Obesity in Children May Trigger Thyroid Disease

In September of 2008, the editors at Medical Only questioned a possible link between hypothyroidism and weight gain in children. This week, we will review the results of a study that explored a possible connection between obesity in children and thyroid disorders. This study discusses a potential association between obesity and thyroid damage in children, and the subsequent weight gain which can occur, which then leads to even more weight gain resulting in a "vicious cycle".

Indeed, overweight children may be damaging their thyroids, creating a vicious routine of lower metabolism and weight gain, according to Italian researchers and a release reported on Wednesday.

Obesity may cause a disorder that actually harms the thyroid, the gland which discharges hormones in order to accommodate metabolism balance and other momentous functions, according to Dr. Giorgio Radetti and colleagues, who are the with the Regional Hospital of Bolzano in Italy.

Their study involved over one hundred and fifty severely overweight children covering a period of three years, during which their thyroid hormone levels and thyroid antibodies were documented using thyroid gland ultrasound, among other testing. Dr. Radetti stated that that the study shows alterations in thyroid function frequent in children who are obese or severely overweight. Dr. Radetti continued by stating that he and his colleagues found a coalition between body mass and thyroid hormone levels, which demonstrate a link between fat surplus and thyroid production.

The researchers wrote in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism that seventy-three of the children who participated in the study had aggravated-looking thyroids, but not to the point of being diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, which is an autoimmune disorder in which T-cells mistakenly attack the thyroid. However, these children did indeed lack the antibodies that are linked to the disease. Dr. Radetti suggested that inflammation could have caused the antibody insufficiency in these children, rather than Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Studies of Thyroid Hormones and Obesity in Children

Researchers have concentrated on the link between thyroid hormones in childhood obesity, even to the point of some scientists suggesting that an issue with the thyroid may be accountable for some statistical cases of overweight children. This link does, however, still remain contentious and further research released from the Hospital in Bolzano, Italy may only add to the debate.

Further Evidence Released from the Study Suggests a Link Between Obesity and Thyroid Disease.

Dr. Radetti specified that the thyroid ultrasound results are unexpected, however, they do demonstrate that there is a parallel between low-grade inflammation of the thyroid and childhood obesity. The study shows that thyroid function in severely overweight children may be the unearthed link. Dr. Radetti said "We found an association between body mass index and thyroid hormone levels which suggests that fat excess may have a role in thyroid tissue modification."

Can Weight Loss Fix the Damage Caused to the Thyroid?

Even though weight loss can accompany effective thyroid hormone production in tests, Dr. Radetti stated that he was positive that the pattern of changes found by ultrasound could possibly be reversed through weight loss. However, it would require more testing and studies in order for this association to be confirmed.

What Categorizes a Child as Obese?

Obesity is defined as an excess amount of body fat. At this time, there is no specific general agreement that exists among scientists on the definition of obesity in children as in adults. The majority of professional researchers use published guidelines, which state the body mass index (BMI) for age in order to calculate obesity in children. Some scientists define obesity in children as the body weight at least 20% higher than an otherwise normal child with healthy weight for that height. In other words, obesity in children is calculated as body fat percentage above 25% in boys or above 32% in girls.

Does Excessive Weight in Children Lead to a Vicious Cycle and Low Thyroid?

Abnormally low thyroid function can be associated to weight gain, however, it is known by scientists that stimulating the thyroid does not lead to weight loss. However, weight loss has been shown to restore normal and efficient thyroid function in some people.

And because some people with low thyroid have the tendencies to have a low basal metabolic rate, an obvious result of hypothyroidism is weight gain and even the perpetuated cause of excess weight due to the difficulty to lose extra weight.

Sometimes a metabolic burn may continue to drop as calories are reduced when dieting. This is why some women with hypothyroidism or low thyroid can have weight gain even when they are maintaining a very strict calorie intake diet.

Consult a Professional

If you or loved one suspects that their child may suffer from obesity due to a thyroid disease, or suspect that their thyroid disease may be caused by obesity, it is highly recommended that they consult with a Pediatrician as soon as possible.

Thyroid Levels Affect Women's Chances of Developing Alzheimer's Disease

Thyroid and Alzheimer's Disease

According to a report that was released on Monday, women who have abnormal thyroid function, such as low thyroid - called hypothyroid - or excessive thyroid hormone - called hyperthyroid - may have a higher chance of developing Alzheimer's disease later in life.

Pending more research on the issue of thyroid and Alzheimer's disease, it has not yet been determined if the reverse is true, meaning researchers have not yet determined if Alzheimer's can affect the thyroid function. These findings are consistent with previous research that has shown that there is a definite association between thyroid and memory loss.

The study was conducted by colleagues Dr. Zaldy Tan from the Hebrew Senior Life, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and professors at the Harvard Medical School in Boston. The colleagues focused on documented levels of a thyroid-regulating hormone, which is refereed to as thyrotropin. The priority of the study involved nearly two thousand otherwise healthy men and women above the age of seventy years old.

The researchers drew the blood of the study participants as part of a correlative study, the Framingham Health Study, in which virtually all members of a Massachusetts town had their health documented for decades. Dr. Tan revealed in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, that he and his colleagues followed the medical history of over two hundered of the study participants who had later developed Alzheimer's disease.

Women, Thyroid Levels and Alzheimer's Disease

It was found that women with reduced and those with elevated levels of thyrotropin had virtually double the chance of developing Alzheimer's disease. And contrasting the same study, which was conducted on male participants, it was revealed that no such link was found in the male participants of the study.

What Causes the Link Between Thyroid and Alzheimer's Disease?

The link may develop after changes in the brain, which are caused by Alzheimer's disease, that later result in a reduction in the amount of thyrotropin released. Conversely, low or high thyrotropin levels could injure brain cells or blood vessels. It is also revealed, however, that the testing is preliminary and that the findings of the study need to be further tested in larger populations before a definitive relationship between thyroid and Alzheimer's disease is proven.

Study Results Limited

The scientists noted, however, that this research publication’s findings might be preliminary because of the limited availability of only a single thyrotropin substance without data on thyroxine levels, in addition to depression status and many other variables of illness that could affect thyroid hormone levels, or the use of antithyroid medications.

Study Exclusive to Caucasians

Also important to note, the findings of the study were conducted on a nearly all-Caucasian population, which suggests that the findings require further validation in more varied populations, according to Dr. Tan and his research partners. The authors also remarked that when analyses were focused on individuals with thyrotropin levels of nearly 0.5 to as high of a level of 5.0 mIU/L, the link between thyrotropin levels and Alzheimer's disease was less amplified.

The researchers wrote that this might suggest that a link between thyroid and Alzheimer's may have been related to individuals with more excessive thyrotropin values in the full analysis.

Consult a Professional

If you are interested in learning more about the link between thyroid levels and memory function, it is recommended that you consult with a professional health care provider who is experienced in the field of thyroid disease.

For further reading:

• http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/Thyroid/tb/10293
• http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N28503922.htm

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.