A free cold laser treatment… is one cool November special! Come in any time this month and receive one treatment for free! Cold laser therapy is very effective for both pain relief and speeding up the healing process.
Parathyroid glands… what are they, and what do they do? What happens when something goes wrong with them? To peak your interest, here is a list of symptoms that occur when parathyroid glands are not operating correctly: fatigue, tire easily, forgetfulness, bone and joint pain, weak feeling, frequent complaints of illness for no apparent cause, nausea/vomiting/loss of appetite, excess urination, abdominal pain, kidney stones, frail bones, hypercalcemia (too much calcium in your blood).
The parathyroid glands come in two pairs nestled in the thyroid gland at the base of the front of the neck. It seems an unlikely location, as they don’t really interact or parallel with the thyroid in function at all. Yet some of the symptoms of malfunction are similar to malfunction in the thyroid. The job of the parathyroid gland is to secrete parathyroid hormone when needed to regulate calcium levels in the blood. When the body has too much calcium in the blood, muscles can cramp (to include your heart muscle). When there is too little calcium in the blood, muscles can’t function properly, which is also not good for the heart. The body takes calcium out of the bones as a remedy. The parathyroid hormone mainly helps the body ‘rob’ the bones in order to maintain optimal blood levels of calcium and phosphorous.
In females, the presence of estrogen works antagonistically with the parathyroid glands. One of the functions of estrogen is to prepare the body for pregnancy in case there is a need for the extra storage of nutrients. I call it the ‘maybe baby’ mentality. In this case, the estrogen takes calcium and gets it into the bones for storage. Strong bones are needed to carry a baby. The parathyroid gland usually loses the argument while a woman is in child-bearing years. The system works well until estrogen levels start to drop at the onset of menopause. During the first two years after all menstruation ceases, there is typically a dip in bone density. Bone loss is less after that when the body starts to counter that phenomenon using the adrenal glands to rebalance the blood calcium levels. Women need to educate themselves so they are less vulnerable to pharmaceutical advertising. Bone density drugs tend to do more harm than good. Give your body a little time and also start a weight lifting program. Your bones will respond to increased need with weight lifting and weight bearing exercise. No drug is as good as lifting weights for increasing and maintaining bone density.
There are two main types of hyperparathyroidism, which is the secretion of excess parathyroid hormone, primary and secondary. Primary hyperparathyroidism occurs when one or more of the four tiny glands is enlarged. Secondary hyperparathyroidism occurs as a result of disease. The disease causes a low level of calcium in the blood and, over time, the body develops a problem in dealing with the increased need of parathyroid hormone. Chronic kidney failure is the most common cause of secondary hyperparathyroidism. The main diagnostic symptoms are either high or low calcium levels in either the urine or blood. A high calcium level is called hypercalcemia but a low calcium level is called hypocalcemia.
The liver, kidneys, and small intestine are also an integral part of keeping blood calcium levels corrected. Kidneys convert vitamin D into a form the body uses. It is quite a complicated process. Simplified, when vitamin D is eaten or made in the skin, it is transported to the liver and processed there. Then it is transported to the kidneys which require alpha-hydroxylase to convert it to the active metabolite, calcitriol. Calcitriol acts directly on organs that have a principal role in calcium homeostasis, namely the intestines, bones and kidneys. It is taken up by the nucleus in a manner similar to that of hormones. The kidneys need a substrate called renal hydroxylase to help absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the gut. Without hydroxylase, symptoms of a deficiency of calcium and phosphorus occur. This deficiency triggers the parathyroid to secrete parathyroid hormone. Since the body then draws calcium out of the bones, the bones are weakened even if adequate amounts of calcium are consumed. In a child, the lack of vitamin D leads to rickets. In an adult, it leads to osteomalacia (bone malady/ problems).
The information in this newsletter is particularly pertinent at this time of year for two main reasons. When it is cold outside, we spend less time outdoors and tend to exercise less. Maintaining good bone strength is more complex than taking calcium supplements. Good nourishment that helps the kidneys, liver, small intestines, and skin is essential, as are adequate levels of vitamin D. Skin can make vitamin D and the ingredient it uses is cholesterol, yet there are many people taking cholesterol lowering drugs. At the same time, there are also many people being told their bones are thinning. Is this a coincidence? Maybe it is, or maybe it isn’t. Most of us are not in the sun as much in the fall and winter and even when we are, our skin doesn’t get much exposure anyway. Actually, most of us could make enough vitamin D with just fifteen minutes of sun exposure of the hands and face. The kidneys, which make the calcitriol, need alpha-hydroxylase. I’ve never seen it in any supplement so, healthy food must be eaten in order to get it. The liver and kidneys especially benefit from eating beets and carrots. Other vegetables also help, but if you hate vegetables, then supplement with chlorophyll to help the kidney and liver detoxify the blood. Eggs, nuts, fish, bran cereals, oats, and wheat germ also help, to a lesser degree. Protein consumption is interesting because the kidneys are an organ that wants some protein, but not too much. If you go on a high protein diet you are cautioned to drink lots and lots of water to help the kidneys.
Now that you know about the parathyroid glands, you should be more encouraged to take care of your other organs, as well. The kidneys, liver, and small intestine help our skin and bones. Your kidneys function better if you avoid soda, coffee, and alcohol. Even though winter often slows us down and we drink less water, I encourage you to continue to do what we know is best: eat good, healthy food, get outside in the fresh air and sunshine, drink plenty of water, and exercise daily.
Changes are coming to the Saturday fundraiser… beginning with this month’s event moving to the first Saturday of the month, November 4th. Stop by between 9am and 1pm to receive a chiropractic adjustment or a meridian balancing (acu-stim) treatment in exchange for a donation in the amount of your choice. All proceeds from this month will benefit the Teller Country Regional Animal Shelter. This is the last fundraiser we will be hosting in 2017. Starting in January 2018, all of our Saturday fundraisers will be held on the second Saturday of every month, instead of the last Saturday.
Parathyroid glands… what are they, and what do they do? What happens when something goes wrong with them? To peak your interest, here is a list of symptoms that occur when parathyroid glands are not operating correctly: fatigue, tire easily, forgetfulness, bone and joint pain, weak feeling, frequent complaints of illness for no apparent cause, nausea/vomiting/loss of appetite, excess urination, abdominal pain, kidney stones, frail bones, hypercalcemia (too much calcium in your blood).
The parathyroid glands come in two pairs nestled in the thyroid gland at the base of the front of the neck. It seems an unlikely location, as they don’t really interact or parallel with the thyroid in function at all. Yet some of the symptoms of malfunction are similar to malfunction in the thyroid. The job of the parathyroid gland is to secrete parathyroid hormone when needed to regulate calcium levels in the blood. When the body has too much calcium in the blood, muscles can cramp (to include your heart muscle). When there is too little calcium in the blood, muscles can’t function properly, which is also not good for the heart. The body takes calcium out of the bones as a remedy. The parathyroid hormone mainly helps the body ‘rob’ the bones in order to maintain optimal blood levels of calcium and phosphorous.
In females, the presence of estrogen works antagonistically with the parathyroid glands. One of the functions of estrogen is to prepare the body for pregnancy in case there is a need for the extra storage of nutrients. I call it the ‘maybe baby’ mentality. In this case, the estrogen takes calcium and gets it into the bones for storage. Strong bones are needed to carry a baby. The parathyroid gland usually loses the argument while a woman is in child-bearing years. The system works well until estrogen levels start to drop at the onset of menopause. During the first two years after all menstruation ceases, there is typically a dip in bone density. Bone loss is less after that when the body starts to counter that phenomenon using the adrenal glands to rebalance the blood calcium levels. Women need to educate themselves so they are less vulnerable to pharmaceutical advertising. Bone density drugs tend to do more harm than good. Give your body a little time and also start a weight lifting program. Your bones will respond to increased need with weight lifting and weight bearing exercise. No drug is as good as lifting weights for increasing and maintaining bone density.
There are two main types of hyperparathyroidism, which is the secretion of excess parathyroid hormone, primary and secondary. Primary hyperparathyroidism occurs when one or more of the four tiny glands is enlarged. Secondary hyperparathyroidism occurs as a result of disease. The disease causes a low level of calcium in the blood and, over time, the body develops a problem in dealing with the increased need of parathyroid hormone. Chronic kidney failure is the most common cause of secondary hyperparathyroidism. The main diagnostic symptoms are either high or low calcium levels in either the urine or blood. A high calcium level is called hypercalcemia but a low calcium level is called hypocalcemia.
The liver, kidneys, and small intestine are also an integral part of keeping blood calcium levels corrected. Kidneys convert vitamin D into a form the body uses. It is quite a complicated process. Simplified, when vitamin D is eaten or made in the skin, it is transported to the liver and processed there. Then it is transported to the kidneys which require alpha-hydroxylase to convert it to the active metabolite, calcitriol. Calcitriol acts directly on organs that have a principal role in calcium homeostasis, namely the intestines, bones and kidneys. It is taken up by the nucleus in a manner similar to that of hormones. The kidneys need a substrate called renal hydroxylase to help absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the gut. Without hydroxylase, symptoms of a deficiency of calcium and phosphorus occur. This deficiency triggers the parathyroid to secrete parathyroid hormone. Since the body then draws calcium out of the bones, the bones are weakened even if adequate amounts of calcium are consumed. In a child, the lack of vitamin D leads to rickets. In an adult, it leads to osteomalacia (bone malady/ problems).
The information in this newsletter is particularly pertinent at this time of year for two main reasons. When it is cold outside, we spend less time outdoors and tend to exercise less. Maintaining good bone strength is more complex than taking calcium supplements. Good nourishment that helps the kidneys, liver, small intestines, and skin is essential, as are adequate levels of vitamin D. Skin can make vitamin D and the ingredient it uses is cholesterol, yet there are many people taking cholesterol lowering drugs. At the same time, there are also many people being told their bones are thinning. Is this a coincidence? Maybe it is, or maybe it isn’t. Most of us are not in the sun as much in the fall and winter and even when we are, our skin doesn’t get much exposure anyway. Actually, most of us could make enough vitamin D with just fifteen minutes of sun exposure of the hands and face. The kidneys, which make the calcitriol, need alpha-hydroxylase. I’ve never seen it in any supplement so, healthy food must be eaten in order to get it. The liver and kidneys especially benefit from eating beets and carrots. Other vegetables also help, but if you hate vegetables, then supplement with chlorophyll to help the kidney and liver detoxify the blood. Eggs, nuts, fish, bran cereals, oats, and wheat germ also help, to a lesser degree. Protein consumption is interesting because the kidneys are an organ that wants some protein, but not too much. If you go on a high protein diet you are cautioned to drink lots and lots of water to help the kidneys.
Now that you know about the parathyroid glands, you should be more encouraged to take care of your other organs, as well. The kidneys, liver, and small intestine help our skin and bones. Your kidneys function better if you avoid soda, coffee, and alcohol. Even though winter often slows us down and we drink less water, I encourage you to continue to do what we know is best: eat good, healthy food, get outside in the fresh air and sunshine, drink plenty of water, and exercise daily.
Changes are coming to the Saturday fundraiser… beginning with this month’s event moving to the first Saturday of the month, November 4th. Stop by between 9am and 1pm to receive a chiropractic adjustment or a meridian balancing (acu-stim) treatment in exchange for a donation in the amount of your choice. All proceeds from this month will benefit the Teller Country Regional Animal Shelter. This is the last fundraiser we will be hosting in 2017. Starting in January 2018, all of our Saturday fundraisers will be held on the second Saturday of every month, instead of the last Saturday.