Is This the Reason Why You’re So Tired?

Do you sleep soundly each night, but wake up feeling exhausted?

Are you so fatigued throughout the day that you feel you could fall asleep virtually any time you sit down (and sometimes do), even when you’re in a meeting or while driving?

Do you no longer have the energy to do the things you love, such as exercise?

And is it often difficult to get through your day without a nap (or at least wishing you could take one)?

If you answered “yes” to these questions, there’s a good chance your fatigue is not the run-of-the-mill “go to bed early and the next day you’ll feel rested” variety.

Instead, your fatigue may be thyroid related.

Your thyroid gland plays an instrumental role in countless body functions, from influencing your heart and respiratory rate, to regulating the rate at which calories are burned to helping with growth, temperature regulation, fertility and digestion.

When hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) occurs, it means your thyroid is not producing enough thyroid hormones and you’ve got too little in your bloodstream to keep your body running smoothly. The result is a major slowing down of many bodily systems … including your energy levels. It is very common for people with hypothyroidism to suffer from sluggishness, lack of energy and serious fatigue.

Differentiating thyroid-related fatigue from “ordinary” fatigue can be tricky, but one of the best gauges is feeling tired even though you’re sleeping well, or experiencing exhaustion for no apparent reason. These two scenarios are hallmarks of people with hypothyroidism.

If you’re experiencing thyroid-related fatigue, you may be desperate for more energy, but resist the urge to rely on caffeine or energy drinks as a solution. This will only provide short-term relief to your tiredness, as it is the lack of thyroid hormones in your bloodstream that is responsible for your exhaustion.

By addressing the hypothyroidism at the foundational level, and of course first confirming that it is indeed a thyroid problem that is causing your fatigue, you can restore your energy naturally, and often permanently.

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The Functional Endocrinology Center of Colorado is passionate about improving the lives and lifestyles of individuals with Type II Diabetes and Hashimoto’s Disease. Call us at 303-302-0930 to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Does Hashimoto’s Increase Your Risk of Thyroid Cancer?

Hashimoto’s disease (HD), also known as chronic thyroiditis, is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States. This condition, an autoimmune disease that causes your immune system to mistakenly attack, and destroy, your thyroid, is linked with numerous health complications ranging from heart disease and depression to birth defects and infertility — but the link to cancer is hotly debated.

In the latest study, researchers found nearly 2 percent of those with HD tested positive for papillary thyroid cancer, compared to just under 1 percent of those with Grave’s disease (the most common cause of hyperthyroidism). Given the findings, researchers suggested:

“We recommend performing US [thyroid ultrasonography] at the time of the initial visit in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease, who have a high prevalence of thyroid papillary carcinoma, to detect malignant thyroid tumors.”

Past research has also found a heightened risk, including:

• A study in the Journal of Surgical Research, which found female patients with HD undergoing thyroidectomy were 30 percent more likely to have papillary thyroid cancer.

• A study in Thyroid, which found “… cancer is common in patients who have a thyroidectomy for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis even when not suspected preoperatively.”

What does this mean for you if you currently have Hashimoto’s?

It’s simply a risk factor to be aware of, and one that you may want to keep a close eye on in partnership with your health care practitioner. It’s not a reason to panic. As Jerome Hershman, MD wrote in Clinical Thyroidology:

“Despite this long-standing controversy concerning whether Hashimoto’s thyroiditis predisposes to thyroid neoplasia [tumor formation], I generally tell my patients that Hashimoto’s disease does not predispose to thyroid cancer (aside from the rare lymphoma), but that distinct nodules found on ultrasound have to be evaluated in a conventional manner.”

In the United States, about 4 percent of the population has hypothyroidism, and another 13 million have the condition but have not been diagnosed. Many of these people have Hashimoto’s as well, but may not be aware of it yet because conventional lab tests to diagnose the disease can be misleading, labeling thyroid hormones as within the normal range when a problem still exists.

If your health care practitioner is not experienced with the complexities of thyroid conditions, there is an even higher likelihood that the diagnosis could be missed entirely, especially considering that the symptoms often mimic those of other diseases.

Further, many health care practitioners will advise not treating Hashimoto’s disease in its early stages, but this may be a crucial time to stop the disease before it progresses. By working with a knowledgeable health care practitioner who is experienced with thyroid problems, you can often stop Hashimoto’s disease and its associated low-thyroid symptoms before serious or permanent damage occurs.

Clinical Thyroidology April 2011, Volume 23, Issue 4

Thyroid January 2011; 21(1):37-41.

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The Functional Endocrinology Center of Colorado is passionate about improving the lives and lifestyles of individuals with Type II Diabetes and Hashimoto’s Disease. Call us at 303-302-0930 to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Lab Tests May Miss Low Thyroid Function

A debate is raging over what the proper laboratory reference range should be for normal thyroid function. Prior to 2002, the “normal” range for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was 0.5 to 5.0, with hypothyroidism diagnosed when levels progress above 5.0.

But many experts believed this range was too broad, and as the Los Angeles Times recently reported, many with levels within this “normal” range still felt symptoms of hypothyroidism, including fatigue, weight gain and sensitivity to cold.

In 2003, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists revised their recommendations to reflect this, and actually tightened the normal laboratory reference range. In a press release, they stated:

“Until November 2002, doctors had relied on a normal TSH level ranging from 0.5 to 5.0 to diagnose and treat patients with a thyroid disorder who tested outside the boundaries of that range. Now AACE encourages doctors to consider treatment for patients who test outside the boundaries of a narrower margin based on a target TSH level of 0.3 to 3.04.”

This adjustment nearly doubled the number of people with abnormal thyroid function, but even in 2011, many laboratories are still referencing the old numbers, and many doctors are not aware of the change.

As thyroid expert Mary Shomon recently wrote on About.com:

“Even though recommended changes to clinical laboratory standards for the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) “normal range” were announced in 2002, your doctor probably is still unaware that a major revamping has been done to this reference range.”

So, even if your labs have come back normal, it’s important to seek help if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms below, as you could have an undiagnosed, or misdiagnosed, thyroid condition:

• Inability to lose weight — even with exercise and a low-calorie diet
• Fatigue
• Emotional instability
• Memory issues
• Foggy brain
• Hot flashes
• Constipation
• Depression
• Hair loss
• Always feeling cold

Los Angeles Times

About.com May 13, 2011

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The Functional Endocrinology Center of Colorado is passionate about improving the lives and lifestyles of individuals with Type II Diabetes and Hashimoto’s Disease. Call us at 303-302-0930 to schedule your complimentary consultation.

University of Maryland Highlights Alternative Thyroid Treatments

The University of Maryland Website points out numerous complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies for hypothyroidism, noting “nutrition and herbs can help support conventional treatment … “

Among the nutritional tips mentioned to “help reduce symptoms” are eating foods high in B vitamins and iron, such as fresh vegetables and sea vegetables, and those rich in antioxidants, including blueberries, cherries, squash and bell pepper.

They also list two supplements, omega-3 fatty acids and L-tyrosine, along with a few herbs that may help, and include a mention of homeopathy, acupuncture and contrast hydrotherapy (hot and cold applications to the neck and throat) as ways to balance and/or stimulate thyroid function.

About 38 percent of U.S. adults use complementary and alternative medicine, and studies by the National Institutes of Health and the American Medical Association show that the number of health care visits by adults to CAM health practitioners is growing by 30% per year.

University of Maryland Medical Center, Hypothyroidism

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Dr. Heather Credeur, D.C. and Dr. Brandon Credeur, D.C. of The Functional Endocrinology Center of Colorado are passionate about improving the lives and lifestyles of individuals with Type II Diabetes and Hashimoto’s Disease. Call us at 303-302-0930 to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Popular Thyroid Drug Leads to Bone Fractures

Levothyroxine (brand name Synthroid), a prescription medication widely used to treat hypothyroidism, is the fourth most prescribed medication in the United States. But despite its widespread use, serious side effects abound.

The latest research uncovered that seniors who took Synthroid in high or medium doses had a significantly increased risk of fractures — and the higher the dose, the greater the risk became.

Part of the problem is that Synthroid is notorious for having a narrow toxic-to-therapeutic ratio, which means there’s a fine line between the dose that’s safe and the dose that’s toxic. It’s very difficult to keep patients within the “optimal” range, and it’s thought that many seniors may be receiving excessive doses of the drug that is increasing their risk of side effects.

Along with increased fractures, Synthroid has also been linked to osteoporosis, atrial fibrillation, worsening of heart disease, preterm delivery in pregnancy, impaired fetal brain development, and high cholesterol. All of these are reasons why Dr. Brandon Credeur, D.C. and Dr. Heather Credeur, D.C. of The Functional Endocrinology Center of Colorado prefer to treat thyroid disorders using safer, non-toxic, natural alternatives.

BMJ April 28, 2011; 342:d2238.

BusinessWeek.com April 28, 2011

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The Functional Endocrinology Center of Colorado is passionate about improving the lives and lifestyles of individuals with Type II Diabetes and Hashimoto’s Disease. Call us at 303-302-0930 to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Hashimoto’s Increases Your Risk of Other Autoimmune Disorders

Many are not aware that the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States is actually an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Hyperthyroidism is also usually associated with Graves’ disease, another autoimmune disorder.

What is also not widely known is that if you suffer from one autoimmune disease, it increases your risk of developing another. So if you currently have Hashimoto’s disease or Graves’ disease, you’re at risk of developing other autoimmune problems including:

• Multiple sclerosis
• Type 1 diabetes
• Addison’s disease (adrenal insufficiency)
• Vitiligo (loss of pigment of some areas of the skin)
• Lupus
• Celiac disease
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis

According to one study in The American Journal of Medicine, about 14% of people with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and 10% of patients with Graves’ disease had another autoimmune disorder.

The American Journal of Medicine February 2010; 123(2):183.e1-9.

Clinical Thyroidology for Patients April 2010, Volume 3, Issue 4

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Dr. Brandon Credeur, D.C. and Dr. Heather Credeur, D.C. of The Functional Endocrinology Center of Colorado are passionate about improving the lives and lifestyles of individuals with Type II Diabetes and Hashimoto’s Disease. Call us at 303-302-0930 to schedule your complimentary consultation.

The Good Doctors Credeur Saved My Life!

Last May I watched ‘It’s Your Business” segments on the 11 am newscasts and saw the Doctors Credeur and the Functional Endocrinology practice they have along with their Chiropractic practice.

I took a chance that they could help me. My AMA doctor had been seeing me and not addressing my problems for years by just prescribing more and more different drugs hoping to land on something that worked to relieve my ailments. By the time I had reached Doctor Credeur’s office I was on 14  different drugs, hormone replacements and supplements and gaining weight faster than ever. I had been taking diabetes meds for about 5 years, thyroid meds for 25 years, and not getting any better. That’s how the American Medical Association doctors “handled” me. The insurance companies and drug companies also played huge parts in my overmedicated life by pushing their agendas.

Then I lost my job and insurances were all gone. I knew the only way to win the war was to get as healthy as possible so as not to rely on insurance to survive (they won’t insure me anyway because of the diabetes the doctor wouldn’t help with.  See the cycle?)

Then I met the fine doctors who took me in and helped me in ways my medical doctor never would or cared enough to try.

May 18 2010   150 lbs. Overweight; I had diabetes treated with pills only and the words “lose weight and check your sugars every morning”; hormone replacement levels off the charts 1200x as much as needed by any one woman (yes, that’s right, 1200x); thyroid in danger if not stabilized; liver suffering from all the drugs prescribed to hide the underlying problems.  There’s so much more I can’t go on, but you get the picture.

By following the protocol, tailored especially for me by my own wonderful  Dr. Watts,  I now have NO MORE diabetes, blood pressures are normal again, thyroid has stabilized. The only side affects I find? I have a clear mind for a change and have lost 70 lbs. (and counting) and 8 clothing sizes and 56 total inches. I can walk on my own with no help. The arthritis-like symptoms from that much weight its staggering; that’s all gone along with dependence on pain relievers for pain management. My hormone levels are normal and no longer taking replacements. Peace and joy have been restored in my life since all the prescriptions are gone. I can think clearly, not being foggy and spacey all the time. The price I paid them for this program was nothing compared to my costs for further medical care, prescriptions, declining health and loss of quality of life  not to mention the strain on my marriage and husband to have to care for a fairly young woman.

Then there’s the chiropractic sessions to further enhance your success; the nutritionist is the best I’ve ever found in my searches over the last 40 years, way better than Weight Watchers, and the 100′s of other programs I’ve tried. The food planning calendars keep you completely on track with no guessing at all, ever. There’s so much support form the receptionists all the way to the top minds in the field at the seminars they hold, you can’t fail unless you as a patient just don’t do your part or aren’t entirely honest with the therapist and protocol.

My AMA doctor and I have parted ways. He doesn’t have my best interests in mind.  I was just one of the cattle.

I will be standing in that very large group of people who cheer loudly and frequently for the all chiropractors, nutritionists, therapists and staff at the Functional Endocrinology Center. I don’t know where I would be now if not for these outstanding healers and caregivers. Alternative medicine has been saving lives for centuries all over the world. Chiropractors have been my best defense for whole body health and always will be.  Don’t let one bad experience by one person ruin a great chance at health for so many others who have and will be helped in the future by this group of fine people.

– Cyndee Vandas

Hypothyroidism Linked to Type 2 Diabetes

Hypothyroidism is a well-recognized risk of type 1 diabetes, but new research shows there’s a strong association with type 2 diabetes as well. In a study involving over 5,000 people, researchers found the prevalence of hypothyroidism to be nearly 6 percent among people with type 2 diabetes, compared to just under 2 percent in those without.

The association was so significant that researchers recommended routine screening for hypothyroidism at the time of a type 2 diabetes diagnosis.

It’s estimated that anywhere from 10 percent to 31 percent of type 2 diabetics may have thyroid dysfunction, with subclinical hypothyroidism the most common thyroid condition. Subclinical hypothyroidism has also been linked to metabolic syndrome, a condition that increases your risk of diabetes, stroke, and heart disease.

Both thyroid disorders and diabetes involve a dysfunction of the endocrine system. Type 1 diabetes and the most common cause of hypothyroidism — Hashimoto’s disease — are also both autoimmune diseases, and having one autoimmune disease increases your risk of developing another.

With type 2 diabetes, coexisting hypothyroidism may increase your risk of heart problems, and the researchers noted that early identification of both conditions could improve heart function, blood pressure and lipid profile.

A separate report in Clinical Diabetes noted:

“ … Hypothyroidism is accompanied by a variety of abnormalities in plasma lipid metabolism, including elevated triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations. Even subclinical hypothyroidism can exacerbate the coexisting dyslipidemia commonly found in type 2 diabetes and further increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.”

Symptoms of hypothyroidism, especially at the subclinical level, are often minimal or, like fatigue, dry skin, constipation, muscle cramps and memory problems, may mimic those of many other conditions, making it incredibly easy to miss.

Fortunately, dietary approaches and other lifestyle changes can often help bring both your thyroid function and blood sugar levels back into the normal ranges. For more information, contact the Functional Endocrinology Center of Colorado today.

American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) 20th Annual Meeting and Clinical Congress April 15, 2011

DocGuide.com April 18, 2011

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The Functional Endocrinology Center of Colorado is passionate about improving the lives and lifestyles of individuals with Type II Diabetes and Hashimoto’s Disease. Call us at 303-302-0930 to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Psychotropic Drug in Drinking Water May Damage Your Thyroid

Lithium, widely used in the treatment of bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses such as depression and schizophrenia, is showing up in drinking water supplies at levels similar to those used for treatment.

The drug is well known to impact thyroid function, and thyroid abnormalities ranging from goiter to hypothyroidism have been noted in lithium patients.

There are currently no set drinking water standards for lithium, which means your drinking water supplies are not routinely tested for this drug. However, a new study in Environmental Health Perspectives, which found exposure to lithium via drinking water and other environmental sources may affect thyroid function, suggests it should be.

After testing over 200 women living in Argentina, where high levels of lithium were found in drinking water, it was found that women with higher lithium levels in their urine were more likely to have lower levels of thyroxine (T4) and higher levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which are markers of underactive thyroid function.

As reported by Environmental Health News:

“Several studies conducted in South America and one world-wide study of bottled water showed that it is possible to have several milligrams of lithium in a liter of water, leading to a daily exposure that is similar to what is given to treat depression.”

The study adds to a growing list of evidence proving your thyroid function is easily disrupted by outside influences, including the chemicals that are ubiquitous in our environment.

It’s unclear what levels of lithium exist in U.S. drinking water supplies, but if you’re concerned an independent laboratory can test your water for you.

Environmental Health Perspectives January 20, 2011

Environmental Health News April 12, 2011

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The Functional Endocrinology Center of Colorado is passionate about improving the lives and lifestyles of individuals with Type II Diabetes and Hashimoto’s Disease. Call us at 303-302-0930 to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Thyroiditis Risks Linger for Many Women After Pregnancy

Up to 10 percent of U.S. women suffer from postpartum thyroiditis (PPT) in the year after giving birth. The condition, which is thought to be an autoimmune disease similar to Hashimoto’s, is generally thought to resolve in about one year.

However, a new study found that 54 percent of women remained hypothyroid one year after giving birth.

According to the American Thyroid Association:

“It is believed that women who develop postpartum thyroiditis have an underlying asymptomatic autoimmune thyroiditis that flares in the postpartum period when there are fluctuations in immune function.”

PPT leads to a period of thyrotoxicosis (high thyroid hormone levels) followed by low thyroid hormone levels, or hypothyroidism. Although not all women go through both phases, the initial high thyroid level phase is often missed because it occurs in the first one to four months after delivery and causes symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, fast heart rate, fatigue, weight loss, and irritability — all of which can be confused with the normal experiences of having a new baby.

After this phase, typically within four to eight months after birth women with PPT often experience fatigue, weight gain, constipation, dry skin, depression and other symptoms of hypothyroidism.

For 80 percent of women, thyroid levels will return to normal on their own, typically within one year but possibly not for another six months or more. But in the remaining 20 percent hypothyroidism may continue. Further, the report in Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism notes that up to half of women will develop permanent hypothyroidism within five years of the initial PPT.

Women with positive anti-thyroid antibodies, autoimmune disorders, history of PPT or other thyroid dysfunction, or other signs of high risk for thyroid disease may be up to six times more likely to develop postpartum thyroiditis.

If you have recently had a baby and are experiencing mild signs of PPT, treatment may not be necessary. However, because the hypothyroid phase can continue up to a year or more, and may reoccur with subsequent pregnancies or as permanent hypothyroidism years later, keeping on top of the condition with the help of a knowledgeable health care practitioner is highly recommended.

Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism December 29, 2010 [PDF]

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The Functional Endocrinology Center of Colorado is passionate about improving the lives and lifestyles of individuals with Type II Diabetes and Hashimoto’s Disease. Call us at 303-302-0930 to schedule your complimentary consultation.