Doctor’s Blog
When your blood is drawn could affect TSH level and hypothyroidism diagnosis
If you check your thyroid levels in the afternoon with a blood draw, results may come back normal even though you’re hypothyroid, according to a new study. Checking your TSH in the morning can give you more accurate results. Like other hormones in the body,...
Your antacid may be doing more harm than good
No one can be blamed for wanting relief, especially when acid reflux makes it feel like molten lava is shooting up through your esophagus. Antacids can bring quick relief, but their long-term use can also bring lasting problems. It’s better to identify and address the...
Your spouse: The biggest barrier to a gluten-free diet?
You swore to support each other in sickness and in health, yet when it comes to a gluten-free diet, you may have found your spouse to be your biggest barrier to success. Spouses complain that eating gluten free is too expensive and too restrictive, they tell you that...
Could your IBS, constipation, or diarrhea really be SIBO?
Do you meet the criteria for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and can’t find relief? Do you look pregnant thanks to a bloated belly? Are chronic diarrhea or constipation your constant companions? If so, you may be a victim of stubborn gut bacteria, also known as small...
Positive thinking helpful in coping with, but perhaps not banishing, chronic illness
When a chronic health issue has you feeling like crud, few things are more insulting than someone telling you to “keep your chin up” or “think positive.” Such advice sounds like a brush-off from someone who has no idea what it is to struggle with pain, fatigue,...
Feel sleepy after meals? This could be an Alzheimer’s risk
Do you feel sleepy or have intense cravings for sugar after meals? Are you a woman whose hair is thinning, yet you’re growing facial hair? Are you a man who cries at movies and has “moobs” (male breasts)? If so, you probably suffer from insulin resistance. Not only...