What is medical weight loss?

Medical weight loss is defined as a weight management program that is developed and monitored by a medical professional, either a family doctor or specialist physician. In medical weight loss, the therapeutic program is approached as a doctor would for any disease and the management is based on individual factors. Obesity is classified as a disease and is one of the leading causes of heart disease in developed nations. Obesity is curable and in many cases it does not require lifelong medical attention.

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Low levels of thyroid hormones, either caused by an underactive thyroid gland, or other disorders that affect circulating thyroid hormone levels (euthyroid sick syndrome) results in a range of symptoms that collectively indicate hypothyroidism. These symptoms may vary in intensity and in early stages of hypothyroidism, few or no symptoms may be present (subclinical hypothyroidism).

continue reading Symptoms of Low or Underactive Thyroid, Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a prevalent condition and may be the result of underlying conditions, like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. In order to diagnose an underactive thyroid and isolate the possible cause, a thyroid profile blood test may be requested by your doctor. Apart from confirming diagnosis and providing valuable information as to the possible cause, the thyroid test will also identify the level of low thyroid activity and assist with assessing the efficacy of thyroid drugs.

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What is Hashimoto’s Thyroid Disease?

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune thyroid disease, which is one of the leading causes of hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid functioning. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis causes primary hypothyroidism, where the underactivity is due directly to poor thyroid functioning, rather than an interference with thyroid-pituitary regulating mechanism. Since Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is one of the  organ specific types of autoimmune disease, the dysfunction results from the body’s immune system ‘attacking’ the thyroid gland, when lymphocytes penetrate the thyroid gland and cause significant inflammation. This autoimmune thyroid disease affects more women than men and there is strong evidence to suggest a genetic link to  this form of thyroiditis, although the presence of other organ specific autoimmune diseases, like type I diabetes, may also be a consideration when assessing family history.

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Diabetes is a term for glucose intolerance where the body cannot adequately manage the blood glucose levels. This is usually caused by insulin resistance (intolerance), reduced levels of insulin or the absence of insulin. Insulin is the hormone secreted by the pancreas that helps regulate blood glucose levels. When insulin is secreted, the body cells increase the uptake of glucose from the blood and excess glucose is converted into glycogen and stored in the liver and muscle cells. Any glucose above and beyond may be converted into fat and stored in fat cells.

continue reading Diabetes and Immunity (Immune Causes)

Diabetes mellitus (type 2 diabetes), also known commonly as sugar diabetes, is the inability of the body to maintain the blood sugar levels within a normal range. Prior to the onset of sugar diabetes, a state known as impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or pre-diabetes, exists whereby the fluctuating blood glucose levels may not reach extreme levels as in diabetes mellitus. In pre-diabetes, the body’s mechanisms for maintaining normal blood glucose levels is still functioning, although impaired.

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What is Hirsutism?

Hirsutism is the excessive growth of thick hair, particularly on areas of the body not commonly seen in women. The hair growth in hirsutism is typical of male hair growth patterns, affecting the face (moustache/mustache or beard), chest, abdomen or back. While most women may have fine hair on these parts of the body, in hirsutism, the type of hair growth is usually associated with androgenic hair growth (hair as a result of high levels of male hormones, androgens).

Excessive Body Hair in Women & Men

Hair growth and distribution may vary among different ethnic groups but thick female facial hair, the presence of a visible mustache or beard in women, are considered to be uncharacteristic of the female gender. Hair growth is primarily dependent on the sex hormones, androgens and estrogen. Androgens, like testosterone are usually responsible for thicker hair while the female sex hormones like estrogen are responsible for fine hair.

continue reading Causes of Female Facial Hair, Beard – Hirsutism in Women

A swollen lymph node or gland is a term commonly used to describe lymphadenopathy, a condition associated with enlarged lymph nodes in a specific area of the body (localized) or throughout the entire body (generalized lymphadenopathy). Lymphadenopathy is an indicator of a disorder affecting a certain area of the body or a generalized condition throughout the body.

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What Is Hereditary Fructose Intolerance (HFI)?

Hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI) is a rare genetic disease in which fructose cannot be properly metabolised in the body. Affected person suffers from a bad abdominal reaction (bloating, diarrhea, generalized malaise) after eating fructose-containing foods. HFI is an autosomal recessive disorder of fructose metabolism, due to a deficiency of fructose-1-phosphate aldolase – an enzyme that converts fructose into glucose in the liver. Incidence of HFI is estimated at 1 / 22-58,000 people (1).

HFI should be differed from fructose malabsorption.

continue reading Rare Genetic Disorders: Hereditary Fructose Intolerance (HFI)

What Are Hot Flashes?

Hot flashes (flushes) are episodes of intense warm feeling on the face and upper trunk that last from few seconds to few minutes. They are not the same as the low-grade fever, which usually lasts at least for several hours, and can be detected by the thermometer, while hot flashes cannot be.

Hot flashes may appear in menopausal women, in healthy middle aged men, in psychological stress and in some diseases.

continue reading Causes of Hot Flashes in Menopause, Males; Symptoms, Treatment