Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Managing Diabetes during the Holidays Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Managing diabetes during the holiday time may seem to be an insurmountable task. But with a little twist to some classic recipes and a little help from classic invite supplements, eating healthy during the holiday is …
Thyroid Autoimmune Disorders! Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Let us talk about Autoimmune and how it relates to the thyroid. This is important to talk about because thyroid health is much more complex than just under or overactive thyroid. It can be such a complex issue …
Thyroid and Women’s Health
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Thyroid health is important for our overall wellbeing. But did you know that it can also affect women’s health concerns? In general women are more likely to be diagnosed with thyroid issues. In fact, up to 1 in 8 women will be affected by thyroid disorders. Let us get into it, shall we?
One of the ways that the thyroid can impact women’s health is by affecting our monthly cycles. Thyroid dysfunction can delay or speed up both puberty and menopause. It can also cause menstrual cycles to become irregular or even stop all together. Thyroid dysfunction can also cause the cycles to become heavier or lighter than normal. Studies show ovulation can be inhibited by thyroid disorders leading to problems with fertility. Women with thyroid disorders may notice that their periods are heavier than they expect or even contain larger than usual clots. This can lead to an increase in blood loss which can make you anemic. Something else that you may not realize is that if you are anemic, you will have heavier/ more clots during your period. This will leave you more anemic and thus more likely to have heavier periods! This is a feedback loop that can begin with heavier periods caused by thyroid disorder. (1)
Every woman knows that post menopause, bone health is a very real concern. This is especially true for those with thyroid disorders. This is because any changes in thyroid hormones can affect the balance of bone dissolution and replacement; because thyroid hormones control bone metabolism. Studies show that in people with hypothyroidism, bone formation is slowed by up to 50%! Hyperthyroidism can cause rapid bone loss and decrease the quality of any new bone formed. (4) They go on to show that Levothyroxine in post-menopausal women with hypothyroidism have a decrease in bone density. (5) What does this mean? Since the thyroid controls the balance of bone production and absorption, it is important for post-menopausal women to be proactive with their bone health.
Having too much or too little thyroid hormone can cause hair loss. The thyroid hormones T3/T4 affect hair development. Unlike other causes of hair loss, thyroid disorders cause hair loss all over the scalp rather than in discrete areas. It is important to note, people with a thyroid disorder due to auto immune issues, are often prone to other autoimmune disorders such as Alopecia aerate. However, in the case of Alopecia, the hair loss that results is discrete and often circular areas of hair. (7) This is important because postmenopausal women tend to have hair loss. Because estrogen and progesterone are decreased, it leads to an increase in androgens. This causes hair to grow slowly and the hair follicles to shrink; causing the existing hair to fall out. (8) Working with the underlying thyroid condition can help the hair loss long term.
Other concerns for women include mood swings and depression. It is well documented that menopausal women experience depression and anxiety. Thyroid disorders often have symptoms of depression and anxiety as well. (12)
So, what can you do if you experience these symptoms?
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Thyroid Health and the Adrenal Glands Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND When it comes to holistic health care 2 of the most common things to talk about are thyroid health and adrenal health. What is interesting about these 2 topics is that they are more …
Summer Colds Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Most people have had a cold in the summertime at least once during their lifetime. But why do summer colds even happen? And while yes, I know you know the symptoms of a cold I will still do a …
Bug Bites and other Outdoor Irritants to the Skin
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Camping is a popular and fun summer activity! But camping and other outdoor activities can put you at an increased risk of skin concerns such as mosquito bites and poison Ivy! There is much to talk about so let us get into it, shall we?
Let us start with mosquito bites! Mosquito bites are typically small, red, raised bumps on the skin with mild inflammation and are typically very itchy. While for most people they just have a mild reaction some people can have a more severe reaction to bites. In these cases, symptoms can include those of a typical allergy including hives, swollen throat, and faintness and even wheezing. One reason that these bites are so itchy and can even trigger an allergic response is because when a mosquito bites you some of their salvia enters your blood stream. Your body sees this foreign material just like it would any allergen that it needs to attack and thus your body releases histamine. This release of histamine is responsible for your symptoms! Something else to take note of is that some mosquitos can carry certain infections. If bitten by one of these mosquitoes, you can get infected with the bacteria or virus they are carrying. Symptoms that indicate you may have an infection from a mosquito bite can include fever, headache, body aches, rashes, nausea, eye irritation, and fatigue! Certain places have higher rates of infections carried by mosquitoes. Be careful if you travel or visit these places. (1)
While bed bugs and even flea bites may resemble mosquito bites, they are different. Please see the attached picture for a side-by-side comparison of the 3 bites. (2)
The next skin concern is poison ivy. Certain plants can trigger an irritating and often extremely itchy skin rash. These plants include poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. Signs that you may have come into contact with one of these plants include a skin rash that is swollen, red and may have blisters. The rash may develop within hours-days of contact depending on your sensitivity. One common misconception about poison ivy is that it can spread from one part of your body to another part. While this may appear to be true it is more complicated. What is actually happening is new rashes are developing. Remember some rashes will develop faster than others. So, for example, 3 hours after contacting you may have a rash develop on your left hand but then an hour later it may develop on your left foot. Both were exposed at the same time it just took longer for your foot to show the rash. Another question we get about poison ivy is if the rash itself is contagious. Poison Ivy is actually caused by oil that plants produce. So now if you accidentally touch the rash, you will not get poison ivy. However, if you get the oil on your skin, you can develop the rash associated with poison ivy. Please see the attached pictures so you know how the 3 plants you need to watch out for actually look like as well as what the rash may look like! (3, 4)
What can you do?
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