Articles

The association between thyroid imbalance and depression has been recognized for many years. But how much is the thyroid contributing to your depression? Interestingly, subclinical or low-grade hypothyroidism is more strongly associated with depression than overt hypothyroidism with up to 40% of people with low-grade hypothyroidism also having depression. Some research has shown that when treating low-grade hypothyroidism with thyroid medication, the depression diminishes and even sometimes resolves. If you are suffering from depressive symptoms, consider getting your thyroid tested as fixing the imbalance could help alleviate some symptoms. It is even possible to get off anti-depressants with the right thyroid...

Oxidative stress is the inability of the body to repair the damage caused by extensive free radicals. These Free radicals can cause toxic effects including damage to proteins, and DNA. Oxidative stress can cause negative influences in the functioning of our cells. In humans, oxidative stress is thought to be involved in the development of cancer and a multitude of other diseases and illnesses. Obese people typically develop several metabolic side effects resulting in cardiovascular disease, inflammation, and high cholesterol and triglyceride levels. However, some obese people never suffer from these side effects while some normal weight people do. The latter possibly is induced by...

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder suffered by genetically predisposed individuals. Upon exposure to gluten, a protein found in wheat, the bodies of these individuals initiate an autoimmune response targeted at their intestinal lining. This leads to inflammation and damage to the intestines, resulting in diarrhea, constipation, and improper absorption of nutrients and vitamins. Diagnosis of celiac disease can be complicated, often involving blood tests and endoscopic biopsy (accomplished by sedating the patient, passing a tube into the gastrointestinal system through the mouth, and removing a tiny section of the intestinal wall for microscopic evaluation). A separate condition called non-celiac...

Iron is crucial for optimal thyroid gland function and optimal thyroid hormone production. This explains that iron deficiency, in addition to causing anemia, can also lead to low thyroid hormone levels and even hypothyroidism. Because iron deficiency can be quite common during pregnancy as a result of the increased needs for the developing fetus, you need to make sure that you are not iron deficient prior to becoming pregnant or while pregnant. One of the many reasons is that iron deficiency may impair your thyroid function and can cause low thyroid hormone levels that could be detrimental to the pregnancy...