The Thyroid Solution: A Mind-Body Program for Beating Depression and Regaining Your Emotional and Physical Health » (Revised)

Dr. Ridha Arem is Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. He is also Chief of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Ben Taub General Hospital in Houston. In addition to teaching medical students and physicians-in-training, he regularly speaks to primary-care physicians and specialists at various educational programs. Dr. Arem is a nationally recognized thyroid specialist. For the past ten years he has been the author and editor of Clinical Thyroidology, a well respected widely read periodical publication for physicians on thyroid disorders. He also contributes to Thyroid USA, the official newsletter of the American Foundation of Thyroid Patients, and participates in patient education programs.

It's sometimes called a hidden epidemic: One in ten Americans—more than twenty million people, most of them women—has a thyroid disorder. At any given time, millions of people have an undiagnosed thyroid disorder and experience a chronic mental anguish that almost certainly arises from the very same source. Yet many primary-care doctors still don't recognize the importance of the thyroid in mind-body health—and its especially crucial role in women's well-being.

The Thyroid Solution is a must-read for anyone who suffers from a thyroid condition. It's the first mind-body approach to identifying and curing thyroid imbalances. Written by a medical pioneer and leading authority in the field of thyroid research, this groundbreaking book offers Dr. Ridha Arem's practical program for maintaining thyroid health through diet, exercise, and stress control—and through his revolutionary medical plan, which combines two types of hormone treatments with astounding results. Inside you'll discover

- The thyroid basics—what it is, where it is, what it does
- How thyroid hormones affect the brain and alter mood, emotions, and behavior leading to brain fog, weight gain, loss of libido, infertility, anxiety, and depression
- What tests to ask your doctor to give you—and what they mean
- The vital connection between stress and thyroid imbalance
- The benefits of antioxidants and essential fatty-acid foods and supplements
- How to recognize and cure the deep and lingering effects of a thyroid imbalance

Filled with remarkable patient histories and interviews that document the dramatic results of Dr. Arem's bold new treatments, The Thyroid Solution now gives you and your doctor the tools you need to live a life with peace of mind . . . and body.

Library Journal

Arem, a clinical endocrinologist and researcher, says that 20 million Americans (one in ten) have a thyroid disorder. He argues that millions more suffer from undiagnosed thyroid dysfunction and the resulting mental and physical symptoms. Arem clearly and extensively examines the fundamentals of thyroid disease, including diagnosis and therapy, although his focus is on the significance of the thyroid in cognition and emotion--the mind/body connection. Arem's thesis, derived from mainstream medicine but illustrated throughout by anecdotal reports, is that abnormal thyroid hormone production and dispersal can lead to health problems that range from the psychiatric to ophthalmologic. However, he may be overstating the case when he suggests that thyroid disturbances can underlie depression, anxiety, decreased motivation, and sexual difficulties even in those with normal blood tests. Further, he asserts that thyroid hormone is a bona fide antidepressant. Although thyroid hormone regulation can be important, it isn't the answer to all problems. This book should be of interest to those with thyroid disease; for others, it provides appropriate encouragement to remind their physicians to consider thyroid issues. Recommended for libraries with large budgets.--Linda M.G. Katz, MCP Hahnemann Univ., Philadelphia Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Preface to the 2007 Edition     ix
Introduction     xv
The Emerging Mind-Thyroid Connection: How a Tiny Endocrine Gland Intimately Affects Your Mood, Emotions, and Behavior
Thyroid Imbalance: A Hidden Epidemic     3
Stress and Thyroid Imbalance: Which Comes First?     20
Hypothyroidism: When the Thyroid Is Underactive     37
Hyperthyroidism: When the Thyroid Is Overactive     56
Thyroid Imbalance, Depression, Anxiety, and Mood Swings     77
Medicine from the Body: Thyroid Hormone as an Antidepressant     100
No, You Are Not Making It Up: Common Emotional and Physical Interactions
Weight, Appetite, and Metabolism: The Thyroid's Actions     119
Hormones of Desire: The Thyroid and Your Sex Life     142
"You've Changed": When the Thyroid and Relationships Collide     157
Overlapping Symptoms: Fatigue, Chronic Fatigue, Hypoglycemia, and Fibromyalgia     170
Women's Thyroid Problems: Your Symptoms Are Not All in Your Head
Premenstrual Syndrome and Menopause: Tuning the Cycles     193
Infertility and Miscarriage: Is Your Thyroid a Factor?     211
Postpartum Depression: The Hormonal Link     220
Diagnosing and Treating Common Thyroid Disorders: The Journey to Wellness
Getting the Proper Diagnosis     231
Treating the Imbalance     251
Curing the Lingering Effects of Thyroid Imbalance     277
The New T4/T3 Protocol: "It Made Me Feel Better All Over"     300
Living a Thyroid-Friendly Life: Healthful Choices Day by Day     313
Living with Thyroid Eye Disease     336
Thyroid Cancer: Curable but Anguishing     350
Eight Steps for the Future: How to Promote a Better Understanding of Thyroid, Mind, and Mood     371
Acknowledgments     377
Notes     379
Resources     417
Suggested Readings     429
Index     431