I recently received some feedback from a reader in response to an article I wrote that was published in The West Australian Newspaper. It went like this…
Hi Marian, I do not presume to know about your job - indeed I am a far cry from a beautician! However Jan’s letter to you in today’s column alerted me to another possible reason for the puffiness of her eyes. A visit to the GP, as you suggested, may look into the possibility of Jan having thyroid disease. My own daughter was diagnosed with this quite a few years ago, when the only obvious symptom she had was puffy eyes… Cheers, Allison P”
My response…
Thank you for your feedback and indeed you are correct in relation to the puffy eyes as being a sign of thyroid disease. This is because Hypothyroidism leads to increases in capillary permeability and slowing of lymphatic drainage causing a swelling of the tissues or edema. As with your daughter it was seen under the thin skin of the eyes. As thyroid hormones affect every cell in the body a deficiency will usually result in a large number of signs and symptoms. Depression, weakness and fatigue are usually the first symptoms but often they get played down only to be explained away by other situations that may be happening in the persons life at the time. So at times it can be a while before a person will go to their GP or seeks help and answers.
As I am a natural health practitioner my knowledge is both from a scientific base, (Medical) as well as a natural health base, (Naturopathy). I think that your point is important about presuming about someone’s health and I have always lead with the belief to not presume and always ask questions. When you are treating a client if there is evidence of a medical condition or you feel that the client is just not responding to their treatment as you would expect, it should always be suggested that they have a health review. As Natural Health Practitioner I offer this service to my clients and this allows problems solving on a health and medical focus rather than skin and connective tissue focus.
About The Author
Marian Rubock owns and operates the LSM Wellness Clinic, a Natural Health Clinic in
admin said,
May 31, 2008 @ 8:04 pmSupport and Self help for West Australian Article Re Hypothroidism.
There is a simple tool which can be used over a month to see if you have any signs of Hypothyroidism. Follow the link at the end of this comment and down load the temperature chart. By monitoring your temperature each morning beofre you get out of bed and charting it you will be able to see if there is any indication, along with other symptomology of this disease. See your Natural health practitioenr or your GP with any concerns and take the chart. The directions are on the chart and your temperture should sit around 36.5 degressC each morning when you take it under your arm pit.
Marian Rubock Natural Health Practitioner