Articles Index
The Cortisol-Weight Loss Controversy:
We know that chronic stress may contribute to weight gain, but is elevated cortisol the culprit? Makers of the CortiSlim say it is, and encourage you to buy their costly weight loss supplement. Explore the controversy over this product, and the issue of cortisol and its role in your ability to lose weight and diet successfully.
Finding Thyroid Support and Support Groups Online
Some thyroid patients -- whether newly diagnosed, or long-term patients -- find online support is an important part of their overall approach to wellness. Here is information about online thyroid support groups, forums and listservs, where information and experiences are shared among patients.
How to Start Your Own Community Thyroid Support Group
Thyroid patients with limited or no Internet access need support systems. This article talks about the steps involved in a thyroid patient starting a community or local thyroid support group.
Long Term Weight Loss for Thyroid Patients: Hormonal Factors That Affect Diets
People with thyroid conditions or hypothyroidism can find it difficult or nearly impossible to lose weight, due to a number of factors, including leptin resistance, elevated reverse T3, insulin resistance, thyroid resistance, and other hormonal imbalances. Dr. Kent Holtorf discusses the use of diabetes drugs Byetta, Symlin, and glucophage / Metformin, and human chorionic gonadotropin HCG to aid in weight loss and metabolism for people with an underactive thyroid or slow metabolism.
Thyroid Diet and Weight Loss Information Center
Comprehensive information on how to successfully diet and lose weight effectively despite a thyroid problem, hypothyroidism, low thyroid, autoimmune thyroid disease, hyperthyroidism, endocrine problems, slow metabolism, and metabolicother issues. Developed by Mary Shomon, author of The Thyroid Diet, Living Well With Hypothyroidism and other thyroid patient informational materials. Includes information on HCG, Byetta, Symlin, metformin, and other hormonal treatments.
Subacute Granulomatous Thyroiditis: What Patients Need to Know
Among the category of painful types of thyroiditis -- thyroid inflammation -- is a form known as subacute granulomatous thyroiditis. It also is known as subacute nonsuppurative thyroiditis, de Quervain's thyroiditis, or painful subacute thyroiditis. This article looks at signs, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of this form of thyroiditis.
Acute Infectious Thyroiditis: What Patients Need to Know
Among the category of painful types of thyroiditis -- inflammation of the thyroid -- is a form known as acute infectious thyroiditis. This article looks at the signs, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of acute infectious thyroiditis.
Painless Thyroiditis: What Patients Need to Know
Among the category of painless types of thyroiditis -- thyroid inflammation -- is a form known as painless, silent or subacute lymphocytic thyroiditis. This article looks at signs, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of this form of thyroiditis.
Riedel's Thyroiditis: What Patients Need to Know
Among the category of types of thyroiditis -- thyroid inflammation -- is a form known as Riedel's Thyroiditis, fibrous thyroiditis, and invasive thyroiditis. This article looks at signs, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of this form of thyroiditis.
Soy and Thyroid Health: What You Need to Know
Soy, often promoted as a healthy food, becomes controversial when the subject of the thyroid is involved. For more than a decade, there's been a continuing debate on whether soy can negatively effect the thyroid, and this debate continues. Here's a brief recap of the debate, and some Dos and Don'ts for soy consumption, with thyroid health in mind.
Optimum Time and Conditions for Thyroid Blood Tests
Does it matter what time you have your TSH test done, and do you need to fast before a TSH test? Mary Shomon takes a look at some research findings that help explore the questions of what time you should have thyroid tests, and whether you should be fasting before your thyroid tests.
Thyroid Disease: A Natural/Herbal Perspective
A natural/herbal perspective to treating thyroid disease, presented by practitioner Shasta Tierra, regarding thyroid disease, hypothyroidism, by patient advocate, Mary Shomon.
Nia Vardalos Talks About Keeping Her Health, Thyroid and Weight in Balance
Actress Nia Vardalos has a thyroid condition, but lives life to the fullest. Find out how the award-winning actress has rebalanced her health and life, and how she juggles her Hollywood career, including two new films, along with a healthy diet, exercise, new motherhood, and her thyroid condition.
Do Thyroid Patients Need a Flu Shot?
Whether or not thyroid and autoimmune disease patients should or should not get a flu shot -- the influenza vaccine -- each year is always a controversial question. Here is a look at some of the considerations, from thyroid patient advocate Mary Shomon.
Armour Thyroid's Spring 2009 Reformulation Causing Problems
During the Spring of 2009, the natural desiccated thyroid drug, Armour Thyroid, apparently underwent a reformulation of fillers, including a decrease in the amount of dextrose, increase in cellulose, and the addition of cornstarch to the tablets. Since that time, some patients have been reporting a variety of problems with this new Armour formula, and some are choosing to switch to other drugs, including Nature-Throid and Westhroid.
Cough & Cold Medicines and Decongestants: What Do Thyroid Patients Need to Know?
Cough & Cold Medicines and Decongestants: Why Thyroid Patients Need to Know? Why do some over-the-counter cough medicines, cold medicines, and decongestants say do not take them if you have thyroid disease? What can thyroid patients safely take for cold and influenza? And what natural treatments are available to help thyroid patients with cold and flu.
Thyroid Cancer Rates are Increasing
Rates of thyroid cancer are on the rise in the United States, and new research published in July of 2009 in the journal Cancer shows that the increase is not due only to better detection of existing thyroid cancers, as has previously been thought. This raises the question of which factors are in fact causing the increased rate of thyroid carcinoma in the U.S.
Why Some Doctors Are Threatened by Knowledgeable, Empowered Thyroid Patients
Why are some doctors so threatened by empowered and knowledgeable thyroid patients? Why do some endocrinologists and thyroidologists target patient advocate and thyroid guide Mary Shomon, or say that she's crazy, or too alternative? The answer is, she's making more work for them, because patients are now demanding proper thyroid diagnosis and treatment. Find out more about the empowered thyroid patient movement that thyroid patient advocate Mary Shomon has been leading since 1997.
The Top Thyroid Sites: Pros & Cons
A review of the key thyroid web sites on the Internet, including Thyroid.com, Thyroid.org, and others, by patient advocate Mary Shomon.
Information for Thyroid Patients About Flu / Influenza
If you're a thyroid patient, or have the autoimmune thyroid conditions Hashimoto's or Graves' disease, you may have questions about flu / influenza, the risks and benefits of flu shots, and the swine flu risk posed by pork/porcine thyroid medications. These and other questions, as well as helpful resources, about flu for thyroid patients are explored.
How to Avoid Getting the Flu
If you can't get a flu shot, or don't want one, here are helpful ways to avoid getting the flu (influenza).
Top 10 Signs That You May Have a Thyroid Problem
As many as 59 million Americans have thyroid problems, and the majority are not yet diagnosed. Do you have undiagnosed hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism or other thyroid condition? The top 10 signs that you may have a thyroid problem are summarized in this article, including muscle and joint pain, neck enlargement and discomfort, hair loss, skin changes, bowel problems, menstrual irregularities, fertility problems, fatigue, depression and anxiety, cholesterol and weight changes.
Hashimoto's vs. Hypothyroidism: What's the Difference?
Hashimoto's vs. Hypothyroidism: What's the Difference? A look at the autoimmune thyroid problem known as Hashimoto's disease, and the underactive thyroid condition known as hypothyroidism. What's their connection, how do they differ, and what do patients need to know? Information from Mary Shomon, patient advocate and author of a number of books and guides on thyroid disease and autoimmune disease.
Why Isn't Thyroid Disease Front Page News? And What Can We Do To Change It?
Despite affecting almost 60 million people, thyroid disease is rarely in the news. Why is the media so skittish about covering thyroid problems, and what could change that problem to help raise awareness? Thyroid patient advocate Mary Shomon has some ideas.
Dear Thyroid: An Interview with Katie Schwartz and Liz Schau
An interview with Katie Schwartz and Liz Schau of Dear Thyroid -- DearThyroid.com is a site and blog that publishes women's letters to their thyroid glands, for support, sharing, catharsis.