Review for Hypothyroidism Type 2, by M. Starr MD
Underactive Thyroid Conditions That are Elusive to Blood Testing
Sep 26, 2009
Can hypothyroidism in some people be undetectable by blood testing or imaging tests alone? Medical evidence going back many years would seem to confirm this to be the case. There are in fact subtle but chronic cases of low-grade hypothyroidism that blood labs do not detect and yet the signs and symptoms for hypothyroidism are present. In cases when this type hypothyroidism is suspected, other testing methods may need to be undertaken to confirm or rule-out the presence of “Hypothyroidism Type 2” . (Special thanks, to Dr. Starr for a free review copy of the book.)
Hypothyroidism Diagnoses Prior to Blood Testing
Doctor Starr’s book covers an array of fascinating aspects in regard to both the early years and present-day methods for diagnosing hypothyroidism. The major diagnosing method for hypothyroidism before the advent of blood labs for thyroid evaluation was observing patients for “myxedema”, meaning that a patient had marked puffiness from swelling in tissues of the body. In fact the term myxedema was an early one describing hypothyroidism in-general and the two terms were used interchangeably for many years following.
Methods for measuring a patient's metabolism were also used in the early days, including a measure of how much oxygen a patient was using within a determined period of time, with lower than normal usage indicating a slowed metabolism. The metabolic body temperatures of people suspected of having hypothyroidism were also measured, which is referred to as the “basal body temperature”, a below-normal reading indicating hypothyroidism. The book points out the fact that cases of elusive hypothyroidism may require diagnosing via these early methods, which may actually be more reliable in detecting subtle cases.
Doctor Starr’s Credentials
Studying the research of endocrinology pioneers, Dr. Starr, who is Board Certified in Pain Medicine, has dedicated decades of study to research by W.M. Ord, a British researcher who discovered autoimmune thyroiditis in 1877 and who is also responsible for the term “myxedema”. He has also extensively studied the research of Dr. Broda O. Barnes who developed the early testing methods of oxygen-use measuring and basal body temperature methods for detecting hypothyroidism. Additionally, he studied directly with the late Professor Hans Kraus, formerly of the Rusk Institute and the MD who also treated John F. Kennedy’s Addison’s disease and hypothyroidism in the early 1960s.
Not only did Dr. Starr discover his own Hypothyroidism Type 2 but also diagnosed and treated Dr. Thomas D. Broc, B.Sc., D.D.S., whom also suffered hypothyroidism that was elusive to blood testing. A foreward by Dr. Broc is included in the book that expresses deep appreciation to Dr. Starr whose treatment with thyroid hormone replacement was instrumental in resolving a pain syndrome being experienced by Dr. Broc.
Other Aspects Covered In the Book
Dr. Starr dedicates pages in this book, to the subject of “mitochondria” (cells that produce energy in the body) and how these very important cells are sometimes hindered in this function by environmental pollutants and toxins and by faulty genes inherited by predisposed individuals. The studies cited in these areas and the documentation provided, is impressive and includes those involving autopsy studies and umbilical cord studies which have strongly confirmed the effects of environmental toxins on mitochondria and thyroid hormone metabolism.
Are there controversial areas of research covered in the book? There certainly are and Dr. Starr is aware of this but despite this, facts contained in the book are fully documented by a great deal of medical research and is an extremely interesting read for both doctors and laypersons with interest in thyroid disease subjects.
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