Lesson 8: Tie-ups, Tips and Resources for Further Investigation
Glossary
The glossary is a list of terms with definitions which have appeared in this course. The terms are sorted by relation to each other, with one term relating to the next. (At least, I hope that’s how it works out!)
I relied a great deal on Google's search function to help me define some of these terms. To use it yourself just type in the word define along with the word you want to define. Example: define thyroid. Yup! It's really that easy.
The Medline Plus Dictionary, a service of the US National Library of Medicine, also proved to be an invaluable help. The web address for it is:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mplus...
thyroid: a bow-tie or butterfly-shaped gland, located in the lower front part of the neck, near the windpipe (trachea) that secretes hormones which aid the body in the process of metabolism. The thyroid is an important part of the endocrine system.
gland: a group of cells that work together to make a substance, usually referred to as a hormone, that other parts of the body use to function.
hormone: chemicals released by one special group of cells such as a gland, which tell other cells what to do.
metabolism: the scientific process by which the body takes oxygen and cells and uses them for energy.
endocrine system: is comprised of internal glands and organs which secrete hormones to be used by the body to complete a variety of metabolic functions.
iodine: a trace mineral found in food that, when combined with the amino acid l-tyrosine, creates thyroid hormones.
T3 & T4: abbreviations for triiodothyronine and thyroxine. They are thyroid hormones which help to regulate metabolism and cell oxidation. The “3” and the “4” stand for the number of iodine molecules needed to create the hormones. (See thyroxine & triiodothyronine for more information.)
mono-deiodination: (aka T4 to T3 conversion) the process carried out in the thyroid and hypothalamus in which one iodine molecule is removed from thyroxine (T4) to create T3 (triiodothyronine).
pituitary gland: a small, but vital endocrine gland located in the base of the brain, beneath the hypothalamus. It is often called the “master” gland because it controls hormonal activities related to metabolism, growth and reproduction. This, of course, includes the secretion of TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone).
TSH, or Thyroid Stimulating Hormone: This hormone is also known as thyrotropin because it is produced by thyrotropes in the front part (anterior) of the pituitary gland to regulate the function of the thyroid gland.
Thyrotropes: cells located in the pituitary gland which produces TSH.
Hypothalamus: part of the brain above the pituitary gland which connects the endocrine system to the nervous system by releasing hormones. This part of the brain controls thirst, hunger and body temperature. It also releases TRH, or Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone. (See TRH for more information.)
Thyrotopin-Releasing Hormone: This is more commonly referred to as TRH. It is a hormone that is released by the hypothalamus which gives the pituitary gland a signal to send out the TSH hormone which tells the thyroid to produce more thyroid hormones. (Got that?)
Hypothyroidism: A thyroid disorder which is characterized by decreased secretion of thyroid hormone from the thyroid gland. It’s commonly referred to as “sluggish” metabolism because it leads to a slowing of metabolic processes. Common symptoms include: brittle nails, dry skin, and fatigue.
Hyperthyroidism: This is the polar opposite of hypothyroidism. This condition is characterized by an overactive thyroid. Too much thyroid hormone is produced and the metabolism works overtime. Rapid heart rate, goiter and blood pressure are common side effects of this condition.
Post-partum Thyroiditis, or PPT: This is an infection of the thyroid gland which causes an inflammation. It is the result of hormonal changes relating to pregnancy and affects between 5 – 10% of all postpartum women. The condition is only temporary and can be either a hypothyroid or hyperthyroid state. Incidence of PPT can increase a woman’s chances for developing a thyroid condition as she ages.
Mental Illness: A disease of the mind usually resulting in emotional and behavioral problems which are severe enough for a person to receive psychiatric or medical treatment.
Mood: In this case, mood refers to a characteristic or habitual state of feeling.
Depression: refers to a mood disorder which is characterized by feelings of sadness and despair as well as the tendency for a person to be overly self-critical and deem themselves as worthless. The depressed person may struggle with feelings of low self-esteem and withdraw from activities that used to provide him or her pleasure, including the cultivation of interpersonal relationships. Symptoms can include: changes in eating and sleeping patterns, thoughts of self harm or suicide, fatigue and chronic pain with unknown causes.
Antidepressant: medications which are prescribed to treat depression.
SSRIs: SSRI stands for Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. SSRIs are a type of antidepressant which is generally prescribed for long-term use and can help curb feelings of depression and anxiety by decreasing enzymatic breakdown of serotonin so that it becomes more available to act upon the receptors in the brain.
Anxiety: An unpleasant feeling of apprehension, discomfort, dread, fear or perceived danger which may involve the physical symptoms of heart palpitations, sweating, tremors and other manifestations of stress.
Serotonin: A neurotransmitter that involved in mood, sleep, libido, and body temperature regulation.
Neurotransmitter: a brain chemical which carries messages between brain cells.
Receptor: a special protein on the cellular surface that binds to substances which affect that cell’s activities of the cell.
Autoimmune Disease: describes conditions which occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues, thinking that its own tissues are foreign substances. Autoimmune diseases can either affect one organ such as autoimmune thyroiditis or many systems and body tissues, as in Lupus and Multiple Sclerosis.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, (SLE): This disease is the most common form of Lupus. Lupus is chronic and inflammatory. It can affect many organ systems including the skin, joints and internal organs.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS): autoimmune disease which causes inflammation of the myelin, (coating of nerve fibers) in the brain and spinal cord. Over time, the myelin gets damaged and causes interruptions in signals between the central nervous system and the brain causing tingling, weakness and even paralysis, in some cases.
Crohn’s Disease: chronic, autoimmune disorder, which causes inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI), or digestive tract. Symptoms include: abdominal pain, weight loss, foul-smelling stools and fever.
Type 1 Diabetes: autoimmune condition affecting the production of insulin by the pancreas. Used to be known as juvenile diabetes because its onset was mostly during childhood. (aka Diabetes Mellitus)
Addison’s Disease: a hormonal deficiency, either in part or on the whole, of the substances produced in the adrenal cortex (the interior region of the adrenal gland, which is located in the kidneys). The hormones produced by the adrenal cortex are very important. They control the body’s response to inflammation, stimulate the liver to raise the blood sugar and regulate the amount of water in the body, among other things. Symptoms can include extreme weakness, muscle fatigue and salt cravings.
Rheumatoid Arthritis, or RA: an inflammatory disease that primarily affects the joints and the surrounding tissues, which is called the synovium. This causes pain, stiffness, warmth, redness and swelling.
Pernicious Anemia: a blood disorder that occurs when the body does not absorb enough vitamin B12 from the digestive tract. This results in inadequate production of red blood cells (RBCs). B12 is needed by nerve and blood cells so this deficiency can cause a variety of symptoms such as: fatigue, shortness of breath, tingling sensations diarrhea and difficulty waking.
Scleroderma: this is a disease affecting the connective tissue. It seems to be related to excessive collagen deposits in the internal organs, most notably the heart, lung and kidneys. Internal symptoms include: reflux or heartburn, difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, diarrhea and constipation. Externally, the skin can become hard, the face can appear tight and mask-like, hands and forearms get shiny and there are ulcerations on fingertips or toes.
Sjorgen’s Syndrome: this autoimmune disease causes the body to attack its own moisture-producing glands. Decreased tearing, dry mouth and mucous membranes happen in those with this syndrome. Some symptoms include swollen glands, joint pain and difficulty swallowing.
Fibromyalgia: a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in the soft, fibrous tissues of the body, i.e. the muscles, ligaments and tendons. Symptoms vary, but can include sleep disturbances, depression, joint pain and swelling.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: occurs when a person feels unrelenting fatigue that is not alleviated by rest. The episode of ‘fatigue’ must last for longer than six months to be considered ‘chronic’. Even light physical activities cause the CFS patient extreme weariness. Other symptoms of this syndrome include: gastrointestinal disturbances, mental fogginess, muscle weakness, forgetfulness and irritability. It can also be referred to as: Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Epstein-Barr Virus.
Autoimmune, or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: is a chronic inflammation of the thyroid that usually results in low thyroid function, or hypothyroidism. Symptoms can include fatigue, muscle weakness and inexplicable weight gain. goiter: an enlargement of the thyroid gland which may or may not cause a bulge in the neck.
Graves Disease: occurs when there is a defect in the immune system which causes immunoglobins (also known as antibodies) to stimulate and attack the thyroid gland. The result is an overproduction of thyroid hormone, or hyperthyroidism. Symptoms can include increased appetite, inexplicable weight loss and heat intolerance.
Thyroid nodules: lumps that occur in an otherwise healthy and normal thyroid gland. These lumps often occur on the outer edge of the thyroid gland so they can be felt as a lump in the throat.
Disease: an impairment of health or something that causes the body to function in an abnormal manner. It can affect an organism in part or on the whole.
Condition: something essential to the appearance or occurrence of something else. (It’s usually a precursor to a disease.)
Risk Factor: term referring to something that increases an individual’s likelihood for developing a disease or condition.
Basal Body Temperature: body temperature in the morning before rising, moving or eating.
Secondary Hypothyroidism: a lower than normal circulation of thyroid hormones that is caused by damage to the hypothalamus or pituitary gland. In other words, the thyroid hormones aren’t being regulated properly because the stimulating mechanisms in the brain aren’t functioning well enough.
Subclinical Hypothyroidism: is a condition in which an individual has low thyroid function but it’s not quite low enough to be considered hypothyroid. Symptoms are similar to hypothyroidism. Some doctors will treat the condition with medications; but most won’t. In many cases subclinical hypothyroidism leads to full-blown hypothyroidism.
Artheriosclerosis: a condition in which fatty deposits build up in the arteries. They usually harden and may block the arteries, impeding blood flow to and from affected artery.
Endocrinologist: specialist who deals with disorders of the endocrine system, including thyroid diseases.
Thyroidologist: a person who specializes specifically in diseases of the thyroid. (It’s important to note that this title is usually self-proclaimed. There is no medical specialty in most countries for the thyroid itself.)
Levothyroxine: a synthetic form of T4, which is commonly prescribed to treat hypothyroidism. Common brand names for this medication are: Eltroxin (Canada), Synthroid (US) and Levoxyl.
Liothyronine: synthetic T3. Brand names for this medication include: Cytomel (US), Cynomel (France) and Tertroxin (UK).
Liotrix: pharmaceutical name for synthetic T3/T4 combination medication. It is commonly prescribed as Thyrolar.
desiccated thyroid hormone: a natural product made from dried animal thyroids (usually pigs). It has all levels of thyroid hormones in it, but it can be unstable and is not commonly prescribed. Brand names for the medication are: Amour Thyroid. Westhroid and Nature-throid.
Alternative Medicine: refers to products, practices and different and diverse medical and health care systems that people use in lieu of traditional, or conventional medicine.
Conventional Medicine: term used to describe current Western medical practices such as prescribing pharmaceuticals or performing surgery to treat disease.
Complementary Medicine: refers to usage of alternative medicine in conjunction with conventional medical practices to the patient’s benefit.
Reiki: ancient, Japanese form of manual healing that using energy (KI) to promote wellness.
Acupuncture: Chinese medical practice in which fine needles are used to puncture specific body areas, or meridians, to produce a therapeutic effect. This procedure is often used to alleviate pain.
Ayurveda: An ancient healing tradition that is over 5,000 years, Ayurveda comes from India. Ayurveda is made up of two Sanskrit words “ayur” meaning life and “ved” which means knowledge. It is a holistic science which strives to balance the body, mind and spirit. Health is considered balance and the body strives to be in balance; so, it wants to heal itself. Treatments include herbs, special diets and cleansings tailored to body type and individual needs, yoga, meditation, prayer and more.
Doshas: Ayurvedic term describing the different regulatory systems of the body. Each dosha governs a certain aspect of our health.
Prayanama: breathing exercises common in yogic and ayurvedic practice.
Yoga: a form of exercise that incorporates breathing and relaxation techniques.
Metabolic Resistance: relates to the set point at which your body will burn calories and thus, fat. As your weight goes up, the amount of calories you need to eat to lose weight seems to go down.
Insulin Resistance: a condition that causes the body to use insulin inefficiently. In response, the body produces too much insulin. Excessive weight gain and inability to lose weight once gained are common symptoms of this condition. If gone untreated, it can lead to Diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
Goitrogenic: describes foods which could be goiter producing if eaten in large quantities and raw. Soy, cabbage, kale, rutabagas and a bunch of other foods can have a goitrogenic quality.
Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR): the minimum number of calories (units which measure energy) the body needs per day to perform vital functions like breathing, and circulating blood.
Endorphins: chemicals released during exercise which can help alleviate pain and elevate mood.
