Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Cardiology, Heart Disease, Surgery
When deciding on which car or college — or, increasingly, health care provider — to choose, many of us compare reviews and ratings in such sources as Consumer Reports and U.S. News & World Report. More than two decades ago, the New York State Department of Health, itself, began to report information on cardiac surgery because the Commissioner of Health noticed wide variations in mortality rate and complications reported by different hospitals in the state. (more…)
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Cancer, Endocrinology, Geriatrics, Surgery
The thyroid gland got its name from the Greek word for “shield,” due to its physical appearance in the neck. In many ways, it acts like a shield by protecting our bodies from losing functional balance. The thyroid gland produces and releases thyroid hormone, which is crucial in regulating overall metabolism (the physical and chemical processes in the body that convert or use energy). Digestion, weight, temperature regulation and reproduction all are affected by the thyroid gland.
The thyroid gland works like a thermostat via its connection with the brain. If there is not enough thyroid hormone in the blood stream, the brain will stimulate the thyroid gland to produce and release more. Blood tests are an easy way to detect both the level of thyroid hormone circulating in the blood — generally free thyroxine (T4) — and the stimulating signal from the brain (TSH, or thyroid stimulating hormone). The most common thyroid problems involve abnormal production of thyroid hormone.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is the term used to describe an underactive thyroid.
Symptoms
Symptoms include:
• Fatigue
• Feeling colder than usual
• Changes in skin and hair
• Weight gain
Causes
A common cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune disorder in which cells in the body prevent the thyroid from producing and releasing enough thyroid hormone. Other causes include surgical removal of the thyroid gland for thyroid cancer; treatment of hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland) with radioactive iodine; or being born with an underactive thyroid gland.
Treatment
The treatment for hypothyroidism is to replace thyroid hormone in the form of a pill taken once a day, preferably by itself and on an empty stomach so that it is fully absorbed. The dose is easily adjusted based on blood tests.
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism describes an overactive thyroid gland.
Symptoms
Symptoms include:
• Increased sweating
• Heart palpitations
• Increased anxiety
• Diarrhea
• Weight loss
Causes
A number of conditions can cause hyperthyroidism. Opposite to hypothyroidism, cells in the blood stream called antibodies make the thyroid gland secrete an excessive amount of thyroid hormone.
Treatments
The two most common treatments for hyperthyroidism are radioactive iodine and medication. Radioactive iodine works by destroying part of the thyroid gland to restore a normal level of thyroid hormone in the body; however, it is possible that hypothyroidism may then develop. Radioactive iodine has the benefit of generally being a more permanent treatment, although medications used to treat hyperthyroidism can be very effective in certain people, too. Just as in hypothyroidism, blood tests should be done routinely to monitor treatment.
Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid cancer can develop and, in the majority of cases, is curable by surgical removal of the thyroid gland by an experienced surgeon. Radioactive iodine may be used after surgery to destroy any small remaining cancer cells. An endocrinologist should be directly involved in monitoring care.
Extremes of thyroid function can certainly have an impact on your quality of life; the beauty is that with the correct diagnosis and management, these conditions can be greatly improved!
To find an excellent doctor who is right for you, please call our Physician Referral Service at 866.804.1007.
Mar 13, 2013 | Nephrology, Surgery, Transplant, Vascular Health
When patients come to my office with a diagnosis of kidney failure or end stage renal disease (ESRD), most of them are nervous about what the next steps are to continue the activities of their daily life, now that their kidneys are no longer functioning. It is not always a surprise that they have kidney failure; however, the options can be overwhelming.
(more…)
Mar 8, 2013 | Endovascular, Neurosurgery, Patient Story, Pediatric Care, Pediatrics, Surgery
On Tuesday, March 5 a team of physicians from Roosevelt Hospital’s Center for Endovascular Surgery performed the first of a series of procedures to treat a 2-year-old boy from the Dominican Republic who was born with a disfiguring lesion on his face.
The 1½-hour procedure was the first of three or four that Alejandro Berenstein, MD, Director of the Hyman-Newman Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery and his comprehensive team will perform on toddler Joel De La Rosa. (more…)
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Men's Health, Surgery, Women's Health
Bundled up against the cold and snow this winter, your legs and how they appear are probably the last things on your mind. This, however, is exactly the right time to start addressing your varicose veins and all the problems associated with symptomatic venous insufficiency, a condition in which the veins have problems returning blood from the legs back to the heart. (more…)
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Cardiology, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Surgery
The FREEDOM clinical trial, a study of 1,900 diabetic patients, just reported in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine that diabetics with multi-vessel coronary disease who were treated with coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) fared much better than those treated with angioplasty with drug-eluting stents (percutaneous coronary intervention, or PCI.) (more…)
When deciding on which car or college — or, increasingly, health care provider — to choose, many of us compare reviews and ratings in such sources as Consumer Reports and U.S. News & World Report. More than two decades ago, the New York State Department of Health, itself, began to report information on cardiac surgery because the Commissioner of Health noticed wide variations in mortality rate and complications reported by different hospitals in the state. (more…)
