Functional Approach to Hypothyroidism: Bridging Traditional and Alternative Treatment Approaches for Total Patient Wellness - Softcover

Blanchard M.D., Kenneth

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1578263875 ISBN 13: 9781578263875

Publisher: Hatherleigh Press, 2012

Synopsis

The first comprehensive book to challenge the traditional teachings by presenting a more effective approach to treating hypothyroidism.

For many years, treatment options for hypothyroidism have remained relatively unchanged and new treatments have been unexplored despite the fact that this disorder affects tens of millions of people in the United States. In The Functional Approach to Hypothyroidism, Dr. Kenneth Blanchard uncovers the truth about treatments and diagnoses and offers new insight into reducing symptoms for those with hypothyroidism. Patients and physicians alike will benefit from the wisdom and guidance found in this book.

The Functional Approach to Hypothyroidism also includes explanations of:
* Why hypothyroidism is often misdiagnosed
* Misguided teachings on the treatment of hypothyroidism
* Effects of hypothyroidism on pregnancy, menstrual cycle, and fertility
* The connection between fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism
* The effects of hypothyroidism on weight, sleep, and motion sickness
* More effective treatments and advice for proper diagnosis

The Functional Approach to Hypothyroidism is based on the innovative findings of Dr. Kenneth Blanchard, a specialist in thyroid disease and menopausal hormone replacement therapy. Dr. Blanchard has treated over 1,000 patients with hypothyroidism with great success. Through this experience, he has developed a unique approach to the field and has simultaneously enabled patients to better understand their condition, treatments, and the current findings.

About this title

About the Author:

Kenneth R. Blanchard, PH.D., M.D. is an endocrinologist certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Endocrinology and Metabolism. Dr. Blanchard practiced general internal medicine until 2000 and now concentrates on thyroid disease and menopausal hormone replacement therapy. He has been in private practice in Newton, Massachusetts since 1976.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

The functional approach is a philosophical way of looking at how physicians make decisions. Most of the time, physicians are taught to adhere to guidelines and studies, etc. As history shows, many of the things that have been taught to physicians for many years have eventually been shown to be completely wrong. It is very possible to do double-blind, placebo-controlled studies and come to some clear conclusions and yet these conclusions are eventually proven to be wrong. In the area that I deal with, hypothyroidism, the prevailing wisdom, the TSH test tells you yes or no and that nobody needs T3 because T4 converts to T3 remains the correct answers for doctors on multiple-choice exams.

The functional approach in this situation simply says that when someone has an overwhelming clinical picture of hypothyroidism despite normal tests, the only thing that really matters is what happens to that patient on an intelligent therapeutic trial. If multiple symptoms of year's duration disappear and the patient feels better than in years, that is what validates this approach.

The same thing with adding some T3 to the standard T4 treatment. All that matters is if the patient gets better or does not get better. This is widely applicable to all areas of human endeavor, not just medicine. Many doctrines in politics, economics, etc. exist but the only thing that matters is do you get better results by making educated guesses and trying things even if they are not supported by underlying theories.

Kenneth Blanchard, M.D., Ph.D.

About this edition

• Publisher: Hatherleigh Press
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1578263875
• ISBN 13: 9781578263875
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 128