Blog — thyroid health

Why Test Heavy Metals and Elements?

Posted by Behcet Bicakci on

Elements Testing: Safeguarding Health Through Comprehensive Analysis In our modern world, the omnipresence of environmental pollutants significantly threatens our well-being. These pollutants lurk in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we consume, and even in the materials we come into contact with daily. Their insidious presence significantly elevates the risk of various health conditions, ranging from dementia and infertility to diabetes and cancer. Moreover, these pollutants don't just stop there; they can adversely affect vital organs such as the liver, kidneys, and brain and disrupt the proper functioning of critical bodily systems like the cardiovascular, nervous,...

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Thyroid Imbalance: Don't Let Dysfunction Go Undiagnosed

Posted by Behcet Bicakci on

The thyroid gland, that tiny butterfly-shaped organ nestled behind and below the Adam's apple, plays a crucial role in maintaining our overall health. Yet, despite its modest size, thyroid issues affect a staggering number of adults, with approximately 30 million individuals suffering from thyroid imbalances in the United States alone. Astonishingly, many of these cases go undiagnosed. In this blog, we'll delve into the world of thyroid dysfunction, exploring its causes, symptoms, and the importance of early detection.   The Hidden Epidemic One of the most alarming aspects of thyroid dysfunction is its underdiagnosis. According to the American Thyroid Association,...

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Understanding Thyroid Dysfunction: Symptoms, Testing, and Treatment Options

Posted by Ben White on

The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of the neck, just below the Adam's apple. It plays a crucial role in regulating various bodily functions by producing hormones that control metabolism and energy production. Thyroid hormones, primarily thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), influence the functioning of almost every organ in the body, including the heart, brain, muscles, and skin.The thyroid gland functions under the control of the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus releases thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), which signals the pituitary gland to release thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH then stimulates the thyroid gland to produce...

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Curious About Iodine, Part 2: Beyond the Thyroid

Posted by Ben White on

By Tracy Tranchitella The role that iodine plays in the thyroid is well established. We need iodine to make thyroid hormones, and the numeric designation in T3 and T4 represents the number of iodine molecules attached to the amino acid tyrosine. In part one of this series on iodine, I examined the versatility of this unique element and its uses throughout history and explored the sources and forms of iodine found in foods and supplements. In part two of this series, I take a closer look at the role that iodine plays in the thyroid and in various extrathyroidal tissues...

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How Your Hormones Affect Athletic Performance and Why You Need to Start Testing

Posted by Ben White on

By Dr. Zane Hauck, ZRT Laboratory Growing up, I never thought of myself as a runner, or really a good athlete in general. I played every sport possible as a kid, but I was never great and didn’t play high school sports. As an adult, I started playing team sports again and eventually was convinced to run a 5k. I ended up running the Warrior Dash and enjoyed it, so I continued doing 3.2-mile training runs. For the rest of my 20s I continued running 5k races with friends and played volleyball, softball, and some casual intramural sports, but was...

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