Shows
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastReversing Gut Problems in Hashimoto's & Autoimmune Disease | Dr. Westin Childs & Dr. Jill CarnahanToday I am joined with Dr. Jill Carnahan for a discussion on the gut and the role it plays in autoimmune disease! Dr. Jill Carnahan MD is trained in both Family Medicine as well as Functional Medicine and has been helping patients for over a decade. She is a survivor of both breast cancer and Crohn's disease and is currently in remission from both conditions. She's been through the gauntlet when it comes to treating both autoimmune disease and gut problems and her expertise in this area comes through in this interview.
You can learn more about Dr. Jill Carnahan...2022-03-2845 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastReversing Hashimoto's Naturally & Managing Thyroid Antibodies | Dr. Anshul Gupta & Dr. Westin ChildsToday I am joined by Dr. Anshul Gupta for a great discussion on reversing Hashimoto's, what triggers Hashimoto's, natural treatments for Hashimoto's, and much more.
Dr. Anshul Gupta is a best-selling author, speaker, researcher, and expert in Hashimoto’s disease. He is board-certified in family medicine with training in functional medicine, integrative medicine, and peptide therapy. He previously worked at the Cleveland Clinic Department of functional medicine alongside Dr. Mark Hyman and has most recently published a book called Reversing Hashimoto’s.
You can learn more about Dr. Gupta here:
- Get a free consultation with Dr. Gupta: https://www.ansh...2022-01-2457 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastHow to Make Your Thyroid Medication More Effective (6 EASY Steps to Feeling Better)These steps will make your prescription thyroid medication MORE effective. You'll feel better by using these proven tips.
Many thyroid patients have been prescribed thyroid medication yet they don't feel much different once they start taking it.
Has that happened to you?
You've probably been told that the only way to help you feel better is to adjust your dose but that may not be entirely true.
It turns out that there are some things that YOU can do, which are within your control, which can help make your thyroid dose more effective.
In other words, you can help your...2021-10-0412 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastLiving with Thyroid Problems? (7 Things ALL Thyroid Patients Should Know)So you've been diagnosed with a thyroid problem? What does the world hold for you? What's it like living with hypothyroidism or low thyroid function? That's exactly what we are going to be talking about today!
Your thyroid controls and regulates most systems and hormones in your body and, as a thyroid patient, you should be aware of the potential problems that this may cause in your life.
But let me make this clear: Just because you have thyroid disease does not mean you need to suffer! There are always ways to both feel better, manage your weight, and control...2021-09-2713 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastSigns You Are Taking Too Much Levothyroxine (When to LOWER Your Dose)Signs you are taking too much levothyroxine and when to know if you need to lower your dose. It's quite common for thyroid patients to accidentally take TOO much levothyroxine.
Levothyroxine is the most commonly used medication to treat low thyroid (of all types). Unfortunately, it only works if you are using the correct DOSE, however!
And there are many people out there right now, perhaps you, who are taking either too much or too little. The side effects associated with taking too much or too little are almost the complete opposite.
If you've been taking levothyroxine or Synthroid and...2021-09-2011 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastThyroid Weight Loss, TSH Suppression, Iodine Supplements & More | Dr. Amie & Dr. Westin ChildsIn this video, Dr. Amie and I discuss:
- Thyroid weight gain and what triggers it
- Reverse dieting and how it can help improve your metabolism
- Inflammation and its impact on thyroid disease (also the potential sources and causes of inflammation in thyroid patients)
- Adrenal fatigue and cortisol testing, the best tests to use, why I don't recommend cortisol testing, and more
- The iodine thyroid controversy, why I don't recommend using high dose iodine, and what range of iodine is important
- Why TSH suppression isn't always a bad thing but what to watch out for...2021-09-1358 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastHow to Prevent Thyroid Surgery and Radioactive Iodine Ablation Therapy | Dr. Osansky and Dr. ChildsIn this video, I interview Dr. Eric Osansky. Dr. Eric Osansky is a chiropractor, clinical nutritionist, a certified functional medicine practitioner, and author of the book “Natural Treatment Solutions for Hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease. Dr. Osansky was personally diagnosed with Graves’ disease and has been in remission through the use of natural therapies. His focus is helping people with hyperthyroidism do everything they can to avoid radioactive iodine ablation and thyroid surgery.
If you want to learn more about Dr. Eric Osansky you can find more information here:
Naturalendocrine solutions website: https://www.naturalendocrinesolutions...
Dr. Osansky's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Na...2021-09-0650 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastTop 5 Prescription Weight Loss Medications (Use THESE)These are the top 5 best prescription weight loss medications on the market. These weight loss meds actually work and I've personally used them on many patients with success.
I've been helping people lose weight for a long time and over the years I've been able to test many different weight loss medications. I've found that while there are many prescription weight loss medications available, only a handful actually work very well.
In this video, I will walk you through the top 5 best prescription weight loss medications available on the market, which ones I prefer to use, what you can expect...2021-08-3013 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastWhat Happened to NDT & Should You Trust Thyroid Facebook Groups? | Janie Bowthorpe & Dr. ChildsIn this video, I interview Janie Bowthorpe. Janie Bowthorpe is an author and thyroid advocate. She is the Author of the Stop the Thyroid Madness books as well as the creator of the Stop the Thyroid Madness Website where she has spent many years writing about her experience and the experience of other thyroid patients. With the use of NDT, she was able to reclaim her life and she now helps other thyroid patients do the same.
If you want to learn more about Janie you can check out her website as well as her books below:
Stop the Thyroid...2021-08-2333 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastHow Doctors Fail Thyroid Patients (12,000 Thyroid Patients Grade Their Doctor)The unfortunate truth is that most doctors fail thyroid patients. This is why so many thyroid patients are unhappy with their current treatment.
As a whole, do you think doctors help or hurt thyroid patients?
This survey of over 12,000 thyroid patients shows that doctors, on the average, are not helping thyroid patients.
These 12,000 thyroid patients were asked a series of questions and their responses were recorded. Among these questions, they were asked how satisfied they were with their current treatment, they were asked what type of problems and issues they continue to have, they were asked how long they had...2021-08-1613 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastFrom Conventional Doc to Thyroid & Hormone Specialist | Dr. Westin Childs & Jeff Whelchel MDIn this video, I interview Jeff Whelchel. Dr. Jeff Whelchel is an MD practicing in Amarillo Texas. He is trained in Family Medicine where he practiced in conventional medicine for 21 and a half years. He is now practicing functional medicine where he specializes in thyroid management and bioidentical hormone management with the use of BIOTE pellet therapies. He's a good friend of mine and one of the few people I would trust to treat my own family members.
If you are interested in being treated by Dr. Whelchel or want to get in touch with this practice, you can do...2021-08-0236 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastCan the Thyroid Gland Grow Back or Regrow?Can the thyroid gland grow back or is it possible to regrow your thyroid? We will explore that very question in this video.
One question I get from many thyroid patients is whether or not the thyroid gland can grow back.
They are asking because they have often been told that they will need to be on thyroid medication for the rest of their lives.
This proposition doesn't sound appealing, so it's at least worth looking into whether or not it's possible for the thyroid gland to regrow.
Unfortunately, it's not possible, at least not in the way that you...2021-07-2611 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastUsing T3 Thyroid Medication To Feel 100% Again | Dr. Westin Childs & Paul RobinsonIn this video, I interview Paul Robinson. Paul is a thyroid patient advocate and the author of 3 books on thyroid including Recovering with T3, the Thyroid Patients Manuel, and CT3M Handbook.
The key takeaway here is that you do NOT have to continue to suffer as a thyroid patient. Paul has successfully used T3 thyroid medication to recover his health back to 100% and has helped over 1,000 thyroid patients do the same over the last several years.
T3 is the most important thyroid hormone in the body and it can be used to both treat and manage thyroid symptoms in...2021-07-1933 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastHow to Test for Inflammation (Order THESE 3 Tests)These tests are required if you want to test for inflammation in your body. These tests check for systemic or whole body inflammation.
Inflammation is something that you don't want going on in your body. High levels of inflammation in the body increase your risk of developing almost every major disease including autoimmune disease, cancer, heart disease, stroke, and much more.
Inflammation has also been associated with accelerated aging!
No matter how you look at it, it's not something you want in your body.
The good news is that you can test for inflammation in your body by looking at...2021-07-1209 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastWhat is T4 to T3 Conversion? What ALL Thyroid Patients Should KnowWhat is T4 to T3 conversion? T4 to T3 conversion is the most important aspect of thyroid function because it impacts T3 thyroid hormone levels.
T4 to T3 conversion is probably the most important aspect of thyroid function and it's something that you should be aware of if you have ANY thyroid problem.
T4 to T3 conversion refers to the process in which your body ACTIVATES thyroid hormone.
Most thyroid hormone is floating around in your body as T4 and, in order to be useful to the body, it must be converted into T3.
T3 is roughly 300x more biologically...2021-07-0613 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastHashimoto's Without Antibodies? Yes, It's Possible (Sero Negative Hashimoto's Explained)Is it possible to have Hashimoto's thyroiditis without positive antibodies? The answer is yes and and it occurs in the form of sero negative Hashimoto's.
In fact, there are at least 2 conditions that result in negative antibodies even though there is active inflammation (the hallmark of Hashimoto's) in the thyroid gland.
One condition is known as sero negative Hashimoto's and it is actually quite common. In this condition, patients have active inflammation in the thyroid gland but they have NEGATIVE thyroid antibodies.
What's interesting, though, is that they still respond to normal treatments for Hashimoto's, and the disease tends to...2021-06-2910 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastHow to Get Off of Thyroid Medication Safely (Avoid THESE Mistakes)Are you currently taking thyroid medication? Have you ever wondered about trying to get off of your thyroid medication? You were probably told that you have to take it for the rest of your life, right?
What if I told you that that may not be the case? Well, it's true. There are a lot of thyroid patients who are taking prescription thyroid medications who ultimately want to stop taking them if at all possible. And it turns out that there may be a path for certain people.
But please read this disclaimer before you attempt it:
Do NOT attempt...2021-06-2210 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastLow TSH vs Suppressed TSH on Thyroid Medication – What you Must KnowDownload my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
If you are taking thyroid medication then you should pay close attention to your TSH. While the TSH isn't a perfect test it can still be useful in determining how well your thyroid medication is working.
This video explains the main difference between a suppressed TSH and a low TSH and why each one matters.
One carries certain risks while the other does not and...2020-12-2811 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastTop 10 Iodine Rich Foods (Eat these for your thyroid)Download my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
Iodine is one of the single most important nutrients for your thyroid. If you do not have enough iodine then your thyroid will NOT be able to produce enough thyroid hormone and you will have problems.
And because humans cannot create iodine they must get it through their diet.
But which foods should you consume if you want to get iodine? This list contains the...2020-10-2209 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastHashimoto's Blood Tests - 9 Tests EVERYONE NeedsDownload my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a condition which causes low thyroid function but it is different from run of the mill hypothyroidism.
And because it is different, you should not evaluate it in the same way that you would evaluate regular hypothyroidism.
If you have Hashimoto's there are certain tests BEYOND those which are used to diagnose thyroid function that you should be aware of and that...2020-02-1415 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastTSH levels - Healthy vs Normal vs Optimal levels (on thyroid medication and off)Download my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
The TSH is probably the single most ordered tests by doctors and it's used to test your thyroid function. There's one big problem with the TSH test, though, and that is that it isn't always accurate!
The reason for this video is to help explain some of the issues with the TSH test by looking at normal TSH ranges and values. This will help you...2019-10-2208 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastLevothyroxine and Weight gain (Why some people gain weight on levo and Synthroid)Can levothyroxine cause weight gain? The answer may surprise you and it is a definite yes. By the way, this information all applies to SYNTHROID as well. So whether you are taking Synthroid or levothyroxine, both medications can lead to weight gain.
How can a medication which is designed to improve thyroid function ultimately lead to weight gain?
The answer has to do with how this medication is metabolized and utilized in your body.
Levothyroxine and Synthroid contain the hormone known as T4 or thyroxine. Doctors give this medication to replace a sluggish thyroid hormone and assume that it will...2019-10-2211 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastVitamin B12 Deficiency SymptomsDownload my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
Treating vitamin B12 deficiency is one of my favorite conditions to treat because I consider it an easy win for many people. Simply taking B12 is enough to fix the problem and may help you feel better very quickly.
But before we talk about treatment we need to discuss vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms.
You can find a list of symptoms associated with low B12 levels...2019-10-1613 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastSynthetic Vs Natural Thyroid Medication: Which is best?Download my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
Today we are going to be discussing the difference between synthetic thyroid medication and natural thyroid medication.
You're probably thinking that natural is superior to synthetic simply based upon the name and there are many people who believe that. But once you break down the actual ingredients you can see that synthetic may not be as bad as you think.
So, what is synthetic thyroid...2019-10-1508 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastLab Tests Every Thyroid Patient Should GetDownload my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
Thyroid lab tests are important, no question, but you also need to be looking at other systems:
Why?
#1. Your thyroid affects almost every system in your body.
#2. Your thyroid affects OTHER hormone systems and leads to imbalance.
#3. Your thyroid affects your ability to absorb nutrients and leads to deficiencies.
#4. These imbalances/problems/deficiencies/issues are NOT corrected with thyroid supplementation alone (or necessarily with natural...2019-10-1017 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastSymptoms of Thyroid Tunnel VisionDownload my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
What is thyroid tunnel vision?
Symptoms you have thyroid tunnel vision:
#1. You believe that all of your symptoms are related to your thyroid.
#2. You are constantly reading and learning more about the thyroid but nothing is helping.
#3. You constantly change your dose of thyroid medication without any relief.
#4. You focus on relatively inconsequential things such as fillers/dyes in medications.
#5. You’ve accepted that you wi...2019-10-0814 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastDo I Actually Like Synthroid?Download my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
So, the question: Do I like Synthroid?
The answer is yes! Synthroid (and levothyroxine) still have a lot of value even though many patients don't necessarily do well on them.
Before you call me a pharmaceutical shill, realize that we need to be even-handed in our discussion of thyroid medications. There ARE some people who do well on Synthroid (even if they are the minority).
...2019-10-0816 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastHigh Dose vs Low Dose Iodine for Thyroid Patients (Which should you use?)Download my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
You can read the entire blog post here:
https://www.restartmed.com/high-dose-iodine/
I get a lot of questions regarding how safe iodine is if you have thyroid problems. Tons of people out there wrongly believe that iodine is harmful if you have any sort of thyroid disease.
The truth is that iodine can be incredibly helpful, especially for those with thyroid conditions.
My experience...2019-10-0221 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastThe problem with optimal thyroid lab tests & what to use insteadDownload my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
There is a focus among thyroid patients on optimal thyroid lab tests. These lab tests are said to be a representation of what a "healthy" level should be.
Unfortunately, I think more harm comes from focusing on these levels than good and I want to explain why.
Here are 5 reasons you don't want to focus solely on optimal thyroid lab tests:
#1. Obtaining optimal lab tests...2019-09-2024 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastThyroid Medication Conversion Chart (3 Charts + Which to Use)Download my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
There are 3 main thyroid conversion charts that you can use. These charts can be helpful when you are trying to switch from one type of thyroid medication to another.
This could include switching from T4 only thyroid medication to other types of thyroid medications such as NDT.
The main problem with most conversion charts is that they heavily favor T4 (over T3) and that they...2019-09-1118 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastBirth Control Side Effects You Should be Aware of (Cancer, Weight Gain & More)Download my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
Birth control pills can cause some serious side effects because of how they interact with your body.
OCP pills (of all types) work by suppressing the normal production of both estrogen and progesterone. This can help to mask certain symptoms that may be associated with hormone imbalances but it doesn't actually solve them.
Instead, man-made synthetic hormones in birth control pills act to suppress the...2019-08-0719 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast10 Tips to Help you Find a Competent Thyroid DoctorDownload my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
You can use the link above to download your free PDF version of this video. You can also find the tips listed below:
#1. Look for doctors trained in integrative medicine using this search tool (Note that not all doctors on this list will be willing to use NDT and/or T3)
#2. Look for doctors trained in functional medicine using this search tool (Note that not...2019-08-0313 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastHow CBD Oil May Help Treat Hashimoto's (Lowering antibodies and improving thyroid function)Download my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
CBD oil is available over the counter in most states and can be used to help treat Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
CBD is found within marijuana but it isn't the same thing as marijuana. CBD is one of many cannabinoids which can have a positive impact on your physiology and certain tissues in your body.
CBD may help improve Hashimotos & thyroid function through the following ways:
#1. Its...2019-07-2522 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastHow Biotin Interferes with Thyroid Lab Tests & Causes Falsely Elevated ResultsDownload my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
Every patient with thyroid disease should be aware of how biotin interacts with and interferes with thyroid lab tests.
It's important to understand, however, that while biotin does interfere with the accurary of your thyroid lab tests it does NOT interfere with your thyroid itself.
Biotin interacts with the thyroid lab testing assay and can make your thyroid lab tests look higher than they actually...2019-07-1613 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastIs google suppressing alternative thyroid information?Download my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
Over the last year or so there have been several big changes to how Google serves information to users in their search results.
Two major changes between August 2018 (medic update) and June 3rd (broad core update) caused a massive drop in visibility of natural health oriented health websites.
It seems that these changes were made in the name of "safety" and "quality" but the end...2019-07-0316 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastHair Loss from Hashimoto's Thyroiditis? What causes it and how to stop itDownload my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
Hair loss from Hashimoto's thyroiditis should be differentiated from regular run of the mill hypothyroidism.
It should come as no surprise to you that dysregulation of thyroid hormone causes hair loss.
The main difference is that about 30% of Hashimoto's patients also suffer from other types of hair loss which can cause confusion.
And these other causes may or may not be related to your current...2019-06-2020 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast12 Reasons you still have Hypothyroid Symptoms (Even on thyroid medication)Download my free thyroid resources here (including hypothyroid symptoms checklist, the complete list of thyroid lab tests + optimal ranges, foods you should avoid if you have thyroid disease, and more): https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
It's becoming more and more common for thyroid patients to experience hypothyroid symptoms despite being treated "adequately" with prescription medications.
In addition, there are a number of people who suffer from hypothyroid symptoms and yet have normal thyroid lab tests and are unable to get appropriate treatment.
Why does this occur?
Well, for many reasons, but I think some of the most common are listed...2019-05-3126 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastExplaining thyroid discrepancies and why no two thyroid patients are alikeThyroid management and treatment can appear to be very confusing, especially as a patient.
Part of this has to do with the fact that no two patients are alike. It's possible for a statement to objectively true and false simultaneously regarding treatment.
This video outlines a sample of 10 different quotes and responses from patients on a wide spectrum.
I discuss why certain patients feel one way with medication and why others can feel the exact opposite. The quotes used in this video are taken directly from a clinical study (link in the article).
You can think of these statements as...2019-05-2824 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastSurvey of Over 800+ Thyroid Patients Shows Doctors are Failing PatientsThis is my breakdown of the verywell health thyroid survey which went out to over 800+ thyroid patients.
This survey is full of very interesting and relevant results which can potentially help guide thyroid treatment in the future.
This survey was NOT done by me but this video is my commentary and opinion on the survey. You can find the entire survey and results directly at this link: https://www.verywellhealth.com/survey-finds-doctors-are-failing-thyroid-disease-patients-4583130
The main takeaways from this survey include:
#1. Regarding thyroid treatment with thyroid medication, only 6 percent of people felt completely satisfied with only 1 in 5 people (or 20%) feeling completely unsatisfied...2019-05-1419 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastCarnivore Diet for Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: Is it Safe & Effective?Is the Carnivore diet safe if you have Hashimoto's?
I'm not 100% convinced that it is safe in the long-term but there have been reports from some people that it can be effective. Because of this, I wanted to explore the diet and explain why it may be effective for some people.
The carnivore diet includes mostly meat-based products but it also includes a small amount of dairy and eggs as well.
At first glance, this may not seem very healthy, but we know that other restrictive diets have proven to be potentially therapeutic for certain individuals.
One of the reasons...2019-05-0914 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast3 Causes of Cytomel Related Hair Loss (+ Treatments)Cytomel is a T3 only thyroid medication which happens to also be the most powerful thyroid medication available.
The only problem? It can sometimes be associated with hair loss and, even though the medication is great, you should be aware of this problem if you are using it or thinking about using it.
Before we jump in, just realize that Cytomel is the brand name T3 medication but this information also applies to liothyronine which is the generic version of Cytomel.
There are 3 main ways that Cytomel may cause hair loss:
#1. Hair loss related directly to the medication.
- The...2019-04-2512 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast6 Problems with Natural Desiccated Thyroid HormoneDownload my free thyroid resources here: https://www.restartmed.com/start-here
Are you currently taking Natural Desiccated thyroid hormone? Maybe you are considering using this medication. Either way, there are some things you should know BEFORE you start using it.
Like any medication, NDT is not a perfect medication and it does have some problems.
I'm actually a big fan of NDT as a medication and I use it on a lot of my patients, but I am also aware that it isn't perfect and it doesn't work for everyone.
Some of these problems include:
#1. The formula keeps changing.
The...2019-02-1412 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast5 Conditions Which Make Your TSH Less AccurateThe TSH is probably the most standard way to test for thyroid dysfunction but it's certainly not the most accurate way.
There are at least 5 different conditions which, if present, can alter how reliable the TSH test really is.
These conditions include:
#1. Low T3 syndrome.
- The first condition is low T3 syndrome. People with this condition have low levels of free T3 or total T3 but their free T4 and TSH may stay relatively normal. Free T3 should take precedence because it is the active thyroid hormone.
#2. high TSH but normal T4.
- Many people look at the TSH...2019-02-1209 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast5 Natural Remedies for Hashimoto's to Help Reduce Thyroid AntibodiesDo you have Hashimoto's or hypothyroidism? If so, download my free resources such as foods you should be avoiding, the complete list of thyroid lab tests, and more here: https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
Hashimoto's is an autoimmune disease which means if you have this disease that your body is attacking and attempting to destroy your own thyroid gland.
Up to 70-90% of people with hypothyroidism have Hashimoto's (even if you don't know about it!) and this is important because Hashimoto's is treated differently compared to regular hypothyroidism.
There are 5 main natural therapies that you can use to potentially help...2019-01-3014 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastWhy Hypothyroidism is Worse with Iron DeficiencyDownload free thyroid resources here: https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
Your thyroid function depends on how much iron you have. If you have low iron levels then your thyroid function may be compromised.
This is especially important for people who have thyroid disease because they are very sensitive to even small changes in iron levels.
And doctors are not conditioned to look at iron stores unless they find that you are anemic. But it is possible to be iron deficient even if you are not anemic and this deficiency CAN impact your thyroid negatively.
Thyroid function and iron are linked...2019-01-2512 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastThyroid Stimulating Exercises (+ Which Exercises to avoid)Free thyroid downloads and resources here: https://www.restartmed.com/start-here
Can exercising help boost your thyroid? The short answer is yes, but only if you are doing it the RIGHT way.
Too little exercise will have no benefit on your thyroid while overexercising may lower your free T3 and total T3.
How does exercise benefit your thyroid? In 3 main ways:
#1. It reduces your TSH and increases both T3 and T4 levels.
- This is exactly what you want if you are hypothyroid. This combination of changes indicates that your thyroid is able to work on its own.
#2. It reduces...2019-01-1612 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast10 Foods to Avoid if you have Thyroid Problems (Hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's)You can download the PDF copy of this resource here: https://www.restartmed.com/start-here
The foods that you eat can either positively or negatively impact your thyroid. This video is all about avoiding certain foods which have been scientifically proven to inhibit thyroid function in some way.
The list of foods to avoid if you have thyroid disease includes:
#1. Refined sugar
- Sugar can cause insulin resistance which can negatively impact thyroid function.
#2. *Gluten
- Up to 2-5% of people with Hashimoto's also have Celiac disease. In addition, many more have non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
#3. *Dairy
- In a recent...2019-01-0916 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastThyroid Self Test: 4 Ways to Check your Thyroid at HomeIs it possible to test your thyroid at home? The answer is yes.
If you watched the video you can download the free resource I mention in it here: https://www.restartmed.com/start-here/
The only problem with testing your thyroid at home is that the tests available are not quite as accurate as blood tests. Having said that they can still give you very important information.
My recommendation is to use these tests in conjunction with your lab tests to give you a better idea as to what is happening with your thyroid.
Here are the 4 ways you can...2019-01-0413 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastHow Free T4 Changes with Different Thyroid MedicationFree T4 is an important measurement which gives you an idea how well your thyroid is functioning.
But what's interesting about this value is that it changes based on what type of thyroid medication you are taking. You need to understand how these changes manifest to know if you are on the right track.
How T4 changes with thyroid medication:
- On T4 only thyroid medication.
Free T4 tends to increase when taking thyroid medication such as Levothyroxine and Synthroid. This makes perfect sense! You can use your free T4 as a measure to determine if you are taking enough...2018-11-2009 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastThyroid Symptoms in Men (+ Low Testosterone Symptoms)Men with hypothyroidism tend to have similar but different symptoms when compared to women.
The difference in symptoms stems from the impact that your thyroid has on testosterone. Testosterone, as it turns out, is much more important for men when compared to women.
Even minor changes in testosterone can lead to numerous side effects which are separate from hypothyroidism. So, in a sense, men get both the symptoms of hypothyroidism AND low testosterone.
Men with hypothyroidism commonly present with any or all of the following symptoms:
- Increase in fatigue or decreased energy levels
- Decreased libido/sex drive and...2018-11-1609 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastTSH Levels During Pregnancy: Healthy Ranges by TrimesterTSH is a marker of thyroid function and it's incredibly important if you are pregnant.
During pregnancy, the thyroid gland enlarges and must produce enough thyroid hormone for both you and your child. If you can't produce enough thyroid hormone then your child may suffer from developmental issues, a low birthweight and potentially a lower than normal IQ.
Because of this, doctors recommend that thyroid function be monitored very closely during pregnancy.
It also means that the standard "healthy" ranges must be altered during pregnancy to match the increase in demand of thyroid hormone.
This means there are new reference...2018-11-1409 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastHow Long Does it Take Thyroid Medication to Work?How long does it take thyroid medication to work? That's the question we will be exploring in today's video.
The short answer?
About 60% of people will experience some improvement within 4-6 weeks of taking their medication.
Another 20% will experience symptomatic relief even sooner and the last 20% may experience symptomatic improvement up to 8+ weeks after starting their medication.
Why does it take so long? It has to do with how thyroid hormone works once it's in your body. Thyroid hormone has to interact with your cells and change genetic transcription and this process takes time.
Other factors such as your starting...2018-11-1407 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastCan Hypothyroidism Cause High Blood Sugar?The answer is yes. Actually, both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can lead to high blood sugar.
This stems from a condition known as insulin resistance in which your cells become resistant to the effects of insulin. Insulin is supposed to help your body take up glucose and utilize it for energy. If it can't then the blood sugar will build up in your blood and you will experience high blood sugar.
This condition stems from ANY disorder of thyroid function including both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
And this is also true of thyroid medications. It's not the medications themselves which cause blood...2018-11-1211 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastHow to Stop Thyroid Eyebrow Hair LossThyroid dysfunction can lead to both general hair loss and eyebrow hair loss.
Eyebrow hair loss can be particularly troubling because it can cause considerable distress and issues with your appearance.
It's important to know that your eyebrows are a sensitive marker of thyroid function in your body. They are often the first sign of thyroid disease and can be the last symptom to improve once you improve your thyroid.
6 steps to improve thyroid eyebrow hair loss include:
#1. Take thyroid medication! (If necessary)
#2. Ensure that your thyroid medication is actually working.
#3. Take hair regrowth supplements (this works for both your...2018-11-0911 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastCan Hashimoto's Actually Be Reversed/Cured?The quick answer to the question:
Yes, but only in about 10% of the population (based on my estimates and experience). And by reversed I am talking about a 100% complete remission where you are not taking thyroid medication, where your thyroid antibodies are zero, your weight is normalized, and you do not have any symptoms of hypothyroidism.
Other people can experience anywhere from minor to major improvements with natural therapies, but the degree that they will improve depends on their individual circumstance.
Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease which will eventually result in the complete destruction of your thyroid gland.
In...2018-11-0712 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastRadioactive Iodine Treatment: What to Expect AfterwardRadioactive iodine treatment is a medical treatment used to destroy your thyroid gland.
It's used to treat conditions such as hyperthyroidism to help reduce the amount of thyroid hormone that your body produces.
As you can imagine, destroying your thyroid gland does come with some consequences. I want to talk about those consequences and what you should expect if you get this procedure done.
6 Things to expect after Radioactive iodine treatment:
#1. You are going to be radioactive.
- Yes! It is true. You will be radioactive for about 5-7 days after your procedure which means you shouldn't be close to...2018-11-0609 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast#49 How Thyroid Medication Changes your Blood PressureCan taking thyroid medication alter your blood pressure? The answer is absolutely. It doesn't happen all the time, but certain types of thyroid medication can lead to a rise in your blood pressure.
Your cardiac tissue (heart cells) have different thyroid receptors when compared to most other cells. As a result, they are particularly sensitive to T3 thyroid hormone. When they come into contact with T3 it can act to increase the force of contraction of your heart which increases both your heart rate and your blood pressure.
What can you do about it?
#1. Pay attention to your dose (if...2018-10-3109 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast#48 NP Thyroid vs Armour Thyroid: Cost & Ingredient DifferencesNP Thyroid is a form of natural desiccated thyroid hormone which is similar but different than Armour thyroid.
Both medications contain the same active ingredients but they differ in the inactive ingredients.
This small difference can greatly impact how you feel when you use or take these medications.
Armour thyroid contains the following ingredients:
Triiodothyronine (active ingredient)
Thyroxine (active ingredient)
Calcium stearate
Dextrose
Microcrystalline cellulose (May cause reactions in some people
Sodium starch glycolate
Opadry white
Minor amounts of calcitonin, T1, T2, and proteins
NP thyroid contains the following ingredients:
Triiodothyronine (active ingredient)
Thyroxine (active ingredient)
Calcium stearate
Dextrose monohydrate
...2018-10-2807 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast#47 List of Thyroid Medication Names (By Hormone Content)If you are confused about thyroid medication names then this is the video for you. In this video, I break down how various thyroid medications differ from one another and what thyroid hormones that they contain.
There are two main types of thyroid hormones: T4 and T3.
Thyroid medications contain both or just one or the other of these hormones which impact how they work in your body.
T4 only thyroid medications include:
- Synthroid (Brand name)
- Levothyroxine (Generic)
- Tirosint (Brand name - special in that it only has 4 total ingredients)
- Levoxyl
- Unithroid
- Euthyrox
...2018-10-2705 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast#46 5 Causes of Thyroid Pain & How to Treat ThemThyroid pain is never a normal symptom and the presence of this symptom is an indication that something is wrong.
Believe it or not, thyroid pain is not a common symptom even though thyroid disorders are quite common.
Almost all conditions which result in thyroid pain do so because of inflammation in the thyroid gland itself. This inflammation could be from your own immune system, from an infection, or from trauma.
With this in mind, let's talk about conditions that cause thyroid pain:
#1. Subactue thyroiditis.
- This is the most common cause of thyroid pain among patients and is usually...2018-10-2511 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast#45 Thyroid Supplements For Weight Loss: Which Work & Which Don'tCan you use thyroid supplements to help you with weight loss?
The answer is maybe and that it really depends. Some supplements work better than others, but you should never plan on only using supplements if your goal is weight loss.
Why?
Because it usually takes a lot more than just 1 or 2 supplements to help you lose all of your weight and feel back to normal. This should go without saying, but just keep it in mind.
Having said that, there are certain categories of supplements which can help thyroid patients with weight loss.
These categories include:
#1. Supplements that increase...2018-10-2310 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast#44 Can Hypothyroidism Be Cured Permanently?The answer is that it really depends. Sometimes hypothyroidism is curable and sometimes it isn't, it depends on the cause of your condition.
Before we talk about these conditions you need to understand the difference between a cure and a treatment. All forms of hypothyroidism can be treated but when I talk about a cure I am talking about a therapy which will completely heal your body. All types of hypothyroidism are treatable but not all are curable.
Conditions that cause hypothyroidism include...
Hypothyroidism from Hashimoto's thyroiditis:
- The most common cause of hypothyroidism is from Hashimoto's which is both...2018-10-1809 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast#43 Synthroid Overdose: signs you taking too much thyroid medicationAre you taking too much Synthroid? Synthroid is the most commonly prescribed medication in the US which means that millions of people are taking this medicine.
Of those millions, there will always be a small percentage who are either taking too much or too little. We are going to focus on those people who are taking too much.
Symptoms of taking too much Synthroid include...
Common but less serious side effects:
Increased hair loss
Weight loss (sometimes but not always)
Tremors in the extremities
Jittery sensation
Heart palpitations
Anxiety
Flushing of the skin
Heat intolerance (not able to stand hot...2018-10-1510 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast#42 These Supplements Block Thyroid Medication AbsorptionDo supplements help or hurt your thyroid? Many supplements can actually improve your thyroid function but they can also interfere with thyroid medication absorption!
If you are taking supplements and if you take thyroid medication then this information is important for you.
Certain medications and over the counter supplements can act to block or bind up thyroid medication like Levothyroxine or Synthroid.
If you take supplements together with your thyroid medication then you may be limiting how much thyroid medication can actually enter into your body.
The most important supplements which inhibit thyroid hormone absorption include:
- Iron
- Calcium
...2018-10-1010 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast#39 How to Calculate Optimal Reference Ranges for Free T3 and Free T4There is a big difference between optimal thyroid lab tests and normal lab tests. The reference range for your lab tests includes both healthy and unhealthy people that you are compared to. By creating a tighter reference range for your lab tests you can ensure that you are being compared to only healthy people.
In this video, I go over 2 examples of how to calculate this reference range for both Free T3 and free T4 and show you exactly how to do it.
Free T3 example:
You generally want your free T3 in the top 30% of the reference range in...2018-09-1708 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast#38 Is Synthroid Gluten-Free?Is Synthroid Gluten-free? The answer is yes, based on a recent study which looked at all of the ingredients.
But why is this important? It has to do with the fact that most hypothyroid patients suffer from Hashimoto's thyroiditis which is an autoimmune condition of the thyroid gland. And about 5% of people with Hashimoto's also suffer from Celiac disease which is an autoimmune disease to gluten.
That means that roughly 1 in 20 people with Hashimoto's will also not tolerate gluten.
This study showed that the concentration of gluten in Synthroid was less than 3 parts per million which are below the acceptable...2018-09-1406 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast#37 Why Thyroidectomy Patients Need T3This video is all about why thyroidectomy patients need T3 thyroid medication.
Thyroidectomy is a procedure in which your thyroid gland is completely removed. After you undergo this procedure you will be required to take thyroid medication for life.
One problem that thyroidectomy patients face is persistent symptoms such as weight gain, brain fog, constipation, and fatigue after their procedure and even after taking thyroid medication.
In this video, I highlight the importance of taking thyroid medication in this subgroup of patients and why the standard approach of using levothyroxine is not sufficient.
There are new studies which show that...2018-09-1310 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast#35 5 Reasons You Can’t Lose WeightIn this video, we will discuss the 5 main reasons that you can't lose weight even if you are eating healthy and exercising regularly.
It may surprise you that this combination does not work for everyone! In fact, there are many people who will need to do more than just eat healthily and exercise in order to lose weight.
The top 5 reasons you can't lose weight:
#1. Your metabolism is damaged
What do I mean? Your metabolism is best understood as the total amount of calories that you burn every day, but what you may not realize is that this value can...2018-09-1114 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast#34 Hypothyroidism vs Hyperthyroidism: The Primary Difference, Lab Tests, Symptoms & MoreWhat's the difference between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism?
These conditions represent polar opposites and it's important to realize this.
Hyperthyroidism is a condition which results in too much thyroid hormone while hypothyroidism is a condition which results in too little thyroid hormone.
Each medical condition presents differently in both symptoms and lab tests. Learn the difference below:
Lab tests in hypothyroid patients:
- TSH - The TSH is usually high in hypothyroidism.
- Free T3 - Free T3 is usually low.
- Free T4 - Free T4 is usually low.
- Thyroid antibodies - Not always positive but Anti TPO antibodies...2018-09-0813 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast#33 Thyroid Cancer Treatment: Thyroidectomy vs RAI vs TSH SuppressionThis video is all thyroid cancer treatments including what treatments are available if you have thyroid cancer, the consequences of these therapies on your life, and we'll also discuss some important factors which help determine your prognosis.
It's important to realize, though, that the majority of thyroid cancer cases are caused by the least aggressive form of thyroid cancer. This, combined with the fact that the most common therapy to treat thyroid cancer is the removal of the thyroid gland has helped increase the 5-year survival rate of thyroid cancer to around 97 to 98%.
When it comes to thyroid cancer you...2018-09-0613 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast#31 Side Effects of Stopping Thyroid Medication Abruptly (& Why you Shouldn't do it)This video will discuss the side effects of stopping thyroid medication abruptly.
Is it safe to stop taking your thyroid medication? The answer is no for several reasons which I will explain here.
But first, we need to talk about why you are taking thyroid medication, to begin with.
Thyroid medication is prescribed to those people who are deficient in thyroid hormone (meaning their body isn't producing enough).
So if you were to stop taking your thyroid medication then your body would revert back to whatever it was capable of producing before you started taking thyroid medication.
This process usually...2018-09-0412 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast#30 Menopause Weight Gain: What Causes it & How to Prevent itWhy do menopause and weight gain go hand in hand?
On average women entering menopause gain around 15-20 pounds without changing their diet or exercise routine.
Why do women gain weight without making any of these changes?
The answer has to do with how menopause impacts the body but especially how it impacts your hormone system and how they impact your metabolism and body weight.
There are several factors that come together to trigger weight gain in menopause women:
#1. Genetic factors.
You don't have control over your genetics but you can control your environment which impacts your genetics.
#2. Hormone changes.
...2018-09-0313 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast#29 Low TSH: 3 Causes and What it Means if you are HypothyroidToday we are talking about what to do if you have a low TSH, what it means for your body, what causes it and what to do.
There are 3 main causes of a low TSH that you should know about:
1. Thyroid medication (You are taking too much) → Common
2. Hyperthyroidism (Your body is producing too much) → Common
3. Pituitary/Hypothalamic dysfunction (Your body can’t make it) → Not very common
We are going to focus on the first one today, meaning what happens if you have a low TSH due to taking thyroid medication, but you should realize that there are other causes o...2018-09-0210 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast#28 Why Calorie Restriction Does Not Lead to Long Lasting Weight LossToday is all about caloric restriction and why this type of dieting doesn't lead to long-lasting weight loss.
Calorie restriction causes certain changes in the body which lead to an energy deficit and a reduction in body mass.
People generally only think of calorie restriction in this way and they believe that by reducing their calories they will be able to lose weight and keep it off.
The problem and the reason it doesn't work is that you need to be looking beyond these two changes and you need to see how these changes affect other systems in the body.
...2018-08-3109 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast#25 Thyroid Cancer Symptoms & Early Warning SignsThis video is all about thyroid cancer symptoms and early warning signs you may have cancer.
This is a topic worth discussing because many people who believe they have thyroid cancer probably don't.
The good news is that even though thyroid cancer is fairly common, it has a great survival rate with a 5-year survival rate of around 98%.
So, even if you do have thyroid cancer, it's one of the better types of cancers to have.
An interesting fact about thyroid cancer is that it typically does NOT cause any symptoms. In fact, most people who are diagnosed with thyroid...2018-08-2809 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastTBS #24 Bad Genes that Impact Thyroid FunctionToday is episode #24 and it's all about bad genes and how they impact your thyroid function.
There are certain genetic changes, known as single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNP's for short, which can slightly impact certain enzymes in your body.
These genes are very important when it comes to your thyroid because they can impact a set of enzymes known as the deiodinases.
These deiodinases are responsible for activating or inactivating thyroid hormone at the cellular level. And they can be impacted by factors such as your genes, medical conditions, medications, and so on.
There are 3 major deiodinase enzymes:
- D1...2018-08-2309 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast(TBS #23) 5 Things You Can Do to Boost Your Thyroid TodayToday is lesson #23 and we are talking about how to boost your thyroid function and what you can do today.
Why would you want to boost your thyroid function, to begin with?
For starters, your thyroid helps regulate your metabolism, controls your mood and helps regulate other hormones in your body.
Those with thyroid issues often suffer from depression, anxiety, weight gain, and so on.
The struggle, when it comes to your thyroid, is that it can be difficult to get proper treatment, especially when using thyroid medication.
But don't worry! You can use some tips to help improve your...2018-08-1310 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast(TBS #22) Adding T3 to your T4 medication (+ Signs you may need it)Today is episode #22 and it's all about adding T3 to your T4 medication.
Most patients take a thyroid medication which contains T4 only thyroid hormone such as Levothyroxine or Synthroid.
The problem with these medications is that they contain the inactive thyroid hormone T4 and they are not necessarily active unless your body can activate them.
You can add T3 to your current medication to fight this problem because it is the active thyroid hormone.
Studies have shown that adding T3 medication to existing T4 doses result in increased weight loss, better patient satisfaction and a better quality of life.
...2018-08-1109 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast(TBS #21) Is HCG Safe to Use For Weight Loss?Today is episode #21 and it's all about Hcg the hormone and Hcg for weight loss.
We will be discussing whether or not it's safe to use Hcg for weight loss and how I generally recommend people use it for best results.
First off, what is hcg?
Hcg, also known as human chorionic gonadotropin, is a hormone which is predominately secreted during pregnancy to help protect the fetus and help promote pregnancy.
Hcg has been used, in conjunction with a calorie restricted diet, to help with weight loss.
The problem is that, using it this way, many people experience negative side...2018-08-1009 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast(TBS #20) Should You Start Supplementing with Selenium For Your Thyroid?Today is episode #20 and it's all about supplementing with Selenium and how it may boost your thyroid.
Selenium is a nutrient which is involved in several key proteins in your body. As it relates to your thyroid, selenium helps your body produce thyroid hormone and protect it from cell damage.
Many people with hypothyroidism may have sub-optimal selenium levels which may impact how they feel and contribute to hypothyroid symptoms.
Deficiency is common due to nutrient depletion and also from behaviors which can increase metabolism which cause your body to burn through your stores more quickly.
Symptoms of deficiency include:
...2018-08-0809 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast(TBS #19) 5 Causes of Low TRH & How it Impacts Thyroid FunctionToday is episode #19 and it's all about TRH and TSH and how these two hormones impact thyroid function.
You're probably already familiar with TSH which stands for thyroid stimulating hormone.
TRH stands for thyrotropic releasing hormone and it is secreted by the hypothalamus.
The job of TRH is to stimulate the pituitary gland to produce TSH which then acts on your thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormone.
Problems with TRH may result in decreased TSH production which may cause falsely low levels of TSH and thyroid hormone in the body.
The problem here is that with dysregulated TRH you still...2018-08-0409 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast(TBS #18) Does L-Tyrosine Actually Help Adrenal & Thyroid Function?Today is lesson #18 and it's all about L-tyrosine supplementation!
Does L-tyrosine help improve your thyroid function? Can taking it improve your adrenal function? Should you actually take it? We are going to explore all of these questions.
L-tyrosine is a synthetic version of a protein known as tyrosine which can be taken as a supplement.
Tyrosine is a protein in your body, created from phenylalanine, which your body uses to create several important hormones including melanin, epinephrine, and thyroxine (T4).
Low levels of tyrosine can be seen in people who exhaust tyrosine stores in the body from stress and also...2018-08-0311 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast(TBS #17) What’s the Best Way to Take your Thyroid Medication? AM vs PM? Split Dosing?Today is lesson #17 and it's all about the best way to take thyroid medication.
Should you take your thyroid medication in the morning? Should you take it in the evening? Should you split your dose? Should you take it on an empty stomach? All of these questions and more will be answered.
First off... why does it matter when or how you take your thyroid medication?
The first thing you should know is that in order for thyroid hormone to be activated it MUST be absorbed by your body. If it isn't absorbed then you won't feel better.
When you...2018-07-2410 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast(TBS #16) Is Salivary Cortisol Testing Worth the Money? 5 Important Things to KnowToday is episode #16 and it's all about salivary cortisol testing!
Should you get this test? Should you save your money? Is it actually useful? Let's talk about these questions.
The main reason that most people get salivary cortisol testing is that they believe they have a condition known as adrenal fatigue but all other tests have come up as negative (usually serum cortisol).
Does that mean that getting the salivary cortisol test is worth the money?
I don't think so and here are 5 reasons why:
#1. The results of your test don't necessarily change your treatment.
Whether you have high or...2018-07-2110 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast(TBS #15) Why Does Hypothyroidism (& Hashimoto’s) Cause Hair Loss?Today is all about your thyroid and hair loss.
Hashimoto's and hypothyroidism often result in hair loss in many patients which can be a big struggle.
Finding the cause of hair loss in your situation is incredibly important and can help you regrow your hair.
I've created 4 main categories that lead to hair loss in thyroid patients that need to be evaluated in each case of hair loss:
#1. Your thyroid medication dose.
If your medication is too high or too high it may result in hair loss. Most people suffer from an insufficient dose or lower than normal free T3...2018-07-1909 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast(TBS #14) Is it Safe to Exercise When you have Thyroid Problems?Today is all about exercising when you have thyroid problems.
First, you need to understand how exercise impacts calorie burn in your body. There are 2 main ways that your body burns calories...
The first is through your metabolism (of which about 60% is controlled by your thyroid) which accounts for around 70% of total calories burned and the other 30% is controlled through other activities such as exercise.
Factors that influence your metabolism include your resting heart rate, thinking, breathing, sleeping and so on.
Factors that you can control include the amount that you exercise and how active you are throughout the day.
...2018-07-1609 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast(TBS #13) Optimal vs Normal Ranges for Thyroid Lab Tests ExplainedThis is lesson #13 and today is all about Optimal vs Normal ranges for thyroid lab tests.
You can find the link to the complete article here as referenced in the video: https://www.restartmed.com/normal-thyroid-levels/
What is the difference between optimal and normal ranges when it comes to your thyroid?
Normal refers to the standard reference range that the laboratory company creates based on the population. These ranges are generated from thousands of people of various ages and health status.
If you look at the average person in our country you will notice that they are most likely NOT...2018-07-1309 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast(TBS #12) What Actually Causes Thyroid Disease? Thyroid Dysfunction vs HypothyroidismToday is lesson #12 and it's all about what causes thyroid disease.
Why does it matter what causes thyroid disease?
If you can find the cause you can better target your treatment. Most doctors are only concerned with lab tests and not the causes of those problems, which means you may be unnecessarily treated for something that could be reversible.
Thyroid Dysfunction vs Hypothyroidism: What's the difference?
Thyroid dysfunction = thyroid hormone is not working properly at the cellular level but your body can still produce it.
These are the top causes of thyroid dysfunction (remember they may be reversible):
#1. Obesity...2018-07-1210 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast(TBS #11) Thyroid Lab Patterns Explained: Hi TSH, lo T3, lo T4 & MoreThis is episode #11 in my thyroid video series and today is all about thyroid lab patterns!
Lab patterns can give you important insight as to how your thyroid gland is functioning and they can be very confusing, especially for patients.
In this video I go over 6 lab patterns which tend to be the most "confusing" because they may seem "normal" even though you may experience hypothyroid symptoms.
1. High TSH, normal T4, normal T3 = This is the pattern we've been discussing in this post and will usually present with hypothyroid symptoms.
2. High TSH, normal T4, low T3 = This pattern may be...2018-07-1109 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast(TBS #10) Hashimoto's Thyroiditis for Beginners + Treatment Options!Today is lesson #10 in my thyroid beginner series and it's all about Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
This lesson is designed for those who are recently diagnosed and for those who want a basic overview of the disease!
Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease which means that your body is attacking itself. This will eventually result in the entire destruction of your thyroid gland (if left untreated).
But what causes hashimoto's?
Hashimoto's is triggered by the following factors:
+ Stress, usually extreme (death of a family member, taking care of a dying family member, losing a job, divorce, etc.)
+ Infections, especially viral tend to...2018-07-0910 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast(TBS #9) Is NDT (Natural Desiccated Thyroid) the Best Thyroid Medication?This is lesson #9 in my thyroid beginner series and today it's all about NDT or natural desiccated thyroid!
So what is NDT?
Stands for Natural Desiccated Thyroid. This thyroid medication is porcine-derived which means it comes from the thyroid gland of pigs.
It contains both the active T3 thyroid hormone and the inactive thyroid hormone T4.
The ratio of T4 to T3 is around 76% T4 to 23% T3 which is roughly similar to the same amount that your thyroid gland produces naturally of 80:20.
NDT is felt to be safer and more natural than other synthetic hormones such as Synthroid or Levothyroxine...2018-07-0610 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast(TBS #8) Do T4 Medications Actually Work? Who Should Use Them & Who Shouldn'tThis is video#8 in my thyroid beginner series and it's all about T4 thyroid medication.
T4 thyroid medications like Synthroid, Levothyroxine and Tirosint are among the most commonly prescribed thyroid medications but they don't always work.
But why don't they work?
Doctors make the assumption that your body will be able to convert T4 into T3 (to activate the hormone) at 100% efficiency. The problem is that we know, through genetic studies, that up to 15% of people struggle with this process.
Some people have SNP's which alter the function of deiodinase enzymes and therefore reduce this conversion process.
So why do...2018-07-0509 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast(TBS #7) Reverse T3: The Thyroid Lab Test You’re MissingThis is lesson #7 in the thyroid beginner series and it's all about the thyroid lab test known as reverse T3.
Reverse T3 is a routine thyroid lab test that can be ordered by your doctor which is incredibly sensitive at identifying thyroid dysfunction.
Compared to almost all other thyroid lab tests, reverse T3 becomes abnormal the soonest in thyroid disease which makes it very sensitive at identifying early thyroid dysfunction.
Reverse T3 is created by the thyroid conversion process in which your body takes T4 and turns it into this inactive thyroid metabolite.
As your body creates reverse T3 it...2018-07-0409 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast(TBS #6) The Thyroid Weight Gain Paradox & Why You Can't Lose WeightThis lesson is all about what thyroid function and weight gain and what I call the thyroid weight gain paradox.
The paradox is easily explained in this way:
We know that hypothyroidism leads to weight gain but why doesn't taking thyroid medication lead to weight loss? At least in the majority of the cases.
You have to accept that we either don't treat thyroid patients correctly or that hypothyroidism doesn't lead to weight gain, you can't have it both ways.
This video outlines how and why thyroid patients tend to gain weight which is primarily about hormones and not calories.
...2018-07-0308 min
The Dr. Westin Childs Podcast(Thyroid Beginner Series #5) T4 to T3 Conversion: Factors That Decrease Thyroid FunctionThis is video #5 in my thyroid beginner series and today is all about T4 to T3 conversion.
The process by which your body creates T3 is perhaps one of the most important functions to understand.
Why?
Because it is within your power (through your actions) to improve this process.
You will learn about what blunts or reduces T4 to T3 conversion and how to improve this conversion process.
We'll also discuss how you can bypass this conversion process with the use of certain medications.
Hey guys!
I'm Dr. Westin Childs and I focus on thyroid health, hormone balance, and weight...2018-07-0208 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastQ & A #3: Nature throid dosing, Side Effects, Transitioning from T4 and moreThis question and answer will focus on a blog post about natur ethroid.
Naturethroid is an NDT medication which contains T4 + T3 thyroid hormones.
Many people believe NDT is one of the best medications, and this video addresses some of the issues that people have when starting this medication.
Questions include:
- How to deal with hair loss on naturethroid
- How to transition from T4 to NDT
- How to deal with side effects from NDT
- And more...
Hey guys!
I'm Dr. Westin Childs and I focus on thyroid health, hormone balance, and weight loss. I write about...2018-06-2222 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastQ and A #2: Low T4, Low T3, Suppressed TSH, High T4 & MoreHey everyone!
This is Q & A #2 in my series. Thanks to all those who left comments and questions. I will send out another email for you to leave comments on another post and go over new questions next week.
Questions this week included:
- What to do after thyroidectomy
- What to do about normal TSH and low T4
- What happens when T4 is high
- How to add T3 to your medications
- & More
If you have any questions please leave them on the blog or on this video. I generally check blog questions more frequently.
Hey guys!
...2018-06-1121 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastEuthyroid Sick Syndrome, Low T3 & “Normal Thyroid Labs” ExplainedEuthyroid sick syndrome is a condition which causes thyroid dysfunction due to illness or chronic stress.
This stress can either be from an acute source (such as illness) or from a chronic source (such as chronic illness or stress).
Euthyroid sick syndrome may result in certain lab changes to your thyroid such as low t3, low t4 and high reverse T3.
This condition can be missed because the TSH is often normal or even low due to HPT suppression from the disease.
Learn more about identifying and treating this condition in this video.
Hey guys!
I'm Dr. Westin Childs and...2018-05-1620 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastTips & Tricks to Help Stop PCOS Hair LossPCOS, at the heart, is really a hormone disease. The manifestations, including hair loss, associated with PCOS stem from these imbalances.
Women with PCOS tend to have estrogen:progesterone ratio problems, an increased risk of thyroid disease as well as high testosterone and DHEA.
All of these imbalances can lead to hair loss in women with PCOS.
Learn tips and tricks to help treat these imbalances.
You'll also learn the role of certain nutrients in hair regrowth and how to replete these nutrients to improve the overall quality and texture of your hair.
Hey guys!
I'm Dr. Westin Childs and...2018-04-2931 min
The Dr. Westin Childs PodcastT4 and T3 Thyroid Hormones ExplainedYour thyroid produces T4 and T3 thyroid hormones, but each is different in how it works and functions.
Understanding how these hormones function will help you understand how your thyroid works and if you are taking the right medication,
T3 is the most powerful thyroid hormone and it is known as triiodothyronine, but the majority of hypothyroid patients take a medication known as Thyroxine which contains T4 only thyroid hormone.
In order for T4 to become activated, it must be converted to T3 through various enzymes in the body.
Learn more about how these hormones function, how they convert and...2018-04-1122 min