Apr 15 2004
A remarkable thing happened when this was done (well, maybe we’re not surprised!). The large majority of patients, despite being considered to have a normal thyroid, had their symptoms improve upon taking thyroid hormone (Synthroid), at an average dosage of 100 to 120 micrograms a day.6B
Interestingly, Mary Shomon’s awareness of the scientific and clinical research and experience has consistently been well ahead of that of many in the medical community. Because she stood up for people’s rights to health and the scientific data in the face of some (albeit well meaning) medical practitioners choosing to stay ignorant (at the patient’s expense, of course), she has at times been verbally attacked. Those who advance truth have routinely been attacked by those in power through out history--yet turn out to be the heroes.
WHAT IS THE COST OF MISSING HYPOTHYROIDISM?
1- Over 30,000 preventable deaths/year from heart attacks. Women with untreated hypothyroidism are more than twice as likely to have a heart attack. A study in the prestigious Annals of Internal Medicine noted that hypothyroidism "contributed to 60 percent of cases of myocardial infarction [heart attacks] among women affected by subclinical [even mild] hypothyroidism ". It contributed more to causing heart attacks in these patients than smoking, elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes! (7).
2- Over 4600 miscarriages/yr after 15 weeks of pregnancy-countless more before. Six percent of miscarriages are associated with hypothyroidism. Undiagnosed hypothyroidism is also associated with infertility. In moderate to severely hypothyroid mothers, the baby was also over 6 times as likely to die soon after being born.(8)
3- Learning disabilities- Children born to hypothyroid mothers have a lower IQ (average of 7 points). They are almost 4 times as likely to have an IQ under 85 and over twice as likely to have learning difficulties resulting in their having to repeat a grade.(9)
4- Hypothyroidism contributes to millions being unnecessarily disabled. Over 6 million Americans have Fibromyalgia and tens of millions more have chronic muscle pain. Undiagnosed or inadequately treated thyroid disorders contribute to these unnecessarily disabling conditions (1,2,3). Our initial understanding of this was elucidated by Dr. Janet Travell, who was the white house physician for President Kennedy-who suffered from excruciating back pain(10). Dr. Teitelbaum’s recently published research shows that 91% of these patients can improve with proper treatment-especially including thyroid hormone.(2)
5- Hypothyroidism is a major cause of gaining and being unable to lose weight. It causes fatigue, dry hair, coarse skin, depression, and “brain fog” as well. Americans are currently treating hypothyroidism, which is often confused as being depression, with Prozac! This is an even bigger problem in the elderly who are being misdiagnosed with depression or Alzheimer's/ senility when what they have is hypothyroidism.
What makes this situation especially tragic is that, given the proper information, hypothyroidism is incredibly easy and inexpensive to diagnose and treat. Instead, because of lack of awareness on the part of physicians, Americans unnecessarily suffer with a major public health disaster.
Best wishes,
Jacob Teitelbaum MD
1-From Fatigued to Fantastic! (Avery/Penguin Putnam 2001;1st edition 1995). Jacob Teitelbaum M.D.
2- Teitelbaum JE, Bird B, Greenfield RM ,Weiss A., Muenz L, Gould L. Effective Treatment of CFS and Fibromyalgia ---. A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Intent to Treat Study. The Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Volume 8(2), 2001,pg3-28.
3-. Teitelbaum J, Bird B. Effective Treatment of Severe Chronic Fatigue: A Report of a Series of 64 Patients. J Musculoskeletal Pain 1995; 3 (4):91- 110.
4-Press release on AACE web site: http://www.aace.com/pub/tam2003/press.php
5-Canaris GJ ,et al.The Colorado Thyroid Disease Prevalence Study :Archives of Internal Medicine, Feb 28,2000 p526-534.
6-National Assn of Clinical Biochemistry web site. http://www.nacb.org/lmpg/thyroid_LMPG_PDF.stm p31-46
6A- Skinner GRB, Thomas R, Taylor M, Bolt S, Krett S, Wright A, et al. Thyroxine Should be Tried in Clinically Hypothyroid But Biochemically Euthyroid Patients. BMJ 14 June 1997; Volume 314.
6B-. Skinner GRB, Holmes D, Ahmad A, Davies JA, Benitez J. Clinical Response To Thyroxine Sodium in Clinically Hypothyroid Biochemically Euthyroid Patients. J Nutritional And Environmental Medicine 2000; 20:115-124.
