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The Thyroid/Menopause Connection

Information from Drs. Richard and Karilee Shames

By Mary Shomon, About.com

Created: December 13, 2003

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Richard and Karilee Shames are husband and wife as well as doctor and nurse AND thyroid practitioner and thyroid patient. Karilee herself is hypothyroid as are several of the couple's children. They have been working with people suffering from "low thyroid" for over twenty-five years.

  • Low thyroid is often the ignored factor in women who are treated for symptoms attributed to menopause.
  • It is estimated that by age 50 one out of every ten/twelve women has some degree of hypothyroidism. By age 60 it is one out of every five/six.
  • Many women confuse hypothyroidism symptoms with menopause symptoms. Hot flashes, insomnia, irritability, palpitations and "fuzzy thinking" are common symptoms of both.
  • Thyroid antibody tests are a better indicator than normal thyroid testing.
  • "Thyroid hormone is not at all the osteoporosis villain that it has been painted to be in the past" say the Drs.
  • Even if you have "normal" test results, you should consider yourself a possible thyroid candidate if you have had ANY of the symptoms of hypothyroidism prior to menopause.
More detailed information can be found online.

TO CONTACT THE SHAMES:

Richard Shames, M.D. offers consultations by telephone, online or in person at his holistic health center in California. To schedule an appointment, please go to [link url=http://www.thyroidpower.com/consults.html]his website[/link].

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