Thyroid disorder Part II – Get a proper diagnose

Sarah Campeau    Thyroid Conditions    

Diagnosing a Thyroid condition is not as easy as most physicians would like us to think. Unfortunately modern practices strongly lean towards diagnosing through blood results rather than symptoms. This is even more evident in determining if a patient suffers from an underactive thyroid.

TSH levels alone are the usual standard used to judge the thyroid health, which inevitable has led to thousands of undiagnosed patients that are forced to live with unbearable symptoms that inevitably lead to real systemic conditions. A small bit of curious information; the TSH lab test was first introduced back in 1973, and this was when the “normal” range was established.

The first you need to realize before getting tested is that Lab tests alone will not diagnose you. There is a range of symptoms that combined with blood work, a Cortisol saliva test, and a Barnes Basel test will get you a more accurate portrait of the actual condition of your thyroid.

The symptoms are endless, but here are the most typical complaints of patients suffering from an underactive thyroid:

• Hair thinning and hair loss
• Mental fogginess
• Slow Heart beat
• Dry/Pale Skin
• Hair thinning and Hair loss
• Intolerance to heat and cold
• Frequent constipation
• Depression

Most common symptoms reported by patients suffering from an overactive thyroid

• Hair thinning and Hair Loss
• feeling nervous, irritable or emotional
• tremor (shaking)
• Sleeping disorders
• Intolerance to heat and sweating more than usual
• Losing weight despite having an increased appetite (although around one in 10 people will gain weight)
• Feeling tired
• Muscle weakness
• Increased heart rate or palpitations
• Infrequent periods or problems getting pregnant
• Frequent bowel movements or diarrhea
• shortness of breath, especially when exercising
• loss of hair or finer hair than usual
• swelling of your thyroid gland
• swollen/red eyes, or double vision

Unfortunately the list of symptoms for both pathologies goes on.

A lot of Hair loss patients who complain that nothing seems to work for them, are actually suffering from an undiagnosed Thyroid condition. The moment the root of the problem is “attacked” the hair loss decreases, and in many cases stops completely.

One needs to understand that when the body is in crises, non-essential functions start to shut down, Hair growth is one of those functions. This is the case for most of the autoimmune disorders, causing havoc and chaos through the entire body disguising the root of the problem with other symptoms.

So what are the steps to get a proper evaluation of your thyroid?

• Identify your symptoms
• Check if your thyroid Enlarged:
• Check for Nodules around your thyroid
• Perform the Barnes Basel Test
• Get a SSH Cortisol / DHEA Saliva Test done
• Consult the right physicians, most importantly an endocrinologist that does not solely rely on the TSH levels to make a diagnosis.

On our next topic we will discuss treatments, why thyroxine is not the way to go and all of the alternative treatments available to patients.

Hypothyroidism and Chronic Fatigue

Sarah Campeau    Causes and Types of Hair Loss, Thyroid Conditions    

The Barnes Basal Thyroid Test

Sarah Campeau    Causes and Types of Hair Loss, Thyroid Conditions    

Dr. Stephen Langer is the absolute reference on Thyroid disorders, we have referred patients to him in the past and will continue to do so. This post is in line with our Thyroid / Hair Loss series.

Thyroid disorder Part I – It might be your Thyroid

Sarah Campeau    Causes and Types of Hair Loss, Thyroid Conditions    

This is the first of a series of posts about thyroid conditions that we are going to post in the upcoming days. I can’t stress enough how important it is for everyone that is suffering from hair loss to properly evaluate their thyroid before starting any hair loss treatment.

In Part II we will explain exactly what we mean by a “proper evaluation”. It might surprise you to learn how badly most physicians tend to diagnose thyroid diseases, so our next post will focus on helping everyone get an accurate diagnosis.

I think I can safely say that half of the patients that consult us have an underlying thyroid condition that is causing their hair loss. One of the things that always surprised me through my practice is that most people think that thyroid conditions are exclusive to Women. While there is a prevalence of these conditions among Women, the fact of the matter is that most Men are not diagnosed at all, leaving millions of untreated conditions that eventually lead to other problems that camouflage the root of the issue.

Four in every 10 patients that we treat suffers from an undiagnosed thyroid disorder. It’s an astounding figure, but not very surprising.

When a patient suffers from hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, the entire metabolic system is compromised; the organism focuses on maintaining the essential organs functioning at an estimated reasonably efficient level, and disregards “unnecessary” bodily functions. As you might have guessed by now, hair and nails are not exactly critical to survival.

There is a reason why nails become brittle and weak, and a reason why hair becomes thinner and the growth process compromised when the thyroid is not working properly.

A recurring question is also the relation between Thyroid conditions and auto-immune disorders like Alopecia. In some instances an overly strained immune system will trigger dormant conditions that otherwise might not have become active. One of the most frequent questions that I get is why Male Pattern Baldness would be linked to Thyroid disorders since it’s mainly caused by a genetic predisposition. Well, most cancers are also a result of a genetic predisposition origin. Almost everyone has had a father of a mother who were diagnosed a type of cancer, but that does not necessarily mean it will be passed along. The disposition might be there, but if it’s not triggered by an external factor it will not be a problem.

An immune system that is strained and on “survival mode” will stop all enabled preventive internal processes, leading to the emergence of all these conditions. The solution to the problem is not treating the symptoms or the derivative conditions. Going after the main cause that constitutes the root of all these imbalances is the way to go.

On the next chapter we will help you get an accurate diagnose on your thyroid.

P.s. A question that might be in everyone’s mind is if Aestressin-B would be beneficial to Thyroid patient; the simple answer is YES. This topic will be discussed on chapter V of these series.

Alopecia through the eyes of a 6 year old

Sarah Campeau    Alopecia Areata    

I am sorry guys got very emotional seeing this and could not resist to share it with you. What a sweet heart and a brave little boy , just makes us want to work even harder.

HairLoss Causes: Health Issues

Lisa    Causes and Types of Hair Loss     hair loss causes, health issues hairloss

As promised in the last post about the benefits of scalp massage, today I will discuss hairloss causes due to some health issues.  Let’s be honest here, we all want a beautiful head of hair….but should you start to experience hair loss, don’t assume it’s genetics or age.

There are several health issues that can be attributed to losing or thinning of hair. Listed below are some of them. Obviously there are other symptoms with these health issues, but if you experience hairloss WITH any of these, it’s probably a good idea to go see your doctor.

It’s also a good idea to mention here that men and women can have different health issues in this area. For today, I am going to address both men and women.

Health Issues Related To Hairloss

These health issues found at The Mayo Clinic site.

• Pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia). In male- and female-pattern baldness, the time of growth shortens, and the hairs are not as thick or sturdy. With each growth cycle, the hairs become rooted more superficially and more easily fall out. Heredity likely plays a key role. A history of androgenetic alopecia on either side of your family increases your risk of balding. Heredity also affects the age at which you begin to lose hair and the developmental speed, pattern and extent of your baldness.
• Cicatricial (scarring) alopecia. This type of permanent hair loss occurs when inflammation damages and scars the hair follicle. This prevents new hair from growing. This condition can be seen in several skin conditions, including lupus erythematosus or lichen planus. It’s not known what triggers or causes this inflammation.
• Alopecia areata. This is classified as an autoimmune disease, but the cause is unknown. People who develop alopecia areata are generally in good health. A few people may have other autoimmune disorders, including thyroid disease. Some scientists believe that some people are genetically predisposed to develop alopecia areata and that a trigger, such as a virus or something else in the environment, sets off the condition. A family history of alopecia areata makes you more likely to develop it. With alopecia areata, your hair generally grows back, but you may lose and regrow your hair a number of times.
• Telogen effluvium. This type of hair loss is usually due to a change in your normal hair cycle. It may occur when some type of shock to your system — emotional or physical — causes hair roots to be pushed prematurely into the resting state. The affected growing hairs from these hair roots fall out. In a month or two, the hair follicles become active again and new hair starts to grow. Telogen effluvium may follow emotional distress, such as a death in the family or a physiological stress, such as a high fever, sudden or excessive weight loss, extreme diets, nutritional deficiencies, surgery, or metabolic disturbances. Hair typically grows back once the condition that caused it corrects itself, but it usually take months.
• Traction alopecia. Excessive hairstyling or hairstyles that pull your hair too tightly cause traction alopecia. If the pulling is stopped before there’s scarring of your scalp and permanent damage to the root, hair usually grows back normally.

Other causes of hair loss

• Poor nutrition. Having inadequate protein or iron in your diet or poor nourishment in other ways can cause you to experience hair loss. Fad diets, crash diets and certain illnesses, such as eating disorders, can cause poor nutrition.
• Medications. Certain drugs used to treat gout, arthritis, depression, heart problems and high blood pressure may cause hair loss in some people. Taking birth control pills also may result in hair loss for some women.
• Disease. Diabetes and lupus can cause hair loss.
• Medical treatments. Undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy may cause you to develop alopecia. Under these conditions, healthy, growing (anagen) hairs can be affected. After your treatment ends, your hair typically begins to regrow.

While you can contribute a lot of hair loss issues to genetics, it’s always a smart idea to have more knowledge at your fingertips.

Before you go, have you had any health issues that caused hair-loss and if so, can you share with us?

Cholesterol – The Double Edged Sword

chris    Causes and Types of Hair Loss    

Any way you look at it, cholesterol is bound and determined to be the nemesis of men (and women!) in terms of both cardiovascular disease and hair loss. By this point in time everyone knows that reducing cholesterol levels in the bloodstream significantly reduces the risk of heart attacks. That’s a widely publicized fact.

However, many people are not aware of the fact that cholesterol can also be indirectly linked to many types of hair loss. Although the ultimate culprit is DHT (dihydrotestosterone), cholesterol is a major player. Cholesterol is converted to the enzyme 5 alpha-reductase, which in turn converts free testosterone in the bloodstream to DHT.

Perhaps taking proactive measures to reduce cholesterol in the bloodstream will keep you heart healthy, prostate healthy and walking around with a full head of hair! Who knows if someday a medication developed as a preventative measure from heart attacks might not also be the ultimate cure for Pattern Baldness? Stranger things have happened!

The Role of DHT in Hair Loss and the Future in Treatment

admin    Causes and Types of Hair Loss    

Most people are aware of the fact that there is a substance in the body, Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is the ultimate cause of Male Pattern Baldness. Unfortunately, the average person doesn’t know enough about this hormone to make an informed decision on how to counteract it to prevent the onset of hair loss, or to stop the progression of it once it has been diagnosed. It should go without saying that a doctor would prescribe treatment; however, it is ultimately the patient who has the responsibility of understanding what they have been prescribed, how it works and what to expect. In terms of treating Androgenetic Alopecia, genetic hair loss resulting from excessive amounts of DHT, it is first necessary to understand the mechanism through which DHT causes loss of hair.

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Alopecia Areata Universalis Awareness

admin    Alopecia Areata    

Trichotillomania

admin    Trichotillomania    

Of all forms of hair loss, Trichotillomania can either be the easiest to treat or the most difficult.  It is not caused by any biological or genetic disorder, rather by the sufferer’s own hand.  The literal translation from Greek actually means “hair pulling madness.”  Trichotillomania is the result of the individual twisting, pulling or manipulating the hair to such an extent that it pulls free from the scalp.  In light of this, hair loss is not permanent, however, if the psychological or behavioral disorder isn’t treated, the hair loss can be continual because the behavior will be ongoing.  Although it is evidenced in loss of hair, the condition is not treated by a dermatologist or general practitioner.  However, having said that, it is first necessary to get a proper diagnosis by a qualified Dermatologist.  Usually the person is then referred for psychological or psychiatric treatment and/or therapy.

Who is most likely to be susceptible to Trichotillomania?

In general, it is safe to say that young children between the ages of seven and fourteen years of age are more apt to present with this form of hair loss.  Based on statistics, children are seven times more likely to manifest this illness than adults.  Adults also can be diagnosed with Trichotillomania but prognosis for a ‘cure’ is much more guarded.  Most often adults who suffer from Trichotillomania first presented when they were children.  There has been no evidence that any race or ethnic group is more susceptible to the illness, nor is gender usually a consideration in infants or very young children.  In teenagers it is predominantly manifested in girls and in adulthood it is most often in women.

Is there a treatment or cure for this illness?

The success rate for treatment and/or cure generally depends on the age of the individual.  Young children (pre-adolescent) have a high success rate for realizing a cure.  It is much more difficult to treat teenagers and by the time the individual reaches adulthood the prognosis for a cure is not good at all.  Again, once diagnosed this disorder is not treated by a dermatologist or general practitioner unless the pulling is so severe that it causes secondary issues such as infections or severe inflammation.

Certain factors make a definitive diagnosis difficult.

While it is common for the individual, especially younger children, to willingly discuss the fact that it is ‘self inflicted,’ there are times when further examination must be undergone.  For instance, there a variation known as sleep-isolated Trichotillomania.  It is difficult to diagnose because the individual is not aware of having pulled out their own hair and in these cases it is common to be misdiagnosed as Alopecia Areata.  At other times the dermatologist might need to take on the role of detective to solve the mystery.  Some individuals are either reluctant to discuss having manipulated their own hair out of their head or they may be totally unaware of it since it can be an involuntary action.  An untrained physician may at first make an inaccurate diagnosis, but will probably ‘catch’ it when treatments for Alopecia Areata are not ‘working.’  At this point the individual will be referred for appropriate therapy.

What to do if you suspect Trichotillomania

Of course if an adult suffers from Trichotillomania, he/she will probably have the presence of mind to realize that it is not a dermatological condition.  In that case they know that they can either try to remedy the situation on their own or seek professional help.  A dermatologist would only be called for if some kind of infection and/or inflammation occurred.  However, if a parent notices that a child is evidencing bald spots or sparse areas of hair, the first thing to do would be to make an appointment with the child’s pediatrician and then start observing.  Many times a parent can help with a proper diagnosis by the time the child gets in to see the doctor.  If it is noticed that the child is tugging at or twisting the hair subconsciously, the pediatrician can then make an accurate referral to a child psychologist or behavioral specialist.

A word of caution.

Since Trichotillomania is not physiological but rather psychological it is important to get qualified help.  The symptoms may or may not be indicative of some bigger issue that is a greater cause for concern.  That is a chance that isn’t worth taking.  If you suspect that your child, adolescent or loved one is suffering from Trichotillomania, it is in their best interest to seek proper medical/psychological help.