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Temperature Regulation for Thyroid
Testing
Do you ever experience fatigue, depression, difficulty
concentrating, difficulty getting up in the morning, cold hands and feet or
intolerance to cold, constipation, loss of hair, fluid retention, dry skin,
poor resistance to infection, high cholesterol, psoriasis, eczema, acne,
premenstrual syndrome, loss of menstrual periods, painful or irregular
menstrual periods, excessive menstrual bleeding, infertility (male or
female), fibrocystic breast disease, or ovarian cysts? If so, you may have an
under-active thyroid. It is often seen in people who suffer from multiple
allergies, immune disorders and chronic fatigue. Normal temperature
regulation in the body is essential for enzyme functions and preservation of
health. Whenever our molecular and immune defenses are stressed, three body
organs take the brunt of the injury; the thyroid, pancreas and adrenal
glands. The evaluation of the functional status of the thyroid gland --
hypothyroidism or under-active thyroid gland -- requires blood tests as well
as temperature records. There is considerable
evidence, however, that blood tests fail to detect many cases of
hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid). It appears that many individuals have
"tissue resistance" to thyroid hormone. Therefore, their body may
need more thyroid hormone, even though the amount in their blood is normal
(or even on the high side of normal). A low axillary
temperature suggests (but does not prove) hypothyroidism. Optimal temperature
regulation is an essential aspect of holistic therapy for these disorders. There is a simple way
to test this. Simply follow the instructions below and bring your results to
your next visit with the doctor. INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Use any digital or mercury
thermometer. Shake it down before going to bed to 96 degrees or less and put
it by your bedside. 2. In the morning, as soon as you
wake up, put the thermometer deep in your armpit for ten minutes and record
the temperature. Do these before you get out of bed, have anything to eat or
drink, or engage in any activity. This will measure your lowest temperature
of the day, which correlates with thyroid gland function. The normal
underarm temperature averages 97.8 to 98.2 degrees F. We frequently
recommend treatment if the temperature averages 97.4 or less. The temperature
should be taken for four days. 3. Each time you are taking your
temperature, it is imperative that you take both axillary
(underarm) and oral (mouth) temperatures. Both temperatures need to be taken
upon waking up as well as three hours later and then six hours after that. It
is important to do this for four days and to follow these instructions carefully
in order to get accurate results. 4. For women, the temperature
should be taken starting the second day of menstruation. The reason is
because a considerable temperature rise may occur around the time of
ovulation and give incorrect results. If you miss a day, that is okay, but be
sure to finish the testing before ovulation. For men, and for postmenopausal
women, it makes no difference when the temperatures are taken. However, do
not do the test when you have an infection or any other condition which would
raise your temperature.
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