Fluoride and Thyroid Damage

Not often is there a publication released which shows an association with common items such as toothpaste and public water supplies to negative health consequences, but recent studies have revealed a link between fluoride and thyroid damage.

There is glaring evidence that shows even little amounts of fluoride, such as in toothpaste or in U.S. water supplies may deal out possible risks to the thyroid gland, according to the National Research Council's (NRC) introductory issue of the fluoride/thyroid literature.

Fluoride, in the configuration of silicofluorides, introduced into nearly seventy-five percent of U.S. public water reserves, apparently reduce tooth decay, however this practice was never fully tested, according to the Review of Toxicological Literature, October 2001 issue.

And many Americans are open to fluoride consumption without intentionally ingesting it, and at the same time may be affecting their thyroid's ability to function, particularly people that suffer from an iodine deficiency, according to Kathleen Thiessen, PhD, who is the co-author of the government-sponsored NRC study. Thiessen continues stating that the modern decline in iodine consumption within the United States could add to the toxicity of ingested fluoride for many people. And more alarming news comes from Thiessen. She states that low levels of thyroid hormone can raise the chances of many substantial health issues such as cardiac disease, depression, high cholesterol, and lower intelligence of offspring in pregnant women.

Symptoms of Thyroid Disease

Prevalent thyroid symptoms comprise of exhaustion, weight gain, constipation, clouded thought process, low blood pressure, fluid tenacity, melancholia, body pain, gradual reflexes, and much more. It is calculated that nearly fifty-nine million people in the United States suffer from some type of a thyroid disorder.

A leading environmental scientist who worked for over thirty years with the United States government with the responsibility of managing safety for highly dangerous chemicals, Robert Carton, PhD, said that it has serious effects on the thyroid gland of otherwise healthy males at 3.5 mg daily. For those with an iodine weakness, the consequence level reduces to 0.7 milligrams daily for a typical male and because it is in most water supplies, this data is alarming.

Scientists Probe Solutions

Dr. Richard and Kariless Shames state that people who have a thyroid disorder should avoid it. And John Doull who is professor of pharmacology and toxicology at the Medical Center of the University of Kansas sated that the thyroid effect is worrisome.

Hypothyroidism - Low Thyroid Production

Some experts believe that this is in part the reason for the upsurge of hypothyroid cases in the United States. The use of fluoride has been commonplace since the 1930's as an anti-thyroid treatment at levels below the current optimal approved levels of 1 mg daily. The reason for this is because of fluoride's capability to simulate the action of thyrotropin (TSH).  It is theorized, therefore, that of the more than one hundred and fifty symptoms of hypothyroidism, many of them are also symptoms of excessive fluoride intake and poisoning.

Andreas Schuld, who is a leading scientist and advocate, has discovered that an overabundance of it is consistent with varied thyroid-related issues such as an iodine shortcoming. Therefore, fluoride and iodine, the two of them are members of the halogens body of atoms, have an antagonistic association. When there is maximum of fluoride in the body it can intrude with the ability of the thyroid's function. It is statistical that iodine deficiency, which is the most prevailing influence of brain damage and mental disablement in the world, could be lessened by merely reducing the intake of fluoride.

Iodine and the Thyroid

The disorder known as "goiter" which involves a profound swelling of the thyroid gland, which then produces increased swellings in the neck, is related to iodine deficiency. Yet, it has also been discovered to arise in areas that have inadequate iodine supplies plus an excess of fluoride in the water supply.

Research has shown that one of the effects of low iodine in mothers may lead to an increased occurrence of mental retardation in their offspring. Fortunately, however, since the arrival of iodized salt this is a less recurring event.

Consult a Professional

If you or a loved one has questions about fluoride and thyroid damage, it is recommended that you consult with a health care professional because ultimately, it is your physician who can give you the definitive answers to these types of health questions.

Scientists Probe the Risk of Cell Phone Use and Cancer

Notable Cancer Doctor Discusses Cancer Risk Concerning Cell Phone Use

The director of a prominent cancer research institution has released cautionary words to his administrators and staff to restrain from excessive use of cell phones because of a chance of cancer, according to The Associated Press. The director at the Cancer Institute at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Ronald Herberman, stated that while the data about a cell phone-cancer relationship has not yet been proven beyond a fact, people should make precautions, above all for children.

Dr. Herberman continues by stating to The Associated Press that the basis of his concern is that we ought not to wait for definite facts to be released, but instead be cautious and safe, instead of being sorry at a later date.

Brain Surgeons Raise Concerns About Cell Phone Use and Cancer Risk

Previously this year, three remarkable brain surgeons brought to light their concerns about cell phone use and the risk of cancer while appearing on "The Larry King Show." Their nervousness on the subject was mostly based on observational studies that documented a notable link between cell phone use and cancer, which by any means was not a causal relationship. The extremely important of these research studies was termed Interphone, an immense examination in thirteen countries, which include Canada, Israel and several in Europe.

Some of the data suggests a relationship amid cell phone use and three types of cancerous tumors: glioma; parotid cancer, a salivary gland close to the ear; and acoustic neuroma, a tumor that substantially occurs near where the ear and the brain meet. Indeed, all of these tumors are uncommon, so if cell phone use does indeed raise the risk of developing cancer, the risk is yet very low.

Researchers Probe Cell Phone and Cancer Risk in Children

Researchers in Britain warn the public that cell phone use can lead to brain tumors, and they are breaking ground by issuing public warnings to parents with children under the age of eight. The researchers state that these children should not use a cell phone at all. Their review says intense use can contribute to tumors in the brain and ears, and furthermore the report states that until recently, many scientists have mostly understated the danger.

Brain Cancer and Cell Phone Use

Public worries about cell phone use leading to the development of cancerous tumors is nothing new. Indeed, these concerns are nearly as old as the cell phone industry itself. However, the alarms are becoming louder because the use of cell phones in modern world has become more prevalent, causing the level of concern to rise.

A trial in the international journal Epidemiology October issue last year, discovered that people who have a history of cell phone use for the last ten years may absolutely have an increased risk of developing a rare, but very dangerous brain tumor.

The chairman of the National Radiological Protection Board, Professor Sir William Stewart, stated that the warnings are graver now seeing that the facts of potentially dangerous effects have evolved into more persuasive studies within the last five years. The Professor and his colleagues debate that four studies in specific have led to growing concern.

Cell Phones Use Could Be More Dangerous Than Smoking Cigarettes

Millions of deaths could result over the long term, it is warned. A trial led by a renowned cancer expert documents that cell phone use could possibly kill more people than smoking it is reported. The study which was organized by Dr. Vini Khurana, documented that there is an increasing body of evidence which shows that using cell phones for a period of ten years or longer could double the risk of developing a rare but dangerous brain cancer.

Khurana has been described by many as one of the world's leading neurosurgeons, and he based his conclusion on the data collected that shows that three billion people around the world now use the phones. This number is nearly three times higher than people who have the habit of smoking cigarettes. And the bad news is that cigarette smoking leads to death in nearly five million people each year.

Many question if Khurana is overstating the numbers. Dr. Khurana, however, states that the numbers back him up. He also notes that there is little doubt that cell phone use is risky and data shows it can very well lead to the development of brain tumors.

The risks, according to Khurana, will arise as a more prevalent threat in the years ahead.

Mixed Reviews

Contrary to this view, the scientists at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have discovered in a study funded by Motorola that the electromagnetic radiation which is created by cell phones does not lead to a stress indication in mouse, hamster or even in human cells growing in cultures.

The stress acknowledgment is a cellular safety mechanism caused by various adverse stimuli, some of which include heat shock, inflammation of heavy metals. Intense levels of the stress indication in cells are believed to result in alterations associated with malignancy.

Andrei Laszlo, Ph.D., who is associate professor of radiation oncology and a scientist at the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine performed highly sensitive, extremely well-controlled tests on living cells irradiated with energy like that from mobile phones, but at levels 5 to 10 times higher than those set for the devices by regulatory agencies. Dr. Laszlo stated that there was no evidence that shows evidence of stress response resulting from cell phone radiation exposure.

If you have questions or concerns about cell phone use and cancer risk, it is recommended that you consult with your health care provider.

Headache and Thyroid

For the many people who deal with stubborn headaches along with a thyroid disorder, the question as to what could be causing these simultaneous conditions has been a mystery for some time now. And for these people, their coexistent health issues could cause the stress associated with them to intensify.

Until recently, migraine headaches were not believed to be directly associated with thyroid conditions but recent studies have shown that there may be a direct link between a migraine headache and thyroid conditions. Scientists have broken ground by discerning a distinct connection between hypothyroidism, the condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone, and persistent headaches, even chronic migraines. Researchers have concluded that simultaneous conditions can affect each other in multiple ways.

Scientists Probe Link Between Headache and Thyroid Conditions

At the University of Manitoba, in Winnipeg, Canada, researchers Jitender Sareen, M.D., and several colleagues studied the link between anxiety disorders and physical conditions by documenting over four thousand adults who participated in the German Health Survey, which was conducted from 1997 to 1999. The study evaluated whether or not these participants had any possible physical illnesses by submitting a questionnaire, which focused on over forty specific conditions.

Among the people in the study, nearly nine percent had an existing anxiety disorder within the past month while nearly sixty percent had a physical condition within the past month. It was surmised that having an anxiety disorder was due to some type of physical condition, such as respiratory diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, arthritis, allergies, thyroid diseases and migraine headaches.

It was shown that simultaneous issues may play a role in consistent and regular headaches that occur daily. In some cases, the solution of the migraine condition was to treat even borderline hypothyroidism, and the results showed dramatic relief in migraine pain. Associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Dr. Egilius Spierings, stated that a benefit of the treatment plan with regard to the migraine headaches could lie in the correction of hypothyroidism.

Dr. Marcelo Bigal, assistant professor of neurology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, and his colleagues concluded that sub clinical hypothyroidism could well be linked to the development of new daily persistent headaches. And hypothyroidism may be relative to stubborn headaches with treatment in patients with primary headaches, such as migraine headaches beneficial.

The answer as to why headaches and migraines and some other circumstances occur collectively is not altogether apparent, however, the connections are visible. By recognizing other conditions which may be provoking patients, it can be better understood the best method of which to alleviate headaches and succeed in migraine management.

Which Thyroid Conditions Might Cause Headaches?

Thyroid diseases, such as hypothyroidism, are among the circumstances now known to often coexist with headaches and migraines. A sound association has been found between hypothyroidism and daily, persistent headaches such as chronic migraines.

Researchers have concluded that coexistent conditions can affect each other in multiple ways including how they progress and the time of which it takes to diagnose them and find effective treatment plans. In addition, it's been shown that simultaneous conditions may play a role in headaches becoming and remaining daily or near daily. In some cases the response of migraine to treatment of even borderline hypothyroidism has been dramatic.

Anxiety, Headache and Thyroid

Anxiety disorders indicate to be independently linked with many physical disorders such as thyroid disease, respiratory disease, arthritis and migraine headaches, according to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, JAMA Archives. This co-occurrence of disorders may significantly raise the risk of incapacity and negatively bear upon quality of life.

Headache and Thyroid Recommendations

This temperament of headache habitually shows up at the beginning one's day. And as the thyroid "wakes up", the painful headache generally subsides.

For those that experience headache and thyroid disorder simultaneously, some researchers recommend exercise, but of course, the ultimate decision should be made only after a thorough examination is performed by your health care provider.

Studies show support which links those with excessive phobic fearful anxiety to sudden cardiac death, and unfortunately, rates of anxiety disorders are greater than expected in patients with thyroid disease, cancer, hypertension and many other serious physical conditions. For these reasons, it is imperative that no one start an exercise program without first consulting with a physician to see if there is any correlation between the patient's headache and thyroid gland.

Scientists Probe Hashimoto's and Thyroid Cancer

For many people with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, the frustration of having an autoimmune disorder is only compounded by the fact that their disorder could lead to the development of other diseases. Fortunately, researchers are making great progress and learning more about the mysteries of autoimmune disorders.

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Patients and Thyroidectomy

Researchers investigated the use of thyroidectomy (surgery to take out the thyroid gland) as a procedure for Hashimoto's thyroiditis, which is sometimes referred to as HT. In a scientific probe, four hundred and seventy-four patients were studied, of which twenty-eight percent had a pre-operative physicians determination of having a thyroid cancer tumor. Among the patients studied, not one experienced loss of life or continuing surgical complications. Thirty-two percent had transient post-operative hypoglycemia and less than one percent had transient recurrent nerve palsy. And less than one percent had postoperative neck hematoma, a solid swelling of clotted blood within the tissue. The examiners concluded that thyroidectomy could, in some cases, be recommended for patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

(The thyroid gland resembles the shape of a butterfly and the two wings represent the left and right thyroid lobes, which wrap around the trachea.)

Hashimoto's Patients May Face Higher Risk of Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis

An unexpected revelation of the study was that a total of fifty-three percent of the Hashimoto's patients also had thyroid cancer -- several more than the twenty-eight percent who went into the surgery with a thyroid cancer diagnosis alone. When you rule out the patients who beforehand knew that they had thyroid cancer, the predominance of thyroid cancer in the HT patients was as high as nearly thirty-six percent. According to the researchers, the definite reason as to why there is such a prominent link between HT and thyroid cancer is theorized to be an immune response. The positive point to be revealed from the study, however, is that papillary thyroid cancer in HT patients does have a more satisfactory prognosis than in patients without HT.

Despite the fact that the thyroid gland enlarges with HT' thyroiditis and invariably has swollen contours called bossilations, HT does not, in some cases, result in separate nodules or lumps in the thyroid. It is highly recommended, however, to have a thyroid lump examined, especially if the patient already has a Hashimoto's thyroiditis diagnosis so that it can be determined if the lump or nodule represents a thyroid cancer. An experienced thyroid cancer surgeon usually does this investigation by a thorough examination of the neck area to determine whether or not the thyroid lump needs further testing.

Although it is not altogether rare to develop thyroid cancer and Hashimoto's thyroiditis simultaneously, a patient can be at an increased risk for a particular type of thyroid cancer called a lymphoma, which can be treated and cured if discovered early. Therefore, no thyroid nodule should be ignored.

Scientists Probe Relationship Between Hashimoto's and Thyroid Cancer

HT is a frequent thyroid disorder. Hence the difficulty of diagnosing a coexisting thyroid cancer, its treatment remains with contention. A study was conducted in which one hundred and twenty patients who had thyroid cancer during an eleven-year period from 1976 to 1986 and documented the clinical characteristics of patients with both diagnoses. Thirteen of these patients had cancer, which is associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. And among the patients, six had a previous history of thyroiditis before the official diagnosis of thyroid cancer. The remainder of the seven patients had indications of HT on review of the thyroid specimen.

The most typical characteristics, which caused the need for surgical intervention, were the signs of a non-suppressing dominant nodule and a cold realm on thyroid scan.

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT ) is an autoimmune disease of the thyroid linked with goiter and hypothyroidism. And because there exists a known association between HT and lymphomas of the thyroid, the link between HT and thyroid cancer remains unclear.

If you or a loved one is faced with the question of how to deal with a Hashimoto's and thyroid cancer, it is highly recommended that you contact a health care professional.

Consult a Professional

The ultimate resource for answers to any Hashimoto's and thyroid cancer question should be your personal health care provider. If you or a loved one has questions about Hashimoto's and thyroid cancer, schedule and appointment with your physician at your earliest convenience and ask these important questions. Check back for more thyroid health articles.

For further reading:

• http://thyroid.about.com/b/2008/07/17/hashimotos-patients-face-higher-risk-of-thyroid-cancer.htm
• http://archsurg.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/124/9/1045

Hypothyroidism and Weight Gain in Children Linked?

Thyroid Conditions and Children

The most common thyroid disorder is called hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid under produces the thyroid hormone. Because many of the symptoms of hypothyroidism are indistinct, at times a correct diagnosis can be difficult. And some physicians can overlook the symptoms, such as fatigue and depression, and attribute them to a different cause altogether.

In an earlier blog entry, we listed the symptoms of thyroid disorders. The most common cause of hypothyroidism is thyroiditis, also called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, which is an autoimmune thyroid disorder. A very common cause of thyroiditis is aging. As people age, the thyroid produces less hormone causing the condition. But many times, a young person might develop thyroiditis and as a result could, in some cases, become sluggish which in-turn could lead to weight gain. Today we are going to discuss a common belief that hypothyroidism can directly lead to weight gain, even in children.

Hypothyroidism and Weight Gain in Children

Often times, a parent will investigate hypothyroidism after their child has suffered from fatigue, depression, and even weight gain. The parent will take the child to a physician who will conduct a simple blood test and, in some cases, determine that the child has an under active thyroid called hypothyroidism. The parent often requests the child be treated for their disease in hopes that while regulating the deficient hormone level in their child with the once-a-day thyroid hormone pill, an added benefit of the treatment will lead to the child magically losing the excess weight and achieving improved overall health. However, a child who is treated for hypothyroidism is not likely to lose weight with treatment for their condition alone, according to a new study published in the Journal of Pediatrics. The study is groundbreaking because it is the first study of its kind in which the link between hypothyroidism in children and weight loss is examined.

The Journal's study documented sixty-eight children with acquired hypothyroidism that were seen in the Kentucky Children's Hospital Pediatric Endocrinology Department from 1995 to 2006. Most of the children had extreme cases of hypothyroidism. The researchers who conducted the study discovered that with levo-thyroxine, which was used to stabilize the children's thyroid hormone levels, did not result in lower weight, either within the short-term or long-term.

But hypothyroidism alone is not responsible for weight gain, according to the study's lead author, Dr. Jefferson P. Lomenick of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology. In fact, Lomenick contends that hypothyroidism leads to a collection of fluids within the subcutaneous tissues called myxedema. And while regulating and correcting the level of thyroid hormone does indeed cause fluid to dissipate, it only relates to a weight loss of a few pounds. Lomenick states that most incidences of hypothyroidism are diagnosed well before myxedema becomes established and this is why few people enjoy weight loss after treatment. Hypothyroidism's effect on weight loss has been far over characterized.

Emotional Effects of Hypothyroidism

The side effects of hypothyroidism are vast. They include a feeling of nervousness, irritability, and these patients can also feel fatigue or depression. However, these emotional side effects will most likely subside with treatment for the thyroid disorder. Because these types of disorders develop gradually, some symptoms are not recognized at the onset.

Helping Hypothyroid Children with Weight Issues

A camp was launched this year at Christ Lutheran School and will continue through the summer to August 1st. The goal of the camp is to provide young people with education and exercise in an effort to help them not only lose weight, but gain the knowledge in order to make a lifestyle change so that they can maintain a healthy weight. The camp is called "The Biggest Teen Loser" and serving as the camp's medical directors are Drs. Walter Flesner and Mark Smith of Island Coast Pain and Rehabilitation Center in Cape Coral.

A young participant at the camp, Nicole, has the most common thyroid disorder - an autoimmune condition in which her body repudiates her thyroid. This condition is called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. And because of Nicole's condition, her body does not burn calories as efficiently as other teens. Her under active thyroid does not utilize energy as quickly as is necessary. Nicole is participating in the camp in hopes that she can learn how to eat so that her body will utilize the calories more efficiently.

Although Nicole is only one patient at the camp of seventeen youths who attended, it is promising to see this example of public involvement with goals of helping teens that suffer from weight issues.

Excellent Review of Thyroid Disease

This video was found to have an excellent visual reference for thyroid disorders and their effect on the metabolism. If you or a loved one is concerned about hypothyroidism and weight gain in children, call a pediatric endocrinologist to request a consultation so you can discuss your questions and possible treatment options.  And be sure to check back here each week for more news on thyroid health.