Wilmington, NC Chiropractor for Neck Injuries - Dr. Aaron Richardet

Blood testing for hypothyroidism: Functional ranges versus lab ranges

Did your blood test for hypothyroidism say you’re fine even though you suffer from fatigue, brain fog, hair loss, depression, or weight gain? Does your doctor say your thyroid condition “doesn’t exist.”

Many doctors dismiss thyroid symptoms because of an incomplete blood test or ranges that are too wide. In functional medicine, however, we use a blood test to screen for hypothyroidism before it gets too advanced for most doctors to diagnose. This way you can begin to manage your condition and symptoms.

A functional blood test for a return to health

Functional medicine addresses the underlying causes of symptoms instead of overriding them with drugs or surgery. One tool we use to accomplish this is to interpret blood tests using functional ranges, which outline the parameters of good health.

In contrast, the ranges most doctors use are based on a bell-curve analysis of all the people who visited that lab over a certain period of time, many of whom are very sick. These lab ranges have broadened over the last few decades as health of the American population has declined. As a result, many people with real health problems are told they’re ok because their results fall within these ranges. For instance, the lab ranges for hypothyroidism are often overly wide so that many people are told they’re fine when in fact they have hypothyroidism.

Do you really want to evaluate your health in comparison to all the sick people who visited your lab, or do you want to look at a blood test for what constitutes good health?

Looking for patterns that contribute to Hashimoto's hypothyroidism

Because functional medicine is based on an in-depth knowledge of human physiology and how various systems in the body work together, we also look at a blood test for patterns instead of just looking at individual markers. By doing this, we see how these different systems influence one another to cause a constellation of symptoms.

For instance, instead of just looking at TSH, we can look at whether immune, hormonal, or stress imbalances may be causing hypothyroid symptoms.

Other patterns can help us identify insulin resistance, fatty liver, leaky gut, different types of anemia, or other problems that may be contributing to thyroid symptoms.

Functional medicine can identify Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism

A blood test for functional medicine also includes more markers that standard blood tests. For instance, we know Hashimoto’s, an autoimmune disease that attacks and destroys the thyroid gland, is responsible for 90 percent of hypothyroid cases in the United States. Therefore, we also test thyroid antibodies to screen for autoimmunity along with other thyroid markers for more information.

A functional medicine blood test can also help us know what other tests may be necessary, such as a gastrointestinal panel or further testing for anemia.

Principles of functional medicine for Hashimoto's hypothyroidism

Once the factors contributing to hypothyroid symptoms have been identified, the functional medicine practitioner uses a variety of science-backed, non-pharmaceutical approaches to manage health. These include:

• Adjustments to the diet--a gluten-free diet is important for those with Hashimoto's hypothyroidism
• Lifestyle changes (such as eating breakfast, proper sleep hygiene, physical activity, or reduction of stress)
• The use of botanicals or nutritional compounds to improve physiological function
• Other natural medicine approaches customized for the patient based on lab testing

Wilmington, NC Thyroid Dysfunction Care - Dr. Aaron Richardet

Wilmington NC Chiropractors Recognized As Authority On Natural Spinal Pain Relief

PRESS RELEASE: Wilmington, NC, 25-DEC-2012 - Spinal Care of Wilmington and Wilmington NC chiropractor team members, Dr. Aaron Richardet and Dr. Jason Graf are pleased to announce that natural spinal pain relief if available, using the tactics and techniques of chiropractic medicine.

Traditional medical practitioners typically prescribe drugs for the pain which is somewhat effective in the short term, but the relief doesn't last. Because the pain is masked, there may be further damage to the injured area. As a last resort, a surgeon may be called into to operate.

An initial consultation with the Wilmington NC chiropractor team doctors at includes a careful patient history, a physical examination and x-ray images if required. Once the doctor has a grasp of the facts concerning the location and extent of the spinal pain, a plan for relief can be designed.

Spinal pain can be acute following an injury or other event that creates issues with the spinal alignment. Alternatively, it can build so gradually that the individual doesn't recognize it until damage is done. When the pain continues or builds to levels where it interferes with the ability to function comfortably in daily life.

The design of a care plan is individualized for the patient. It can include chiropractic adjustment, exercise, posture training and other elements to change the focus from pain to wellness.

Learn more about chiropractic techniques and how they are used to alleviate spinal pain without surgery by visiting the website at http://www.spinalcareofwilmington.com today. Members of the press and others who have questions about the contents of this specific press release are invited to contact the doctors at the address identified below.

Contact Person Name: Dr. Aaron Richardet DC, and Dr. Jason Graf, DC

Company Name: Spinal Care of Wilmington

Address: 265 Racine Drive, Suite 100, Wilmington, NC 28403

Contact Telephone Number: (910) 798-5560

Email: info@spinalcareofwilmington.com

Website: http://www.spinalcareofwilmington.com

Summary: Spinal Care of Wilmington and Wilmington NC chiropractor team members, Dr. Aaron Richardet and Dr. Jason Graf offer spinal pain relief using natural and non-invasive methods. The change in patient focus leads away from pain and to a state of holistic wellness.

Wilmington NC Migraine Headache Sufferers Find Relief Through Chiropractic

Finding a chiropractor Wilmington locals can rely on, may be the best way to resolve your migraine headaches. Some people have chosen to rely on prescription medications and over the counter pills that do not often supply the relief they promise. Identifying the source of this pain is often the key to find an effective solution.

Migraines can be the source of excruciating and blinding pain. In fact, many individuals have to lie down in darkened rooms, absent of any light or sound. This is certainly no way to live, especially when migraines are experienced with regularity.

Many people are fully incapacitated by these headaches and often miss out on school and work. The long term consequences of not being able to maintain a consistent schedule can be devastating. The result is often depression and a growing malaise. People will likely earn substandard grades or jeopardize their professional reputations when these problems routinely occur.

Spinal subluxations could be the cause of these issues. These are areas of the spine that have been forced out of alignment whether through a sudden blow or normal actions. They can put undue stress on important nerves that carry messages to the brain. This can result in chemical imbalances and a greater likelihood for developing debilitating headaches.

Stretching the neck is often recommended, however, people should avoid sudden movements and neck rolls. Sometimes people are aware of the physical area that is the source of their problems. They should avoid attempting to self correct these issues by engaging in exercises or movements that are not guided or recommended by a professional.

When using a chiropractor Wilmington locals can start recognizing marked improvements with each session. Manual adjustments and other therapies can help to reduce the pressure that is placed on important nerves. With time, people can start enjoying normal, healthy, and happy lives again.

Wilmington, NC Drug-Free Therapy for Neuropathy - Dr. Aaron Richardet

Foot Pain Sufferers In Wilmington NC Find Relief Through Chiropractic

Chronic foot pain is not an uncommon condition. Whether people are wearing the wrong types of shoes or spending an excessive amount of time standing or walking, different issues are likely to develop. A Wilmington NC chiropractor can institute a range of therapies that will decrease discomfort and improve patient mobility.

As with any chiropractic therapy, the first step is to assess the condition of the feet and the different ways in which an existing issue might have impacted other body areas. The goal of every session will be to restore optimal skeletal biomechanics. This can be done through different exercise strategies, work on the soft tissues and minor adjustments.

People will often find themselves becoming limited in their activities when foot pain arises. If left untended to, this discomfort can result in a range of unpleasant problems such as the development of plantar fasciitis, shin splints and runner's knee among other things. This is especially true for dancers. Gymnasts and other athletes who are prone to developing stress fractures.

The average individual is also prone to developing major problems in this part of the body. Prolonged periods of standing or challenging activities can cause certain bones to absorb excessive amounts of shock and experience strain. This is especially true when the individual is not wearing properly supportive footwear and does not have good posture.

A chiropractic professional may even recommend customized orthotics to help correct the problems that have developed. These are shoe inserts that will help to supply the necessary amount of arch support while standing, walking and running. Choosing shoes that have a flexible sole at the mid-range of the foot, could help to ameliorate or even resolve some of the problems that have developed.

If you are tired of dealing with excruciating foot pain you should contract a reputable Wilmington NC chiropractor. This individual can help you to identify the source of your discomfort and can put together a program for resolving it. With time, you could be walking, standing or even running without fear of discomfort.

What causes anxiety when you have Hashimoto's hypothyroidism?

Suffering from anxiety is like being held prisoner in a place where worry infuses every thought, your heart pounds, and the world seems jarring and disorienting. With anti-anxiety medications among the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States, Americans are clearly suffering. Though medications relieve the symptoms, they don’t address the cause.

Some causes of anxiety are obvious: stimulants such as caffeine, weight loss pills, energy drinks, or supplements that increase energy. Psychological or emotional stressors, such as having to speak in public or prepare for a major exam, can also bring on bouts of anxiety.

However, chronic anxiety can have lesser-known causes that, if managed, can relieve symptoms and negate the need for medication. Although the cause of anxiety can sometimes be neurologically complex, other times it can be as simple as making some changes to your diet and lifestyle. Below are a few lesser-known causes of anxiety.

Unmanaged Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism

The majority of cases of hypothyroidism in this country are autoimmune, meaning the immune system attacks and destroys the thyroid gland. When an autoimmune attack flares, damage to the gland spills thyroid hormone into the bloodstream, which can amp up metabolism and cause symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, and heart palpitations. In this case proper management of the autoimmune thyroid condition can help subdue anxiety.

GAD autoimmunity and anxiety

GAD stands for glutamic acid decarboxylase, an enzyme that triggers production of the brain’s primary calming chemical, called GABA. Some people develop an autoimmune reaction to GAD, which means their immune system erroneously attacks and destroys it. As a result, they can’t make enough GABA to calm the brain and anxiety goes up. GAD autoimmunity is also linked to obsessive compulsive disorder, motion sickness, vertigo, facial tics, and other symptoms. GAD autoimmunity is more common in those with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease and a gluten-free diet can alleviate symptoms.

This may also play a role in those with Hashimoto's as a strong link has been shown between Hashimoto's and gluten intolerance.

Gluten and anxiety

Gluten has other links to anxiety. It’s hard to believe something as innocent as your morning toast or a bowl of spaghetti could cause anxiety, but recent research shows that is the case for many people. Gluten has been shown to trigger inflammation in the brain and autoimmune attacks against brain tissue, which can cause anxiety. Although a gluten-free diet is an important first step, many people find they also need to eliminate other foods such as dairy, eggs, or other grains to dampen immune flare-ups and anxiety. An anti-inflammatory autoimmune diet is a good beginning to address brain health.

Because people with Hashimoto's hypothyroidism typically are gluten intolerant, this is another reason to avoid gluten.

Blood sugar imbalances and anxiety

It’s amazing how many chronic health issues stem from a blood sugar imbalance caused by eating a high-carbohydrate diet. Every time you eat too many carbs in the way of breads, pasta, rice, potatoes, desserts, pastries, soda or sweet coffee drinks you send blood sugar and insulin surging and crashing. When this happens daily it can create a multitude of neurological symptoms, including anxiety, depression, mood swings, irritability, and fatigue. Skipping meals and drinking too much coffee also feeds this cycle. A lower-carb, whole foods diet with enough healthy proteins and fats can keep energy on an even keel and tame anxiety.

Blood sugar imbalances can also exacerbate Hashimoto's hypothyroidism and compound factors that cause anxiety.

These are just a handful of possible causes of anxiety typically overlooked in the standard health care model. Ask my office for other strategies on managing anxiety using natural means.

Hashimoto's hypothyroidism sufferers: Why sleep is more difficult for women

Is there a torture worse than hitting the sack exhausted from a long day only to toss and turn for hours, unable to fall asleep? Or perhaps you fall asleep but later bolt awake and can’t fall back asleep?

By the time women hit their mid 30s or early 40s, many struggle with sleep. Either it’s difficult to fall asleep, difficult to stay asleep, or both. Although sleep difficulties can have many causes, fluctuations of female hormone prior to and during the transition to menopause can steal many hours of precious sleep.

Having Hashimoto's hypothyroidism can add insult to injury. During an autoimmune thyroid flare-up, symptoms can include anxiety, jitteriness, heart palpitations, and insomnia. Unmanaged immune imbalances that contribute to Hashimoto's hypothyroidism can also keep the body in a perpetually "wired" state that makes it difficult to sleep even when you're physically exhausted.

Female hormone imbalances and sleep problems

When a woman enters perimenopause, her production of estrogen and progesterone begins to decline. Ideally the adrenal glands, which produce stress hormones, take over production of these hormones to ensure a smooth transition into menopause. Unfortunately, most women today enter perimenopause (pre-menopause) in a state of chronic stress and their adrenals glands are either producing too much or too little stress hormones. To take on the added job of producing sex hormones is simply more than they can handle. That’s when sleep issues can kick in, as balanced levels of estrogen and progesterone are necessary for healthy sleep. Other symptoms may include hot flashes, night sweats, depression, anxiety, fatigue, and more.

Women may also experience sleep issues during certain times of the menstrual cycle when hormone levels fluctuate.

Hormonal imbalances also raise the risk of triggering an autoimmune condition like Hashimoto's hypothyroidism, or exacerbating an existing autoimmune disorder. In fact, many of the strategies used to help balance hormones also work to help balance an autoimmune disorder such Hashimoto's hypothyroidism.

Low progesterone and problems sleeping

Low progesterone seems to have become increasingly common among women and can play a large role in sleep problems. Progesterone is referred to as the “calming hormone” whereas estrogen is more excitatory, and low progesterone is associated with sleeping difficulties.

Chronic stress can impact progesterone levels. Every time you experience stress your adrenal glands release cortisol, a stress hormone. When demand for cortisol is constantly high the body borrows pregnenolone, which is needed to make progesterone and other hormones, to make cortisol instead. This is called “pregnenolone steal” because the body steals pregnenolone from the hormone cascade in order to keep pace with the demands of stress.

Stopping pregnenolone steal may help improve hormone function and improve sleep. Strategies for stopping pregnenolone steal include an anti-inflammatory diet, which eases the body’s burden of stress. You may also need to work on restoring gut health, taming chronic inflammation, or managing an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto's hypothyroidism, approaches that benefit from the guidance of an experienced practitioner.

Estrogen and sleep problems

When estrogen is too high and progesterone too low, it can cause sleep problems for the obvious reason—there is too much of the excitatory estrogen compared to the calming progesterone and the brain can’t calm down enough to rest. A proper ratio between the two is important.

However, low estrogen can also contribute to sleep problems. Estrogen is intimately connected with serotonin, a brain chemical that is converted to melatonin, a sleep hormone. Low estrogen may lead to low serotonin activity and contribute not only to sleep problems but also depression and anxiety. The female brain is highly dependent on sufficient estrogen for normal function in general, and low estrogen can also cause symptoms that include brain fog and memory loss.

Strategies to support hormone balance and Hashimoto's hypothyroidism

Tending to adrenal function and other health issues may help not only improve hormonal balance but also autoimmune Hashimoto's hypothyroidism. Reducing lifestyle stress, eating a diet lower in carbohydrates to prevent blood sugar swings, avoiding foods that cause an immune reaction, not drinking too much alcohol, tending to bacterial gut infections and other aspects of digestive health, and supporting immune balance are all whole-body approaches that can foster proper hormone function and improve sleep.

Ask my office for help in supporting healthy hormonal balance and Hashimoto's hypothyroidism, and improving sleep.

Hashimoto's moms: Skip the baby IQ videos

Popping in a DVD for a baby or toddler can provide a brief but blessed break for the harried parent, and playing an educational video takes some of the sting out of the guilt. Unfortunately, even an educational video featuring classical music, shapes, colors, and early words may do more harm than good according to researchers.

A child’s brain needs constant physical activity and interaction with the environment to develop properly, and time in front of the screen suspends that development, even if it’s an educational video or computer game.

Research shows the younger a child begins spending time in front of the screen, the lower they score on language tests, despite being taught language on educational videos or television. Unfortunately, almost 90 percent of children spend two to three hours per day in front of a screen by the time they are two years old.

Moms who have Hashimoto's hypothyroidism or other autoimmune diseases should pay attention to healthy ways to support brain development. The mother's immune health plays a significant role in the development of her baby's brain and healthy stimulation is vital to proper development.

Educational videos overlook brain development basics

A parent who wants her child to read or learn numbers early overlooks some basics of brain development. The timing of left and right hemisphere development is of utmost importance during these first years of life.

A child’s right brain is dominant through about age three. The right brain governs the ability to read emotions, see the big picture, intuition, creativity, and imagination. Experts say teaching more left-brained activities, such as language, critical thinking, logic, and math is not appropriate during this critical right-brain period of development.

In fact, childhood brain issues such as ADHD or autism spectrum disorders reflect lopsided growth of the hemispheres, with the left brain often dominating a weaker right brain. This explains why these children may be academically gifted but have difficulty with such right-brain tasks as reading social cues. Immune imbalances such as an unmanaged autoimmune Hashimoto's hypothyroid condition can create an environment in the uterus that fosters over development of the left brain.

Although watching educational TV or videos won’t necessarily cause a brain development disorder, experts say it can delay the development of crucial wiring and even delay language development.

Better educational alternatives to TV and videos

Physical activity and healthy interaction with the environment are the most vital aspects to a properly developing brain. Babies and toddlers do not need traditional education on TV and videos. Simply becoming part of the world around them is highly educational for them. Ample access to physical movement appropriate for the child’s age (i.e., do not put a child who should be learning to crawl in a walker or leave her strapped in a car seat for much of the day) is vital for proper brain growth, as is playing with age-appropriate toys, loving interaction and touch from caregivers, the ability to safely observe and explore his world, and protection from overstimulation.

Properly manage Hashimoto's hypothyroidism for healthy brain development

Although the early years of life are critical to brain development, brain health starts in the womb and is significantly affected by the mother’s health (and, according to newer research, the father’s age—children of men older than 50 are significantly more likely to have autism). Autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto's hypothyroidism, chronic inflammation, inflammatory disorders, allergies, and food intolerances can affect the fetal environment and brain development.

To maximize a baby’s brain power, both parents should start with functional medicine principles before the baby has even been conceived. These include stabilizing blood sugar, eliminating foods that cause inflammation, detoxification, balancing hormone, adrenal, and repairing the gut, which is the seat of the immune system.

Although thyroid medications may be necessary, they do not address the underlying mechanism of Hashimoto's hypothyroidism, which is an autoimmune reaction and immune imbalance.

Ask my office for tips on how best to support Hashimoto's hypothyroidism nutritionally prior to conception, during nursing, or after your baby is born.