Tag Archives: weight

Yeast Overgrowth Syndrome

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“I never got better until they treated the yeast.”  I have heard this statement many times from patients suffering from various maladies such as headaches, brain fog, depression, irritable bowel, chronic sinusitis, weight gain, and fatigue. Due to the modern day world that we live in I am seeing more and more people suffering with yeast overgrowth.  Old fashioned doctors used to say that “good health starts in the gut.”  I think that they were right.

Poor gut health can manifest itself in many ways.  Ideally we have a perfect balance in our guts with good bacteria, bad bacteria, and yeast.  It is a symbiotic relationship. We can not live without our friends the “good bacteria.” Yet the modern American lifestyle tends to promote poor gut health. The standard American diet (or SAD diet) is full of sugar, simple carbs, and processed food, which is not good for the body, but which is ideal for the overgrowth of yeast.  Yeast loves to feed off of sugar.  When you combine this with the overuse of antibiotics in our society, it makes for a toxic environment in our guts, and that is often the beginning of a slippery slope to worsening health.

Chronic sinusitis is a classic example. We go to the doctor with a stuffy nose, and the standard response is to start antibiotics.  However, according to the Mayo Clinic “fungus (yeast) is the likely cause of nearly all of these problems.”  So in the long run, if we don’t treat the yeast, the antibiotics kill the bacteria, promote more yeast overgrowth and they can actually make the problem worse.

At McMinn Clinic we have Yeast Overgrowth Syndrome on our radar screen, and when appropriate we treat yeast overgrowth with a comprehensive and robust anti-fungal protocol. We have been blessed with many testimonials from our patients with stories of recovery, often after suffering with symptoms of yeast overgrowth for many years.

Call McMinn Clinic at 868-1313 and set up your appointment for a thorough evaluation for yeast overgrowth syndrome.

Low Thyroid

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Low thyroid (hypothyroid) is a common and potentially devastating problem in America. It affects approximately 10 million women in America, and according to the Thyroid Foundation of America, more than half of the patients with low thyroid in are undiagnosed. Of those who are diagnosed, many are not receiving optimal treatment.

Thyroid hormone affects every single cell in the body, and it is the master controller for overall metabolism. The most common symptoms of low thyroid that I see in my office are fatigue (low energy) and the inability to lose weight. Other common symptoms include constipation, fibromyalgia, depression, brain fog, anxiety, dry skin, hair loss, low body temperature, low stamina, cold intolerance, cold hands and feet, low libido, generalized aches and pains, swelling, edema, puffiness, and brittle nails. Actual diseases that may be associated with low thyroid include hardening of the arteries, generalized inflammation, cardiovascular disease, abnormal lipid (cholesterol) levels, abnormal menstrual periods, infertility, poor pregnancy outcomes, low mood, depression, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and obesity.

The standard screening test most doctors use is called a Thyroid Stimulating Hormone test (TSH). TSH may certainly be helpful in diagnosing a low thyroid condition. However, if a patient presents with symptoms consistent with low thyroid, such as fatigue, I feel that a more thorough evaluation is often warranted. Often upon further evaluation, and especially with clinical correlation, the patient may be found to be hypothyroid even with a normal TSH. I frequently find that in such cases when the thyroid function is optimized, the patient’s symptoms improve dramatically.

The most common treatment for low thyroid is Synthroid. However, I have found that many patients respond better to a more natural and well rounded thyroid preparation such as Armour thyroid.

If you’re feeling fatigued, gaining weight, or having other low thyroid symptoms, call McMinn Clinic at 205-868-1313 for a thorough thyroid work evaluation.