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism and the Thyroid

 The thyroid gland consists of two connected lobes and is the largest endocrine gland in vertebrates. It is in common parlance said to have a butterfly shape. The thyroid gland is found below the “Adam’s apple” (the laryngeal prominence) in humans. It controls our sensitivity to other hormones, how the body makes proteins and uses energy.  The thyroid produces two main hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Triiodothyronine is also referred to as tetraiodothyronine, triiodo referring to 3 iodine molecules. T3 and T4 form triggers for the functioning of most other systems of the body. The main components of T3 and T4 are thyrosine and iodine. The thyroid assists calcium homeostasis by producing cacitonin. Calcium homeostasis helps maintain sufficient levels of calcium in the body.

  

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), produced by the pituitary gland triggers the thyroid to produce T3 and T4. The pituitary gland is in turn regulated by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) which is produced in the hypothalamus.

  

The thyroid gland is made-up of two lobes or wings, the left lobe referred to as  lobus sinister and the right lobe called lobus dexter. Both lobes are 3 cm wide, 5 cm long and 2 cm thick. The thyroid is located on the frontal side of the neck below the Adams apple. Occasionally there is a third lobe, the pyramidal lobe present forming part of the thyroid. This lobe is a remnant of the fetal thyroglossal duct. The thyroid gland weighs 18-60 grams in adults and even more in women during pregnancy.

  

There are two types of dysfunctions of the thyroid gland, Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism. In Hypothyroidism the gland produces less than sufficient levels of thyroid hormones and in Hyperthyroidism the hormones are produced in excess.

  

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a common thyroid disorder. The symptoms of hypothyroidism are fatigue, intolerance to cold, weight gain, inability to concentrate, dryness of the skin, hair loss and more. It may lead to delayed growth and intellectual impairment in children. It is called cretinism in extreme cases. The diagnosis of hypothyroidism is a simple blood test measuring thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyroxine and triiodothyronine. The lab range for TSH is between 0.30 to 5.5 measured in uIU/ml (international units per milliliter), the lab range for T3 is 60 – 200 ng/dl (nanogram/deciliter) and the lab range for T4 is 4.5 to 12 ug/dl (microgram/deciliter). However labs may use different measurement representations. There is however a debate in the medical community about the reference range of TSH used by testing labs for screening hypothyroid patients. It is being advocated that the upper limit be reduced from 5.5 to 3.0  uIU/ml.

  

The most common cause of hypothyroidism is deficiency of iodine in the diet. So the best preventive measure is to include iodized salt and other foods containing iodine. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder; it is another common cause of this thyroid syndrome. Some other causes of hypothyroidism are a thyroid surgery, malfunctioning or injured pituitary gland and the hypothalamus. There are many instances of the thyroid not functioning since birth. Hypothyroidism can be easily treated with artificially manufactured hormone supplementation. The dose is usually adjusted according to TSH and thyroxine normalization levels, taking into account clinical symptoms.

 

Deferred relaxation after the ankle jerk reflex test is a distinctive sign of hypothyroidism, other signs and symptoms are: fatigue, dry coarse skin, feeling cold, cool extremities, poor memory and concentration, Myxedema, constipation, dyspepsia, hair loss, weight gain with poor appetite, slow pulse rate, shortness of breath, swelling of the limbs, hoarse voice, delayed relaxation of tendon reflexes, heavy menstrual periods, carpal tunnel syndrome, abnormal sensations, pleural effusion, ascites, pericardial effusion, poor hearing.

  

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland makes excessive amounts of thyroid hormones. The condition is also referred to as hyperthyreosis or overactive thyroid. In hyperthyroidism both thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) circulating in the body are over produced. The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves’ disease. Thyrotoxicosis is caused by hyperthyroidism. Thyrotoxicosis is a clinical syndrome which occurs due to extreme elevation of T3 and T4 in blood serum. However, Thyrotoxicosis may occur without hyperthyroidism and may be attributed to swelling of the thyroid gland. Thyrotoxicosis may be exogenous in nature and could happen due to accidental excessive ingestion of the prescription thyroid hormone.

  

Hyperthyroidism is a condition more difficult to manage than hypothyroidism. The management of hyperthyroidism involves the use of antithyroid drugs, suppressing the thyroid function. However, a more permanent solution is radioisotope therapy or surgery. All methods have the risk of inducing hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism has a high probability of being cancerous in origin.

  

Every function of the body speeds up, if there is too much thyroid hormone. Hence, some symptoms of hyperthyroidism are nervousness, vomiting, irritability, lightened menstrual flow, increased perspiration, frequent bowel movement, racing heart, hand tremors, weight loss, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, thinning of the skin, fine brittle hair, and muscular weakness.

 

 

 

Types of Diabetes

Diabetes or Diabetes mellitus is a group of diseases in which the patient has high blood glucose levels (blood sugar). This happens because either the cells do not respond to insulin adequately or insulin production is low, or sometimes both. Patients with high blood glucose classically experience frequent urination, increased thirst and hunger.

Some important facts about Diabetes are:

Diabetes is a long-term condition.

In 2013 it was estimated that over 382 million people throughout the world had Diabetes (Williams textbook of endocrinology).

Type 1 Diabetes - the body does not produce insulin.

Type 2 Diabetes - the body does not produce enough insulin for proper function. Most cases of Diabetes are type-2.

Gestational Diabetes - this type affects women during pregnancy.

The most common Diabetes symptoms include frequent urination, intense thirst and hunger, weight gain, unusual weight loss, fatigue, cuts and bruises that do not heal, male sexual dysfunction, numbness and tingling in hands and feet.

If you have Type 1 Diabetes and follow a healthy eating plan, do adequate exercise, and take insulin, you can lead a normal life.

Type 2 patients need to eat healthy, be physically active, and monitor blood glucose levels. They may also need to take oral medication, and/or insulin to control blood glucose levels.

The risk of cardiovascular disease is much higher for a diabetic, it is crucial that blood pressure and cholesterol levels are monitored regularly.

Smoking might have a serious effect on cardiovascular health, diabetics should stop smoking.

Hypoglycemia - low blood glucose and Hyperglycemia - when blood glucose is too high – both can have a bad effect on the patient.


Type 1 Diabetes
People usually develop type 1 Diabetes before the age of 40, in early adulthood or teenage years. It is referred to as insulin-dependent Diabetes, early-onset Diabetes or juvenile Diabetes. Patients need to monitor blood glucose levels regularly and will be insulin dependent through their lives.

Type 2 Diabetes
Most cases of Diabetes are type 2 cases, where the body does not produce enough insulin to function properly. In some cases the cells in the body are insulin resistant and do not react to insulin. Some people may be able to control type 2 Diabetes symptoms following a healthy diet, doing plenty of exercise and losing weight while monitoring their blood glucose levels. This however is a progressive disease and eventually the patient will need to take insulin, usually in tablet form. Obese and overweight people are at greater risk of this type of Diabetes as compared to individuals with healthy body weight. People with belly fat (visceral fat) are at higher risk. Being overweight, physically inactive and eating the wrong foods all add to the risk of developing type 2 Diabetes. The risk is also higher as we grow older. Men with lower testosterone levels are also at higher risk of developing type 2 Diabetes possibly because of lower levels of physical activity.

Gestational Diabetes
This is Diabetes that affects women during pregnancy. Some women have very high levels of glucose in their blood during pregnancy, and their bodies are unable to produce enough insulin to transport all of the glucose into their cells, resulting in progressively rising levels of glucose. Gestational Diabetes can be controlled by diet and exercise. A low percentage of women may need to take oral medication to control gestational Diabetes. Uncontrolled Diabetes during pregnancy can lead to complications during childbirth.

What is Pre-diabetes
Pre-diabetes is a precursor to Diabetes especially type 2 Diabetes. Cells in the body are becoming resistant to insulin. Blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to merit a Diabetes diagnosis. Some studies suggest that at this stage some damage has already occurred. Pre-diabetes can be effectively treated with yoga and acupressure. When doing acupressure for diabetes you need to activate the pancreas point.  A good video on acupressure showing how to activate the pancreas point is available at here. The link is repeated at the end of the post.

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder. Metabolism is the way our bodies use digested food for energy and growth. Everything we eat is broken down into glucose, which is the main source of fuel for our bodies. When our food is digested, the glucose makes its way into our bloodstream. Our cells use the glucose for energy and growth. However, glucose cannot enter our cells without insulin being present.

Insulin is a hormone that is produced in the pancreas. After eating, the pancreas automatically releases an adequate quantity of insulin to move the glucose present in our blood into the cells, as soon as glucose enters the cells blood-glucose levels drop.

Doctors can determine whether a patient has a normal metabolism, pre-diabetic or diabetic in one of three different ways - there are three possible tests:

The A1C test
 - at least 6.5% means Diabetes
 - between 5.7% and 5.99% means pre-diabetes
 - less than 5.7% means normal

The FPG (fasting plasma glucose) test
 - at least 126 mg/dl means Diabetes
 - between 100 mg/dl and 125.99 mg/dl means pre-diabetes
 - less than 100 mg/dl means normal

An abnormal reading following the FPG means the patient has impaired fasting glucose (IFG)

The OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test)
 - at least 200 mg/dl means Diabetes
 - between 140 and 199.9 mg/dl means pre-diabetes
 - less than 140 mg/dl means normal

An abnormal reading following the OGTT means the patient has impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)

Watch Acupressure Video

Foods to lower Cholesterol

High cholesterol is a result of our unhealthy lifestyle choices, lack of exercise, too much oil and red meat. Other factors that contribute high cholesterol are excessive drinking, smoking, aging (arteries tend to narrow with age), genetics, and certain underlying health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney or liver disease. The problem is with Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) or the bad cholesterol increasing. We need cholesterol within range for converting sunshine to vitamin D, building and maintaining cell membranes, and other important functions. A very high level of LDL known as hypercholesterolemia can be fatal. However High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is good for the body. LDL tends to accumulate along artery walls and increases your risk of having a heart attack.

The lab maximum for total cholesterol is below 200 mg/dl (milligrams per deciliter of blood). Up to 240 mg/dl is considered borderline. A level higher than 240 is considered high risk. To evaluate the risk and levels of cholesterol a blood test called Lipoprotein profile (Lipid Profile) is prescribed. This test measures Very Low Density Lipoprotein (VLDL), HDL, LDL and triglycerides. Total cholesterol is the sum of HDL, LDL and VLDL. HDL the good cholesterol is broken down in the liver and reprocessed. LDL or the bad cholesterol tends to build up along the inner walls of the arteries and over time causes narrowing of these blood vessels, increasing the risk of a heart attack.

It may be a good idea, even if you do not have high blood cholesterol to include in your diet some or all 7 of the following foods. In addition include some exercise; even simply walking can keep safe from a heart problem.

1. Coriander helps lower levels of total cholesterol and is a hypoglycemic thus it can help manage diabetes. A simple recipe for making a tea out of coriander is: Add two teaspoons full (3 to 5 grams) of coriander powder in a cup of water. Boil the mix and strain. Add sugar or salt to taste. Drinking this over a period of time will lower cholesterol.

2. Red onions can be used in many ways. Juice a red onion. Add one teaspoonful of onion juice and a little honey to water and drink it. Alternately add chopped onions to buttermilk add salt and pepper to taste and drink it daily. Even including raw onions in some form in your diet is a good idea.

3. Garlic: Include garlic in your cooking. If you don’t like the taste, like me, simply swallow cloves of garlic with water. Do not chew raw garlic; it is bad for the teeth enamel.

4. Indian Gooseberry (Amla) promotes the reduction of lipid concentration in blood serum. The fruit is also antihyperlipidemic, anti-atherogenic, and hypolipidemic. Drink a teaspoonful of dried gooseberries powder mixed in a cup of water, on an empty stomach. Or drink the juice of gooseberries, tomatoes and beet roots.

5. Apple cider vinegar can be used to lower cholesterol. Apple cider vinegar also helps high blood pressure, acid reflux, upper respiratory infections, gout, and more. Drink one to two teaspoon of Apple cider vinegar two to three times a day, mixed with water or fruit juice of your choice.

6. Orange juice is rich in vitamin C, folate, and flavonoids. Drink at least two glasses of freshly squeezed Orange juice every day. Orange juice can increase HDL the good cholesterol. Having a high HDL level is good and protects against other heart issues.

7. Coconut oil contains lauric acid which helps increase HDL. Use coconut oil in your cooking or in your salad dressing. One to two teaspoons full of coconut oil may be taken with a glass of water. It also helps many respiratory problems.

In addition to these foods there are excellent food supplements available in Ayurveda which help control high LDL and increase HDL levels in the body. Gugglu is manufactured by most ayurvedic medicine manufacturers and is available over the counter in capsule and tablet form. This is an excellent remedy for controlling high levels of cholesterol. Abana is a combination manufactured by Himalaya Herbal Healthcare. Abana not only controls cholesterol but also lowers blood pressure. However, do consult your physician before starting any medication.

Shilajit

Shilajit is also called silajit, salajeet, asphaltum, momia, shargai, mumijo and moomiyo. Found only in parts of Central Asia, it is a sticky tar-like substance, color ranging from white to dark brown. Depending on color Shilajit has varying chemical composition. In general it is rich in nutrients like B vitamins, amino acids, fulvic acids, essential oils, hymatomelanic acid, ionic minerals and many more micro-nutrients. A similar substance is also found in the Caucasus Mountains. In the United States, supplement companies are selling Shilajit as an ingredient in testosterone boosting supplements. It has four main properties: Anti-inflammatory, Adaptogenic, Anabolic and General Tonic. An ancient Ayurvedic text, called the Charaka Samhita, states that there is no curable disease in the universe, which is not effectively cured by shilajit. Dabur Shilajit capsules are available in India at the following link as on October 3, 2014:

Shilajit has been used in traditional Indian medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent and athletes from Russia have been using it to speed up their recovery and reduce muscle soreness. It has excellent adaptogenic properties. Adaptogenics are substances found in nature which reduce fatigue and prevent physical and psychological stress. Shilajit helps increase levels of testosterone. Higher levels of testosterone when combined with proper training aids muscle mass. Studies have shown that subjects who took Shilajit showed faster lean muscle mass growth. As a general remedy or tonic, Shilajit helps a wide range of health issues. The issues may range from fighting common colds to curing cancer. Considering it has over 85 micronutrients and we all suffer from micronutrient deficiencies which in turn results in speeding up disease processes in the body, it is easy to understand how shilajit helps such a large number of health issues.

Shilajit is processed and packaged in capsule and tablet form in India by Dabur and Divya Ayurveda and is available Over the Counter on Amazon. Divya Shilajit tablets are available in the US at the following link as on October 3, 2014:

Shilajit is also spelt “shilajeet” and is a Sanskrit word which means “rock-invincible”. Mumijo is a word of Greek origin which also refers to shilajit. The substance is mentioned in the works of Aristotle and Avicenna as a remedy with antiseptic and general stimulant properties used in Caucasus Mountains. Scientists believe that people observed wounded animals frequenting caves with mumijo and so discovered the substance. Similar substances are used for medicinal purposes throughout Tibet.

It is still not clear whether shilajit has a geological or biological origin as it has numerous traces of vitamins and amino acids. A shilajit-like substance was found in Antarctica which contained glycerol derivatives and was also believed to have medicinal properties.

Based on current studies, the bioactivity of shilajit lacks substantial evidence. The immuno-modulatory activity does not stand the test of critical assessment and is considered as unproven.

Chronic Constipation Treatment at Home

Constipation is one of the most common problems of modern day living and is a consequence of improper dietary habits and lack of physical activity. Chronic constipation can lead to more serious issues and can trigger many disease processes. When the waste stays in the body for long, not only does fecal matter become hard but toxins enter the blood stream. It is difficult to pass out the hard matter and measures have to be taken to loosen his hardened material and expel it from the body. For a healthy person who is getting reasonable exercise it is sufficient to have an early dinner, drink lots of fluids and get enough sleep to avoid constipation.

The main reasons that cause constipation are improper diet, lack of fiber rich diet, inadequate water intake, overuse of tea and coffee, repeated use of laxatives, lack of exercise, stress and frequent travel. Constipation may be caused by some medical conditions and medication. Often forcibly retaining stool may also cause constipation. So what is the way out when we really have no control on some of the things that cause this common “disease”.

If you have mild symptoms it is sufficient to increase water intake, eat right and sleep well. However if the issue is more serious you may need to take medication, which in my opinion is not a very good option or make yoga a part of your life. Eating right, increasing fluid intake and proper sleep is still important. In fact Yoga is more of a lifestyle than just an exercise routine. If you are already on laxatives, it may be a good idea to start Yoga, see the response and most likely you will be able to give up any medication you are taking for constipation. In case your intake of fiber is low and it is the primary reason of constipation you can take “Isubgol”. “Isubgol” is combined into various formulations by many Ayurvedic medicine manufacturers, like Dabur and is available worldwide. However, in my experience the best is husk of Isubgol available in India and is manufactured by The Sidhpur Sat-Isubgol Factory under the brand “Telephone”. Isubgol is Psyllium Husk. The correct dose of Psyllium is 8 to 10 grams per day. If you have a question about Isubgol you can message me at katwaria2012@gmail.com.

Most people generally have mild symptoms or simple discomfort. However, anyone who is dealing with even mild constipation can have headache, lowered energy levels, pain in the abdomen and dryness of the anus. Constipation of long standing can lead to piles.  Mild symptoms cannot be attributed to digestive system abnormality or systemic disease. Nauli Kriya and Kapal Bhati are good exercises for curing constipation even of the chronic kind.

Here is a video which shows you how to do Nauli Kriya, which is one of the exercises of Shatha Kriya and takes a little time and lots of commitment to learn. It is not only a good exercise for chronic constipation, but can effectively treat many other health issues.

Here is a Video which shows you how to do Kapal Bhati. Kapal Bhati is a relatively easy exercise and is a great remedy for constipation and many other health issues.