Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce adequate amounts of thyroid hormones (T4 and T3) resulting in a multitude of symptoms. The most common cause of hypothyroidism is the result of an autoimmune (the immune system inappropriately attacks its own tissues) condition called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. In this condition, the immune system attacks the thyroid gland causing inflammation of thyroid tissue. As a result, the thyroid gland becomes “sluggish” and the production of T4 and T3 is impaired. Other causes of hypothyroidism include: radioiodine ablation, surgical removal of the thyroid, head and neck radiation, and certain medications.
The thyroid gland is regulated by the release of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) from the pituitary gland. The healthy thyroid responds to TSH by producing more T4 and T3, but in hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland is unable to keep up with the demands. In response to the sluggish thyroid, the pituitary releases more and more TSH in attempt to “wake up” the thyroid that is not functioning properly. Hypothyroidism is diagnosed when the TSH level in the blood is elevated while the T4 and T3 levels are low. However, diagnosing hypothyroidism is sometimes not a straightforward matter. Many people begin to experience the symptoms of hypothyroidism even when their blood tests are still considered “normal.” On the other hand, some people are clearly hypothyroid based on blood tests, but they do not have significant symptoms.
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Exciting news! Tomorrow, my book The Thyroid Solution Diet will hit the shelves of Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, and other bookstores. This book is a must have for anyone looking to lose weight as well as for people looking for a healthy body and elevated mood. The Thyroid Solution Diet is a science based diet focused on making your metabolism function well. This book will help people lose weight and regain control of their health and their lives! Simple diet and exercise are often not effective. Weight gain doesn’t just affect your body outside; science is now showing that weight gain perpetuates a multi-hormonal disorder that … Continue reading
Unlike many medical conditions which are better understood, thyroid dysfunction still has numerous treatment philosophies around the medical community. As a result, not every thyroid doctor or endocrinologist will be a good fit for your preferred treatment strategy. A critical aspect of the doctor-patient relationship, which many patients forget, is that you hire them to treat you. You always have the option to seek second opinions and discuss treatment strategies with other doctors. This is particularly important to remember if you are interested in discussing a more holistic, natural, or mind – body approach which your original endocrinologist may not support. Deciding to switch doctors can be a difficult … Continue reading
Discovering you have a thyroid disorder can instantly feel like a life-changing moment. While coping with a thyroid disease is something that can be a life-long process, there are a number of things you can do in order to make everything a little easier. One of the biggest advantages you can have is information. Specifically, you need to understand the information related to your thyroid and how it affects your body. While there are a lot of common features and symptoms among thyroid patients, there are also some unique characteristics which can dramatically impact your quality of life. Blood Test Results Most doctors will not give you the … Continue reading
While many health professionals believe that thyroid disease does not pose treatment problems, patients often know addressing symptoms and concerns and going through the process of being regulated with the right treatment can be overwhelming and frustrating. Fortunately, if you identify the critical elements of dealing with a thyroid imbalance, it becomes much easier to live a full and healthy life with minimal side effects. If you have just discovered that you are suffering from a thyroid imbalance or have been coping with a thyroid disease unsuccessfully then these 5 tips are for you. 1. Learn More about Your Disease Unlike straightforward medical problems, such as a broken … Continue reading
It has been well documented that thyroid patients can have problems losing weight and even maintaining their weight. In fact, weight gain is one of the most commonly reported problems associated with a thyroid imbalance. Fortunately, by understanding some of the fundamental truths of weight management and combining that with the unique situation a thyroid imbalance creates, losing weight doesn’t have to be as difficult as it seems. Here are five simple weight loss tips geared specifically towards thyroid patients. 1. Keep a Food Diary This is a weight loss tip that is shared by professionals regardless of your medical conditions. The best part is that it is … Continue reading
Often respecting and assessing a thyroid imbalance is not straightforward. This is primarily because many of the symptoms can just as easily be related to something else. As a result, many doctors do not suspect thyroid disease as the root of the symptoms and have problems assessing borderline thyroid imbalances which can cause major problems later on. There is a number of signs you can look for. While having any single sign is not necessarily cause for concern, once you start ___ more than one ___ it might be beneficial to start taking proactive steps to support your thyroid function through supplements, diet, and exercise. 1. Fatigue If there … Continue reading
You need your sleep! Lack of sleep does not only affect the brain, but it can also alter the endocrine system which regulates various fat-burning chemical signals (hormones) in the body. Hormones regulate appetite, food cravings, metabolism, and your ability to burn fat. Hormone levels fluctuate throughout the day and night. Keeping hormones well balanced is key for effective weight loss and optimal health. When you are not getting enough sleep, there is an increased secretion of the hunger hormone ghrelin and decreased secretion of the metabolism-booster leptin. When this occurs, metabolism slows down, hunger level surges, and food cravings intensify. Research published in Cell Biochemistry and Function demonstrates that … Continue reading
It is impossible to predict who will suffer from a thyroid disease and who will not. At the same time, there is a number of risk factors which have been associated with thyroid disease. Unfortunately, many of these risk factors are out of your control. If you are serious about thyroid health, you should control as many factors as possible. This list includes 9 risk factors, both within your control and outside of your control. 3 Risk Factors for Thyroid Disease You Can Control Smoking Cigarettes contain a dangerous chemical that can adversely affect the thyroid gland because it acts as an anti-thyroid agent. It is known … Continue reading
It is no surprise patients with a solitary neck mass ask their physicians to evaluate it. One of the most common factors considered that may indicate that the tumor is cancerous is the age of the patient. If the patient is younger than 40 years old, it is most likely benign. Once the patient surpasses 40 years of age, the likelihood of identifying a lesion associated with malignancy is greater than 60 percent. For neck masses, the surgeon often performs an excision biopsy. However, for thyroid lesions a fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is considered to be a better alternative than the traditional excisional biopsy. Most people are not familiar … Continue reading
Happy New Year’s Eve everyone! This special holiday is celebrated all around the world, with common themes of fireworks, family and alcohol. An estimated 130.6 million people consume alcohol in the U.S. and the World Health Organization estimates that over 2 billion people across the world drink. It’s easy to give up carbs for a healthy salad, however it’s not so easy to give up the favorite social that includes drinking with friends. So what do you need to know about the thyroid and alcohol? What about weight loss efforts and alcohol? Thyroid and Alcohol A thyroid condition doesn’t have to impact every corner of your lifestyle. This holiday season, … Continue reading
Dr. Arem, I do thank God, and I thank you and your staff for the wonderful balance I know it takes to run such a dynamic, yet down to earth and compassionate institute as The Thyroid Institute. My appreciation runs heartfelt and I thank you for the endless work and dedication you provide for the sake of...loving and helping others. –Dinah Kelley, Houston TX
Dr. Arem is truly a great physician. He cares about his patients and focuses on the root causes of his patient's problems. From his line of ThyroLife vitamins, to his superb knowledge of the thyroid and its mental effects, Dr. Arem has not only helped me with thyroid imbalance, but has improved the overall quality of my life. –Sonya R., Houston TX
After reading Dr. Arem's book, The Thyroid Solution, I decided that my health was important enough to travel to Houston, and the trip was well worth it. Dr. Arem is a thyroid specialist, he is a true expert in his field. I am thankful to have found such excellent medical care. My thyroid function is in balance again and I feel great! I strongly urge anyone with a thyroid condition to read his book, and make an appointment! –Elizabeth H., Petoskey MI
I wanted to thank you [Dr. Arem] for having diagnosed me with Celiac disease almost 10 years ago. For years I had been going to other doctors, and none of them had any clue as to what my symptoms were. You were the only one who was able to correctly diagnose me.My family and I are very grateful to you. My health has definitely improved over the years as a result of staying away from gluten. My mother and sister have also been on a gluten free diet almost as long as I have. I have also helped other people who are newly diagnosed with celiac disease on what products to buy and where to get them.I just wanted you to be aware of how many people you have helped by diagnosing me. –Michael P
Exciting news! Tomorrow, my book The Thyroid Solution Diet will hit the shelves of Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, and other bookstores. This book is a must have for anyone looking to lose weight as well as for people looking for a healthy body and elevated mood. The Thyroid Solution Diet is a science based diet focused on making your metabolism function well. This book will help people lose weight and regain control of their health and their lives! Simple diet and exercise are often not effective. Weight gain doesn’t just affect your body outside; science is now showing that weight gain perpetuates a multi-hormonal disorder that … Continue reading
Unlike many medical conditions which are better understood, thyroid dysfunction still has numerous treatment philosophies around the medical community. As a result, not every thyroid doctor or endocrinologist will be a good fit for your preferred treatment strategy. A critical aspect of the doctor-patient relationship, which many patients forget, is that you hire them to treat you. You always have the option to seek second opinions and discuss treatment strategies with other doctors. This is particularly important to remember if you are interested in discussing a more holistic, natural, or mind – body approach which your original endocrinologist may not support. Deciding to switch doctors can be a difficult … Continue reading
Discovering you have a thyroid disorder can instantly feel like a life-changing moment. While coping with a thyroid disease is something that can be a life-long process, there are a number of things you can do in order to make everything a little easier. One of the biggest advantages you can have is information. Specifically, you need to understand the information related to your thyroid and how it affects your body. While there are a lot of common features and symptoms among thyroid patients, there are also some unique characteristics which can dramatically impact your quality of life. Blood Test Results Most doctors will not give you the … Continue reading
While many health professionals believe that thyroid disease does not pose treatment problems, patients often know addressing symptoms and concerns and going through the process of being regulated with the right treatment can be overwhelming and frustrating. Fortunately, if you identify the critical elements of dealing with a thyroid imbalance, it becomes much easier to live a full and healthy life with minimal side effects. If you have just discovered that you are suffering from a thyroid imbalance or have been coping with a thyroid disease unsuccessfully then these 5 tips are for you. 1. Learn More about Your Disease Unlike straightforward medical problems, such as a broken … Continue reading
It has been well documented that thyroid patients can have problems losing weight and even maintaining their weight. In fact, weight gain is one of the most commonly reported problems associated with a thyroid imbalance. Fortunately, by understanding some of the fundamental truths of weight management and combining that with the unique situation a thyroid imbalance creates, losing weight doesn’t have to be as difficult as it seems. Here are five simple weight loss tips geared specifically towards thyroid patients. 1. Keep a Food Diary This is a weight loss tip that is shared by professionals regardless of your medical conditions. The best part is that it is … Continue reading
Often respecting and assessing a thyroid imbalance is not straightforward. This is primarily because many of the symptoms can just as easily be related to something else. As a result, many doctors do not suspect thyroid disease as the root of the symptoms and have problems assessing borderline thyroid imbalances which can cause major problems later on. There is a number of signs you can look for. While having any single sign is not necessarily cause for concern, once you start ___ more than one ___ it might be beneficial to start taking proactive steps to support your thyroid function through supplements, diet, and exercise. 1. Fatigue If there … Continue reading
You need your sleep! Lack of sleep does not only affect the brain, but it can also alter the endocrine system which regulates various fat-burning chemical signals (hormones) in the body. Hormones regulate appetite, food cravings, metabolism, and your ability to burn fat. Hormone levels fluctuate throughout the day and night. Keeping hormones well balanced is key for effective weight loss and optimal health. When you are not getting enough sleep, there is an increased secretion of the hunger hormone ghrelin and decreased secretion of the metabolism-booster leptin. When this occurs, metabolism slows down, hunger level surges, and food cravings intensify. Research published in Cell Biochemistry and Function demonstrates that … Continue reading
It is impossible to predict who will suffer from a thyroid disease and who will not. At the same time, there is a number of risk factors which have been associated with thyroid disease. Unfortunately, many of these risk factors are out of your control. If you are serious about thyroid health, you should control as many factors as possible. This list includes 9 risk factors, both within your control and outside of your control. 3 Risk Factors for Thyroid Disease You Can Control Smoking Cigarettes contain a dangerous chemical that can adversely affect the thyroid gland because it acts as an anti-thyroid agent. It is known … Continue reading
It is no surprise patients with a solitary neck mass ask their physicians to evaluate it. One of the most common factors considered that may indicate that the tumor is cancerous is the age of the patient. If the patient is younger than 40 years old, it is most likely benign. Once the patient surpasses 40 years of age, the likelihood of identifying a lesion associated with malignancy is greater than 60 percent. For neck masses, the surgeon often performs an excision biopsy. However, for thyroid lesions a fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is considered to be a better alternative than the traditional excisional biopsy. Most people are not familiar … Continue reading
Happy New Year’s Eve everyone! This special holiday is celebrated all around the world, with common themes of fireworks, family and alcohol. An estimated 130.6 million people consume alcohol in the U.S. and the World Health Organization estimates that over 2 billion people across the world drink. It’s easy to give up carbs for a healthy salad, however it’s not so easy to give up the favorite social that includes drinking with friends. So what do you need to know about the thyroid and alcohol? What about weight loss efforts and alcohol? Thyroid and Alcohol A thyroid condition doesn’t have to impact every corner of your lifestyle. This holiday season, … Continue reading
There is clear evidence that thyroid imbalance can cause cognitive impairment in people suffering with hypothyroidism (low thyroid function) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). Cognitive impairment refers to symptoms such as poor memory, difficulty concentrating... –READ MORE >>
