The Thyroid Blog

Are You Gaining Weight Because of a Virus?

Scientists reported new evidence that infection with a common virus may be a contributing factor to the obesity epidemic sweeping through the United States and other countries. In laboratory experiments they showed that infection with human adenovirus-36 (Ad-36), long recognized as a cause of respiratory and eye infections in humans, transforms adult stem cells obtained from fat tissue into fat cells. Stem cells not exposed to the virus, in contrast, were unchanged.

Are Your Friends Making You Fat?

Are your friends making you fat? Or keeping you slender? According to new research from Harvard and the University of California, San Diego, the short answer on both counts is "yes."

Appearing in the July 26, 2007 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, a study coauthored by Nicholas Christakis of Harvard Medical School and James Fowler of UC San Diego suggests that obesity is "socially contagious," spreading from person to person in a social network.

The study -- the first to examine this phenomenon -- finds that if one person becomes obese, those closely connected to them have a greater chance of becoming obese themselves. Surprisingly, the greatest effect is seen not among people sharing the same genes or the same household but among friends.

Radio Program Highlights Thyroid Disease

Patient advocate and writer Mary Shomon was the guest of radio host Deborah Doc Watson, talking about thyroid disease, natural and conventional approaches to diagnosis and treatment, and more.

You can listen for free online now in this podcast of the radio show.

Fifteen Million Americans are Eligible for Free or Low-cost Health Coverage But Have Not Signed Up Yet

You could be eligible for government health insurance and not even know it.

"Many don't know there are programs like Healthy Families, for example, where a family of four can earn up to $60,000 and still qualify their children for comprehensive  health care," said Philip Lebherz of The Foundation for Health Coverage Education (FHCE), a nonprofit organization that works to reduce the numbers of uninsured.

Studies indicate that as many as a third of an estimated 45 million uninsured Americans are eligible for government-sponsored health insurance programs and don't know about them. FHCE has a number of programs to help.

FAQ on Saliva and Bloodspot Testing for Hormone Levels

Many readers write to me asking about saliva and blood spot testing for thyroid and other hormones, and why it may be of interest to some patients and practitioners.

Recently, ZRT Laboratories launched its Comprehensive Hormone Profile home test kit, which combines saliva and blood spot testing in a home collection kit.  The kit allows for same-day testing of the three major hormonal symptom areas - reproductive, thyroid and adrenal. 

The Comprehensive Hormone Profile tests:

• Sex/Reproductive Hormones: Estradiol, Progesterone, Testosterone
  
• Adrenal Hormones: DHEA, Cortisol (AM, noon, evening and PM)
  
  
• Thyroid Hormones: TSH, FreeT3, FreeT4, TPO
  
  

Find out more about this important resource now.

How to Stay a Safe Patient

Everyone plays a part in ensuring patient safety: you, your doctor, your health care team and your pharmacist. In playing your part on your health care team, you become an active and informed patient.

Unfortunately, errors happen in health care. Humans are not perfect and technology is complicated. While great strides have been made in improving patient safety, there is more to be done to make health care even safer. The National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF), the leading organization in advancing the safety of patients, encourages you to become better informed and proactive when interacting with your health care team.

Be Active And Informed

These important tips from the NPSF can be helpful:

NY, NJ, CT Thyroid Patients: Upcoming Thyroid Seminar

On Friday, March 23, at 7:15pm, the New York Open Center, the nation's leading holistic health center, will be hosting an educational session with Mary Shomon, to discuss idea in the book, The Thyroid Hormone Breakthrough: Overcoming Sexual and Hormonal Problems at Every Age.

Millions of American women suffer from sexual and reproductive health problems such as low sex drive, infertility, difficult pregnancies, PMS, and menopausal symptoms that are often caused by undiagnosed or improperly treated thyroid conditions. Mary Shomon will draw from her new book to share a holistic approach to identifying, diagnosing and resolving thyroid-related hormonal problems. Come discover how to find the right practitioner, get properly diagnosed and effectively treated.

Register online or call 212 219 2527, extension 2 to register by phone.

Friday, March 23, 7:15pm
Course #: 07WHH75P
Cost: Members $20 / Nonmembers $22 (includes handouts)

Annual Study Finds Top Hospitals Have 28% Lower Mortality Rate

Patients treated at top-rated hospitals nationwide have nearly a one-third better chance of surviving, on average, than those admitted to all other hospitals, according to a study released by HealthGrades, an independent healthcare ratings company. Patients who undergo surgery at these high-performing hospitals also have an average five percent lower risk of complications during their stay, researchers found.

Top 10 Things You Should Know About Your Thyroid: Thyroid Awareness Month Special Report

As I do every year, I've taken a look at what the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) has come up with for their awareness campaign effort. Their Thyroid Awareness Month campaign this year -- called "How's Your Thyroid? Who Needs to Know?" -- is geared towards those who may not know they have a thyroid problem. AACE is sponsoring the campaign, along with the American Thyroid Association (ATA), and with funding from Synthroid drugmaker Abbott Labs. In past years, I've found the campaigns lacking -- they've been self-serving, or not much more than thinly veiled drug company advertising. But I have to say, this year's theme is an improvement, and does have more of a patient orientation.

BUT...part of the campaign is a list they've together titled the "Top Ten Things You Should Know About Your Thyroid." It's pretty telling to see what they've chosen as their top ten things. And truthfully, I'm not on board with some of their choices...and you may not be either. So, what are these ten things they think you should know? Are they really the most important things affecting your thyroid health? Find out now.

Take Charge of Your Thyroid: 10 Tips

As part of my campaign, I polled thyroid patients, and asked them their thoughts about the best themes for Thyroid Awareness Month. In the survey, which received more than 3,100 responses, almost a third of the responses said the theme should be that "doctors need to be more knowledgeable about thyroid disease." Working with that theme, I put together these "Ten Tips to Help Take Charge of your Thyroid." Any one of these ten tips might be the key to transform your health.