About gall stones

Chapter 4
LOW THYROID:
The Unsuspected Illness
How can the thyroid affect my health?
During nearly 50 years of clinical practice, Dr. Broda Barnes, M.D.,
Ph.D. has seen thousands of people suffering from undiagnosed cases
of low thyroid function (hypothyroidism). His discoveries led him to
write a book called “Hypothyroidism: The Unsuspected Illness”.
What is the relationship between the thyroid and heart attacks?
Research over the past forty years has clearly shown a direct
relationship between heart attacks and thyroid deficiency, according
to Dr. Broda Barnes. The true culprit causing the increase in heart
attacks is not necessarily how much cholesterol is consumed, but how
the cholesterol is assimilated in the body. Studies have shown that
low thyroid levels causes a glue-like substance called mucin to

accumulate causing a cascade of biochemical changes leading to a
degeneration of the arteries. Other studies have shown that the
removal of the thyroid gland soon leads to atherosclerosis. [10]
Researchers have discovered that mucin can even develop in children
who have insufficient thyroid function. They found out that as long
as thyroid is administered, the tissue would be normal. But if
thyroid therapy was stopped, mucin rose rapidly. If thyroid therapy
was begun again, the mucin content returned to normal. Therefore,
one of the many preventive measures that can be done to prevent the
possibility of heart attacks is to ensure the proper amount of
thyroid is in the body. [11]
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Research has shown that thyroid deficiency causes
hardening of the arteries. Thyroid therapy helps
reverse this and also reduces the risk of heart attacks.
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In his book, Dr. Barnes states that 40% of Americans suffer from an
inadequate supply of thyroid hormone, an ingredient vital to health
in the human body.
Since about half of the population suffers from some degree of
thyroid deficiency, it would follow that administering proper
thyroid dosages could save thousands of lives each year. [12]
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It is the opinion of Dr. Barnes and the author that
natural thyroid is the best kind to use because it
contains all the essential thyroid components that
are not found in other thyroid drugs such as
Synthyroid®.
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Dr. Barnes noted that hypothyroidism often goes undiagnosed because
blood thyroid values are usually inaccurate. He recommends a simple
test, called the Basal Temperature test, which the patient can
perform at home.
Dr. Barnes has found the basal temperature to be one of the most
valid tests to evaluate thyroid function. The temperature test
should be done upon awakening in the morning, but before leaving
your bed.
HOW TO TAKE THE BASAL TEMPERATURE TEST FOR DETERMINING LOW THYROID
1) If you are male or a non-menstruating female, take a digital
thermometer or an oral mercury thermometer (which has been shaken
down and placed at the bedside the previous evening) and place it in
your armpit for 10 minutes immediately upon awakening while lying
quietly in bed. Repeat the test three days in a row. Normal
temperature is 97.8 degrees to 98.2 degrees. If your temperature is
low, your thyroid gland is probably underactive.
*************Note*************
DO NOT use an electric blanket for 24
hours prior to taking your temperature.
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2)If you are a female who menstruates, do the above test on the
second and third day of your period in the same manner.
3) If you have a very young child and you are unable to take his
armpit temperature, you can take the rectal temperature for two
minutes. Normal would be 1 degree higher than the above, that is
98.8 degrees to 99.2 degrees.
4)Record your results below and bring this record to your physician.
RESULTS: TEMPERATURE:
Date:________ Day 1: