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Back Clinic Working Professionals Chiropractic Therapeutic Team. Workplace injuries impair your ability to perform work and recreational activities. They impair your quality of life. If you have been injured on the job, make sure you get the expertise and level of care needed to get back to your normal life. Chiropractic care is often the best treatment option for common workplace injuries. From chiropractors and nurses to military service members, a professional is an individual who earns their living from a specified professional activity.

These individuals dedicate their time to provide others with an effective and useful service. After spending prolonged periods of time on the job, it’s not uncommon for injuries or aggravated conditions to occur. Dr. Alex Jimenez’s article chronicles on professionals indicate the various complications affecting these particular individuals while also describing the best types of treatments available, to ensure the ultimate wellness of professionals facing pain and discomfort. For more information, please feel free to contact us at (915) 850-0900 or text to call Dr. Jimenez personally at (915) 540-8444.


How Physicians Diagnose Thyroid Disease | Wellness Clinic

How Physicians Diagnose Thyroid Disease | Wellness Clinic

Hypothyroidism is evaluated and diagnosed by a physician, your primary care doctor or an endocrinologist. Many factors, signs, and symptoms are taken into consideration when hypothyroidism is diagnosed.

 

How is hypothyroidism diagnosed?

 

A diagnosis is reached after a thorough review of the patient’s symptoms, family and medical history, risk factors, physical examination, and effectively, a blood test. There are many types of blood tests, which the most authoritative one is known as the TSH test (thyroid-stimulating hormone). However, in some cases, healthcare professionals may refer patients to receive a total T4 or T4, free T4 index, or even thyroxine to aid in the diagnosis.

 

Why Hypothyroidism is not Diagnosed on Symptoms Alone

 

Lots of the signs of hypothyroidism are fairly frequent complaints found in people with a normally functioning thyroid gland, so it can be tough to decipher if the symptoms are linked to the thyroid gland. Among the best ways to find out whether your symptoms might be related to a thyroid condition is to consider how long you have been experiencing them. For example, have you felt cold when others were warm? Did you just begin to notice decreased energy? It might be associated with a thyroid issue if you are beginning to notice new signs and symptoms. But only a specialized healthcare professional (eg, endocrinologist) can diagnose a thyroid issue.

 

Medical and Family History

 

It is important to give your doctor as many details as you can about your own personal medical history, in addition to family history (eg, mom had eczema). Make sure you talk about:

 

  • Your overall state of health, particularly any changes you’ve noticed on your general well-being.
  • Your family’s health history, especially if a near relative was diagnosed with hypothyroidism (or any other thyroid-related issues).
  • Whether you’ve ever had thyroid surgery, or radiation into your own neck to deal with cancer.
  • Any medications you could be taking that could cause hypothyroidism (eg, amiodarone, lithiumion, interferon alpha, interlukin-2, or even earlier chemotherapy).

 

Physical Evaluation

 

Your doctor will perform a thorough examination and look for physical signs of hypothyroidism, such as:

 

  • Proof of dry skin
  • Swelling around the eyes and legs
  • Slower reflexes
  • Slower heartbeat

 

Blood Tests

 

Hypothyroidism can be diagnosed using different blood tests such as:

 

TSH Evaluation

 

A thyroid-stimulating hormone or TSH is a blood test that measures the amount of T4 (thyroxine) that the thyroid gland has been indicated to create. In case you have an abnormally significant degree of TSH, it might indicate you have hypothyroidism.

 

T4 (thyroxine) Evaluation

 

The thyroid gland produces T4 (thyroxine). The T4 along with the free T4 index are blood tests which, in conjunction with a TSH test, can let your doctor know your thyroid is functioning.

 

The adrenal gland tells the thyroid how much thyroxine to produce through signaling by TSH. There are cells from the pituitary gland that determine what your body’s “set point” is. Your collection point is that the normal array of TSH as determined by your thyroid gland that your body needs.

 

As blood flows throughout the pituitary gland, the very same cells detect if there are sufficient T4 levels in the body. The pituitary sends the amount of TSH into the thyroid to maintain levels in the standard range in case your T4 amount is sufficient. If your level is too low, the pituitary sends TSH outside telling the thyroid to make more T4. In case your T4 level is too high, the pituitary sends TSH that is less out, then telling the thyroid to make less T4.

 

Normal and Abnormal TSH Ranges

 

  • 0.4 mU/L to 4.0 mU/L is considered the reference array (there may be slight variation depending on the laboratory), and people that have a normally functioning thyroid gland usually fall within this range.
  • If TSH measures > 4.0 mU/L, a second evaluation (T4) is done to verify the results. TSH p4.0/mU/L using a very low T4 level indicates hypothyroidism.
  • If your TSH is > 4.0 mU/L along with your T4 level is normal, this may prompt your physician to test your serum anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies. When these antibodies are found, it may signal an autoimmune thyroid disease, which is a risk factor for developing hypothyroidism. In case you have those anti-bodies, your doctor will perform and TSH test at least once each year.

 

An easy way to remember how the thyroid works is to think about supply and demand. The TSH rises as the T4 level drops. The TSH drops as the T4 level rises. But not everyone with hypothyroidism has elevated levels of TSH. If the pituitary is not working properly, perhaps it does not send out regular TSH levels. But if the quantity of TSH is off, the thyroid will not make the perfect quantity of T4. This is rare and is called secondary or central hypothyroidism.

 

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .

 

By Dr. Alex Jimenez

 

Additional Topics: Wellness

 

Overall health and wellness are essential towards maintaining the proper mental and physical balance in the body. From eating a balanced nutrition as well as exercising and participating in physical activities, to sleeping a healthy amount of time on a regular basis, following the best health and wellness tips can ultimately help maintain overall well-being. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables can go a long way towards helping people become healthy.

 

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TRENDING TOPIC: EXTRA EXTRA: About Chiropractic

 

 

HOW TO STOP DOMESTIC ABUSE?

HOW TO STOP DOMESTIC ABUSE?

 

domestic abuse Infographic-1-2

Domestic abuse: October is a�Domestic Violence Awareness Month, so it�is time to get a closer look at this increasing form of violent behavior. By and large, the general public is unaware of the effects domestic abuse has on its victims, other family members and society as a whole. Therefore, attempts are being made to heighten society�s awareness of the many facets of this violent crime that plagues America today.

Organizations such as�National Center for Victims of Crime,�Love is Respect Website�and�National Domestic Violence Hotline�are educating the general public as well as potential victims of domestic abuse, about the elements of the crime of Domestic abuse, how to differentiate between this family crime and other crimes, and even how to tell whether any crime has actually been committed at all.

Because people should be aware of the types of abuse crimes that fall into the category of domestic abuse, and who the victims of domestic abuse are, the center is answering questions, such as �Does one have to be a spouse or other immediate family member to be considered a victim of domestic abuse?�

WHAT IS DOMESTIC ABUSE?

This is a crime that involves abuse of family members, romantic partners, and others. The crimes of domestic abuse are numerous, ranging from verbal abuse to murder. They include emotional abuse, such as intimidation and threats, assault, battery (with or without the use of a deadly weapon), sexual abuse (i.e. spousal rape), kidnapping, and detaining one against his or her will.

When considering crimes of domestic abuse, most states consider certain relationships to be �domestic relationships.� In these states, the relationships usually include spouses, former spouses, persons who share a common child together, persons currently residing together or those that have previously shared a domestic living arrangement together, in their criteria for domestic relationships.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TODAY

The problem of Domestic violence is on the rise and becoming ever more dangerous to its victims who live in fear. However, the average person in the United States today is unaware of just how serious and out of hand the crime of domestic violence is becoming. This could possibly be because many Americans do not live with conflict and violence in their homes.

Conversely, many victims of domestic violence do not even realize that they are victims of the crime of domestic violence. They�ve been misled by their abusers and believe that the abuse they are victimized by, really is not abuse at all, but just �a way of life.�

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Richard Overton, Oldest Living US WWII Veteran, Turns 111

Richard Overton, Oldest Living US WWII Veteran, Turns 111

Richard Overton, the oldest living U.S. World War II veteran, turned 111 on Thursday in Texas.

Overton, an Austin resident, served with the Army’s 1887th Engineer Aviation Battalion in the Pacific Theater from 1942 to 1945.

He celebrated his 111th birthday with a lunch party at the University of Texas club, which was attended by Austin Mayor Steve Adler and other dignitaries. Overton received many gifts, including an autographed football from the University of Texas, ABC News reported.

The mayor declared May 11 Richard Overton Day and temporarily renamed Hamilton Avenue, where Overton lives, Richard Overton Avenue in his honor.

A GoFundMe campaign in January raised funds to allow Overton to stay in the home where he has lived for more than 70 years since he came home from the war, rather than be moved to an assisted living facility.

“111, that’s pretty old, ain’t it,” Overton said, USA Today reported. “I can still get around, I can still talk, I can still see, I can still walk.” Overton credits “cigars and God” for his longevity, admitting he had already had a few cigars that day.

Overton, a sharpshooter in the war, has been honored numerous times for his service, including for his 107th birthday having breakfast with President Barack Obama in the White House.

Overton was born May 11, 1906, in Bastrop County, Texas, Fox News reported.

Twitter users in his community and from far beyond it shared their appreciation and good wishes with Overton to mark his special day.

Gulf War Illness Linked to Changes in Microbiome

Gulf War Illness Linked to Changes in Microbiome

Hundreds of thousands of veterans of the Persian Gulf War returned home with puzzling health issues that doctors couldn’t explain. Now, 25 years later, Gulf War Illness (GWI) continues to affect 25-32 percent of the 700,000 U.S. veterans who served in the 1990-1991 war.

The condition is characterized by symptoms such as chronic headache, cognitive difficulties, debilitating fatigue, widespread pain, respiratory problems, sleep problems, gastrointestinal problems, and other unexplained medical abnormalities.

Twenty years of scientific research has traced these symptoms to Gulf War chemical exposures and the drugs taken during deployment that were meant to prevent or counteract these exposures. However, the vast majority of these studies have focused on neurological effects, but none have fully explained the body’s pathways GWI uses to affect the brain.

Now, a study from the University of South Carolina has found a gastrointestinal link that could not only help explain the health issues facing veterans, but may also point to new treatment options.

Researchers found that the chemicals, etc. that veterans were exposed to altered the microbiome — the bacteria that inhabit the gut. The affected microbiota then produce endotoxins, which pass through a thinned lining of the gut (called a leaky gut) and into the blood where they circulate throughout the body.

These compounds trigger an inflammatory response that, in turn, initiates several neurological abnormalities commonly observed in GWI.

“Humans and animals have specific types of bacteria that help aid various physiological processes, including digestion, absorption, immunity and gut integrity, and when external factors change the bacterial composition in our digestive systems, we have problems,” says researcher Saurabh Chatterjee. “Obesity, metabolic syndrome, inflammatory bowel syndrome, and liver disease have already been linked with changes in bacterial composition of the gut.”

The study showed that not only did exposures to the suspected causes of  GWI lead to inflammation in the intestines, they also lead to inflammation in the brain.

“Usually, the gut is very selective about letting only certain elements from what we eat and drink into our blood — thanks to good bacteria,” Chatterjee explained. “But when the composition changes due to an increase in certain bad bacteria, this causes disruption to the mucosal lining of the intestinal walls — leading more intestinal contents to leak into the blood.”

Once in the blood, the toxins travel throughout the body and affect different organs, including the brain. Once in the brain, the toxins cause the inflammation and neurological symptoms that previous studies have extensively linked to GWI.

“We know that many diseases like obesity, liver disease, and inflammatory bowel syndrome can be cured or at least decreased by consuming good bacteria, like probiotics,” Chatterjee said. “Now that this connection has been established, it opens the door to new studies where GWI patients take probiotics for a longer period of time and, hopefully, see improvement in symptoms connected with metabolic syndrome, gastrointestinal disturbances, and maybe even neuroinflammation.”

Recent studies have indicated that gut bacteria have an impact on a wide range of health issues. UCLA researchers found that mice fed beneficial bacteria produced microbes known to prevent cancer. Researchers suggested ingesting probiotics like yogurt or probiotic supplements could help prevent cancer from developing.

Gulf War Illness Linked to Changes in Microbiome

Gulf War Illness Linked to Changes in Microbiome

Hundreds of thousands of veterans of the Persian Gulf War returned home with puzzling health issues that doctors couldn’t explain. Now, 25 years later, Gulf War Illness (GWI) continues to affect 25-32 percent of the 700,000 U.S. veterans who served in the 1990-1991 war.

The condition is characterized by symptoms such as chronic headache, cognitive difficulties, debilitating fatigue, widespread pain, respiratory problems, sleep problems, gastrointestinal problems, and other unexplained medical abnormalities.

Twenty years of scientific research has traced these symptoms to Gulf War chemical exposures and the drugs taken during deployment that were meant to prevent or counteract these exposures. However, the vast majority of these studies have focused on neurological effects, but none have fully explained the body’s pathways GWI uses to affect the brain.

Now, a study from the University of South Carolina has found a gastrointestinal link that could not only help explain the health issues facing veterans, but may also point to new treatment options.

Researchers found that the chemicals, etc. that veterans were exposed to altered the microbiome � the bacteria that inhabit the gut. The affected microbiota then produce endotoxins, which pass through a thinned lining of the gut (called a leaky gut) and into the blood where they circulate throughout the body.

These compounds trigger an inflammatory response that, in turn, initiates several neurological abnormalities commonly observed in GWI.

“Humans and animals have specific types of bacteria that help aid various physiological processes, including digestion, absorption, immunity and gut integrity, and when external factors change the bacterial composition in our digestive systems, we have problems,” says researcher Saurabh Chatterjee. “Obesity, metabolic syndrome, inflammatory bowel syndrome, and liver disease have already been linked with changes in bacterial composition of the gut.”

The study showed that not only did exposures to the suspected causes of� GWI lead to inflammation in the intestines, they also lead to inflammation in the brain.

“Usually, the gut is very selective about letting only certain elements from what we eat and drink into our blood � thanks to good bacteria,” Chatterjee explained. “But when the composition changes due to an increase in certain bad bacteria, this causes disruption to the mucosal lining of the intestinal walls � leading more intestinal contents to leak into the blood.”

Once in the blood, the toxins travel throughout the body and affect different organs, including the brain. Once in the brain, the toxins cause the inflammation and neurological symptoms that previous studies have extensively linked to GWI.

“We know that many diseases like obesity, liver disease, and inflammatory bowel syndrome can be cured or at least decreased by consuming good bacteria, like probiotics,” Chatterjee said. “Now that this connection has been established, it opens the door to new studies where GWI patients take probiotics for a longer period of time and, hopefully, see improvement in symptoms connected with metabolic syndrome, gastrointestinal disturbances, and maybe even neuroinflammation.”

Recent studies have indicated that gut bacteria have an impact on a wide range of health issues. UCLA researchers found that mice fed beneficial bacteria produced microbes known to prevent cancer. Researchers suggested ingesting probiotics like yogurt or probiotic supplements could help prevent cancer from developing.

Fear Has Silenced Undocumented Domestic Violence Victims

Fear Has Silenced Undocumented Domestic Violence Victims

In February, an immigration enforcement case in El Paso earned the attention of domestic violence advocates across the country. As the El Paso Times reported, an undocumented woman was detained by immigration officers right after she went to the courthouse to get a restraining order against a violent and abusive partner. Domestic violence advocates were horrified, worried that it would potentially deter undocumented people from reporting abuse to law enforcement. “It sends a powerful message to victims and survivors that there is no safe place,” Ruth Glenn, executive director of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, told Bustle in February.

Now, a month later, the effect of fighting domestic violence is being felt. Sometime after the El Paso incident, Enrique Elizondo, a worker for a domestic violence hotline, received a call from an undocumented woman (I have not included any identifying details to protect her confidentiality), facing an abusive husband. According to Elizondo, she was at the point of fear that the abuse could become lethal. But, after selling all her belongings to come to the United States, she found herself feeling like she was out of options. According to Elizondo, her partner had specifically made threats about contacting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and having her deported if she took action. The El Paso case made her fear he could. Elizondo tells Bustle he tried to help her contact legal help, but the woman asked him, Is this legal advocate going to deport me? Ultimately, Elizondo says he was able to get her legal help.

Supporting All Survivors http://ow.ly/FyWI309L2IL

Five EPCH Docs named to �Best Doctors in America� List

Five EPCH Docs named to �Best Doctors in America� List

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Five physicians affiliated with El Paso Children’s Hospital appear on the Best Doctors in America® List for 2015-2016, officials from El Paso Children’s Hospital announced today.  Only five percent of doctors in America earn this prestigious honor, decided by impartial peer review.

El Paso Children’s Hospital is proud to announce that Dr. Maria Teresa Ambat, Dr. Eduardo Rosas-Blum, Dr. Gilbert A. Handal, Dr. Garrett Stephen Levin, and Dr. Lewis P. Rubin are recognized as a 2015-2016 Best Doctors in America®

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Best Doctors has earned a sterling, worldwide reputation for reliable, impartial results by remaining totally independent. Doctors cannot pay to be included in the Best Doctors database, nor are they paid to provide their input. The List is a product of validated peer review, in which doctors who excel in their specialties are selected by their peers in the profession.

In bringing together the best medical minds in the world, Best Doctors works with expert physicians from its Best Doctors in America® List to help its 30 million members worldwide get the right diagnosis and right treatment.

The highly regarded Best Doctors in America® List, assembled by Best Doctors, Inc. and audited and certified by Gallup®, results from exhaustive polling of over 40,000 physicians in the United States. Doctors in over 40 specialties and 400 subspecialties of medicine appear on this year’s List.  In a confidential review, current physician listees answer the question, “If you or a loved one needed a doctor in your specialty, to whom would you refer?”  Best Doctors, Inc. evaluates the review results, and verifies all additional information to meet detailed inclusion criteria.

The experts who are part of the Best Doctors in America® database provide the most advanced medical expertise and knowledge to patients with serious conditions – often saving lives in the process by finding the right diagnosis and right treatment.

El Paso Children’s Hospital’s group of experts listed in the database includes world-class specialists in Neonatology, Neonatal & Perinatal Medicine , Pediatric Gastroenterology and Pediatric Infectious Diseases.

Dr. Maria Teresa Ambat is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso and serves as Associate Director and Neonatologist at El Paso Children’s Hospital. Dr. Ambat is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in General Pediatrics and Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Ambat received her medical degree at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines and residency in pediatrics at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital. Ambat completed her fellowship in neonatal-perinatal medicine at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan and then completed her U.S. pediatric residency training at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso.

Ambat is a member of the Texas Medical Association and served at Texas Medical Association Committee on Maternal and Perinatal Health in 2008 to 2012. Ambat is also a member of the Texas Pediatric Society and serves at its three committees including the Fetus and Newborn Committee.

Dr. Eduardo Rosas-Blum serves as a Pediatric Gastroenterologist at El Paso Children’s Hospital and as an assistant professor of pediatrics with the Department of Pediatrics at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso.  Rosas-Blum earned his medical degree from Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara and then conducted his pediatric residency at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso.

Rosas-Blum then completed his pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition fellowship at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Houston. Dr. Rosas-Blum is currently a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society; the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition; the American Gastroenterological Association, and is Board Certified through the American Board of Pediatrics and Pediatric Gastroenterology.

Dr. Gilbert Handal serves as a Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist at El Paso Children’s Hospital and as a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso. Handal serves as the Marta Cuellar Chair for Child Advocacy for the Department of Pediatrics at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso. Handal received his medical degree from the University of Chile de Pregrado.  He went on to complete his pediatric residency at University of Chile de Pregrado and at the University of Miami, Florida. Handal completed his fellowship in infectious diseases and pediatric critical care at the University of Miami, Florida.

Dr. Garrett Levin serves as a Neonatologist at El Paso Children’s Hospital and as an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso. Dr. Levin is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in both pediatrics and neonatal-perinatal medicine.  Levin received his medical degree from the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Levin then went on to complete his pediatric residency at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso and his fellowship in neonatal-perinatal medicine from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.

Dr. Lewis P. Rubin serves as Chief Neonatologist at El Paso Children’s Hospital and as Professor and Vice-Chair for Research in the Department of Pediatrics and Professor of Biomedical Sciences in the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso. He is certified in Pediatrics and Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine through the American Board of Pediatrics. Dr. Rubin received his medical degree from Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut.

He then completed his residency in pediatrics, a fellowship in newborn medicine, and a postdoctoral fellowship in molecular endocrinology at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital.  Dr. Rubin is a recognized authority on intensive care of premature babies and of infants who have complex metabolic, cardiorespiratory, or neurodevelopmental disorders or multiple congenital anomalies.  He has received numerous honors and has authored more than 100 articles, invited reviews, and book chapters.

His research focuses on pregnancy, prematurity prevention, neonatal nutrition and metabolism, eye/brain development, and health disparities.  Dr. Rubin has been an international consultant in women’s and infant care. He has been named a Top Doctor from 2007 to the present in the U.S. News & World Report “Top Doctors” List. Rubin is an elected member of the American Pediatric Society and has been a longstanding funded investigator with the National Institutes of Health.

About Best Doctors, Inc.:
Best Doctors works with the best five percent of doctors, ranked by impartial peer review, to help people get the right diagnosis and right treatment. Gallup has certified Best Doctors as using the highest industry standards survey methodology and processes in polling physicians to discover the doctors they would choose for their own care.

Founded in 1989 by Harvard Medical School physicians, the global health solutions company, which has grown to over 30 million members worldwide, uses state-of-the-art technology capabilities to deliver improved health outcomes while reducing costs.

Best Doctors seamlessly integrates its trusted health services with Fortune 1000 employers, insurers and other groups in every major region of the world.  For further information, visit Best Doctors at www.bestdoctors.com

Author: EP Children’s Hospital

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