What is the cost of missing hypothyroidism?

[Guest guest]

Research

to show your doctor.

http://thyroid.about.com/cs/expertinterviews/a/teitelbaum_2.htm

A remarkable thing happened when this was done (well, maybe

we’re not surprised!). The large majority of patients, despite being

considered to have a normal thyroid, had their symptoms improve upon taking

thyroid hormone (Synthroid), at an average dosage of 100 to 120 micrograms a

day.6B

Interestingly, Shomon’s awareness of the scientific and clinical

research and experience has consistently been well ahead of that of many in the

medical community. Because she stood up for people’s rights to health and

the scientific data in the face of some (albeit well meaning) medical

practitioners choosing to stay ignorant (at the patient’s expense, of

course), she has at times been verbally attacked. Those who advance truth have

routinely been attacked by those in power through out history--yet turn out to

be the heroes.

WHAT IS THE COST OF MISSING HYPOTHYROIDISM?

1- Over 30,000 preventable deaths/year from heart attacks. Women with untreated

hypothyroidism are more than twice as likely to have a heart attack. A study in

the prestigious ls of Internal Medicine noted that hypothyroidism

" contributed to 60 percent of cases of myocardial infarction [heart

attacks] among women affected by subclinical [even mild] hypothyroidism " .

It contributed more to causing heart attacks in these patients than smoking,

elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes! (7).

2- Over 4600 miscarriages/yr after 15 weeks of pregnancy-countless more before.

Six percent of miscarriages are associated with hypothyroidism. Undiagnosed

hypothyroidism is also associated with infertility. In moderate to severely

hypothyroid mothers, the baby was also over 6 times as likely to die soon after

being born.(8)

3- Learning disabilities- Children born to hypothyroid mothers have a lower IQ

(average of 7 points). They are almost 4 times as likely to have an IQ under 85

and over twice as likely to have learning difficulties resulting in their

having to repeat a grade.(9)

4- Hypothyroidism contributes to millions being unnecessarily disabled. Over 6

million Americans have Fibromyalgia and tens of millions more have chronic

muscle pain. Undiagnosed or inadequately treated thyroid disorders contribute

to these unnecessarily disabling conditions (1,2,3). Our initial understanding

of this was elucidated by Dr. Janet Travell, who was the white house physician

for President Kennedy-who suffered from excruciating back pain(10). Dr.

Teitelbaum’s recently published research shows that 91% of these patients

can improve with proper treatment-especially including thyroid hormone.(2)

5- Hypothyroidism is a major cause of gaining and being unable to lose weight.

It causes fatigue, dry hair, coarse skin, depression, and “brain

fog” as well. Americans are currently treating hypothyroidism, which is

often confused as being depression, with Prozac! This is an even bigger problem

in the elderly who are being misdiagnosed with depression or Alzheimer's/

senility when what they have is hypothyroidism.

What makes this situation especially tragic is that, given the proper

information, hypothyroidism is incredibly easy and inexpensive to diagnose and

treat. Instead, because of lack of awareness on the part of physicians,

Americans unnecessarily suffer with a major public health disaster.

Best wishes,

Teitelbaum MD

1-From Fatigued to Fantastic! (Avery/Penguin Putnam 2001;1st edition 1995).

Teitelbaum M.D.

2- Teitelbaum JE, Bird B, Greenfield RM ,Weiss A., Muenz L, Gould L. Effective

Treatment of CFS and Fibromyalgia ---. A Randomized, Double-blind,

Placebo-controlled, Intent to Treat Study. The Journal of Chronic Fatigue

Syndrome. Volume 8(2), 2001,pg3-28.

3-. Teitelbaum J, Bird B. Effective Treatment of Severe Chronic Fatigue: A

Report of a Series of 64 Patients. J Musculoskeletal Pain 1995; 3 (4):91- 110.

4-Press release on AACE web site: http://www.aace.com/pub/tam2003/press.php

5-Canaris GJ ,et al.The Colorado Thyroid Disease Prevalence Study :Archives of

Internal Medicine, Feb 28,2000 p526-534.

6-National Assn of Clinical Biochemistry web site. http://www.nacb.org/lmpg/thyroid_LMPG_PDF.stm

p31-46

6A- Skinner GRB, R, M, Bolt S, Krett S, A, et al.

Thyroxine Should be Tried in Clinically Hypothyroid But Biochemically Euthyroid

Patients. BMJ 14 June 1997; Volume 314.

6B-. Skinner GRB, Holmes D, Ahmad A, Davies JA, Benitez J. Clinical Response To

Thyroxine Sodium in Clinically Hypothyroid Biochemically Euthyroid Patients. J

Nutritional And Environmental Medicine 2000; 20:115-124.