Medical Articles
Understanding Adrenal Hormones The adrenals make 2 important hormones, cortisol (a glucocorticoid) and aldosterone (a mineralocorticoid). Patients with adrenal insufficiency from an adrenal cause such as an adrenalectomy or Addison’s disease require replacement of both hormones, Although the natural mineralocorticoid is aldosterone, we give fludrocortisone or Florinef as a replacement. Florinef is the brand name […]
Treatment Options for Hypothyroidism Dr. Friedman prescribes various different treatments for hypothyroidism. A traditional treatment is to give a preparation of levothyroxine, such as Synthroid, Tirosint, Levoxyl, or Unithroid. This can be given once a day because the T4 in it has a long half-life, which means it stays in your body for a long […]
Thyroid Cancer Thyroid cancer is quite common but very few people die from it or have a shortened lifespan because of it. In other words, don’t worry. Many people have a thyroid nodule found in their neck area. Sometimes you the patient notices a lump, sometimes the doctor finds it, and sometimes (especially more recently) […]
Dr. Friedman’s initial approach as an Endocrinologist regarding weight loss is to first rule out any endocrine problems, such as hypothyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome, or growth hormone deficiency, that may lead to weight gain. He then encourages the patient to consume a low calorie diet, and he often recommends eating an increasing amount of vegetables, as […]
Controversy Surrounding Reverse T3 (rT3) Measurement There is polarization about whether reverse T3 (rT3) should be measured to assess hypothyroidism with most traditional Endocrinologists being against its measurement and functional medicine doctors being in favor of it. The normal thyroid gland secretes T4 (an inactive precursor), T3 (the active hormone), and reverse T3, a biologically […]
Vitamin D is an important vitamin that not only regulates calcium, but also has many other beneficial actions. Not many endocrinologists realize this, but several articles published over 20 years ago showed that patients with hypothyroidism have low levels of
Introduction to Hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism is a relatively common disorder. It affects more women then men, but I happen to be one of the men who does have it. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, gradual weight gain, constipation, muscle aches, joint pain, feeling cold, menstrual irregularities, weakness, hair loss, dry, cold skin and slow reaction time. […]
The thyroid gland makes 2 hormones, T4 and T3. T3 is the active hormone, and the body converts T4 to T3 by deiodinases. Most patients with hypothyroidism are treated with T4, and their doctors assume that it gets converted to T3 physiologically. For many patients this happens, and many patients do well on T4-alone treatment. […]
Understanding Thyroid Hormones: T4 and T3 The thyroid makes two hormones, T4 which has a long half life meaning it can be given once a day. T4 gets converted to T3 which is the active form of the hormone and has a short-half life, meaning it has to be given frequently. Most patient with hypothyroidism […]
Dr. Friedman is one of the world's experts on treating Graves' disease. Graves' disease is a type of hyperthyroidism that is autoimmune...
