We covered the basics of high blood pressure regulation and hypertension in the last issue of Health Bytes. Now we will explore some possible alternatives to treat this condition.
Prior to addressing what can reduce blood pressure, we should briefly address often over looked contributing factors to high blood pressure.
Other than a poor diet, obesity, certain [...]
I just attended a conference on the latest wonder drug to be launched in the battle against diabetes type 2 (the kind of diabetes you take pills for, not insulin injections). The drug, Byetta, was derived from an unlikely place, the saliva of the Gila Monster. These ugly and venomous lizards eat 3 times per [...]
I have written several times about the inability of our scientific community to solve the riddles of the treatment of hypo (low) thyroid function. In the most recent study trying to discover the best way to treat hypothyroidism, defective approaches in my opinion, again defeated the good intentions of researchers. The study “Small changes in [...]
In the July/August ’05 issue of Endocrine Practice, an influential journal read by endocrinologists throughout the United States, researchers again tackled the question of whether treating hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) with a combination of conventional t4 therapy (Synthroid, Levoxyl, levothyroxine) along with t3 (Cytomel) was superior to using t4 alone. In my opinion this study was [...]
High blood pressure, known as hypertension, is known as the ’silent killer’ because most people can’t tell when their blood pressure is high. Elevated blood pressure can lead to a greatly increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and other serious illnesses. Along with high cholesterol and smoking, hypertension is one of the most serious causes [...]
Cortisol is a hormone (chemical) produced by the adrenal glands which is essential for life. Without cortisol the blood pressure would drop and shock followed by death would occur. Cortisol is also thought to play a role in general maintenance of the body’s tissues and functions. Conditions of excessive adrenal cortisol production known [...]
The editors of the latest research on the controversial subject of combination therapy (t4 plus t3) for treating hypothyroidism have missed the point again.
A recent article published in the Annals of Internal Medicine (March 15, 2005) attempted to answer the question about whether combining t3 (Cytomel) with t4 (Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid) for treating [...]
Effective treatment of hypothyroidism is a major concern since this disorder affects so many young people and can lead to years of disabling symptoms. As I have expressed in another article on this website, “Hypothyroid? Will You Benefit From T3 (Cytomel)?”, I am an advocate of combining t4 and t3 to treat hypothyroidism particularly for [...]
Over 20 years ago endocrinologists had experience with hormone compound pills containing both T4 and T3. Those physicians who had the opportunity to use these compounds know that patients frequently seem to do better with them than with the more traditional T4 (Synthroid, L-thyroxine, Levoxyl etc.). For various reasons most companies stopped producing combination thyroid [...]
The controversy surrounding growth hormone use in adults deepens. Recent editorials in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine have taken a negative view of growth hormone supplementation for adults. Dr. Mary Lee Vance comments, “general use (sic- of growth hormone therapy in adults) now or in the immediate future is not [...]
