There are some rare diseases that appear at birth known as inborn errors of metabolism. Their symptoms are nonspecific in most cases and each of them is unrecognizable clinically, with some exceptions. All of them are genetically determined. Most of them can be spotted from a tiny sample of blood that is sent to a […]
Hair loss is a common symptom of thyroid disease. In our research, hair loss, changes in color or luster, and skin changes are regularly reported as one of the first symptoms noticed in an emerging non-allergenic adverse reaction to a medication or vaccine. These symptoms often coincide with unexplained fatigue and muscle pain. Given that […]
Statins are some of the most popularly prescribed medications on the market with 1 in 4 Americans taking statin drugs (2011). Do they work? To read the read the early reports statins were wonder drugs, capable of reducing heart attack and extending lifespan with few side effects. No need to change one’s diet or lifestyle, simply […]
Reproductive senescence, the period of time in a woman’s life marked by the slowing and eventual cessation of reproductive function, frequently coincides with an increased risk of a host of neurodegenerative disorders from memory impairment to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers have long postulated that the loss of ovarian hormones were responsible; estradiol, in particular, […]
Hormones Matter received an email from a mother of a 10-year-old girl. The medical history that she wrote is so complex that it is hardly surprising that it has confounded all of the physicians that have been consulted. I decided that it was so typical of many “mysterious” illnesses in America, that I would write […]
From its title, Mitochondrial Myopathy in Follow-up of a Patient With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, I doubt anyone would ascertain the importance of this case study, but a quick read of even just the abstract tells an entirely different story. A deeper dive into the full article reveals just how remarkable this case really is. A […]
As part of my work here, I am regularly confronted with desperately ill individuals who have seen dozens of physicians over the course of many years only to have their health continue to decline. Among the more frustrating aspects of this work is the failure of these physicians to assess and address the most basic […]
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body’s response to infection causes injury to its own tissues and organs. Common signs and symptoms include fever, increased heart rate, increased breathing rate, and confusion (note confusion). What few people realize is that brain function is really in control of the situation. Notice that fever, […]