Hypothyroidism in Pregnancy Goes Largely Undiagnosed

January 16, 2012

Researchers combed through 117,892 Quest Diagnsotics records and found that about 15% of women tested positive for gestational diabetes. Based on this finding, they estimate that as many as 483,000 women with gestational diabetes may go undiagnosed every year. Asian women had the highest rates of being tested and being positive for this condition, and older women and overweight women were much more likely to be tested during pregnancy.

Hypothyroidism during pregnancy can lead to lower IQ scores in children after birth.

I’ve written extensively before that pregnancy increases your chances of sleep-breathing problems, especially in light of significant weight gain that occurs. Gaining weight is a major risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea, which has been shown to significantly increase your risk or diabetes and hypertension. Any form of physiologic stress can has been shown to lower your thyroid levels as well. You don’t have to have obstructive sleep apnea to have significant breathing problems at night.

Having low thyroid levels can also promote weight gain. Poor sleep quality also promotes weight gain. Weight gain narrows your throat, causing more breathing problems. It’s a vicious cycle. Regardless of which comes first (sleep apnea or hypothyroidism), it’s a two-way street.

If you consider that our population as a whole is now heavier, and women are having babies at much later ages, then hypothyroidism is one of many conditions related to sleep-breathing problems and pregnancy that is expected to increase in numbers.

Browse several inpatient drug rehab centers!

Written by Steven Park · Filed Under Blog | 2 Comments

Newborn Screening vs. Sleep Apnea Screening

November 28, 2010

I recently came across an article that touted the importance of newborn screenings, such as for PKU, hypothyroidism, galactosemia, and sickle cell disease. The rationale for these tests is that if detected, simple treatments can prevent serious health problems, or even death. Just out of curiosity, I looked up the incidence of these four conditions and found the following: PKU (1/50,000 births or .002%), hypothyroidism (1/4,000 or .025%), galactosemia (1/60,000 or .002%), and sickle cell disease (1/1,000 or .1%).

While it’s important to pick up these rare, but treatable conditions. But with the incidence of obstructive sleep apnea estimated at 24% for men and 9% for women, I wonder why it’s not screened for routinely. We know that untreated, sleep apnea can cause or aggravate high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and even early death. Your chances of getting into a car accident increases 4 to 7 times normal. With a number of simple screening tests as well as relatively reliable home sleep studies, this condition should be screened for on every routine physical exam. Doctors have to throw out everything that they learn about sleep apnea in medical school and training—that sleep apnea patients are typically overweight, snore, and have big necks. We now know that even young, thin women that don’t snore can have significant sleep apnea.

During your last visit for your annual physical exam, did your doctor ask your about sleep or about sleep apnea?

Written by Steven Park · Filed Under Blog | 1 Comment

Does Oprah Have Sleep Apnea?

January 13, 2009

Oprah’s recent revelation in her magazine that she’s back above the 200 pound threshold made a lot of headlines recently. She was quoted as saying that rather than falling off the wagon, the wagon fell on her. Oprah attributes her weight problem to an ongoing thyroid condition. An excellent detailed description of her thyroid condition can be found on Mary Shomon’s site.

Ninety percent of women with obstructive sleep apnea in this country are undiagnosed. Instead, they are treated for the signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, such as weight gain, depression, hypothyroidism, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. It doesn’t matter if you’re a celebrity—many women are susceptible to sleep-breathing problems, especially if you’re peri or post-menopausal.

Here are the tell-tale signs that Oprah may be suffering from untreated sleep apnea, including:

• yo-yo-like weight fluctuations

• her highly publicized diets and weight loss programs

• her well-known thyroid hormone imbalance

• an admitted food addict and cravings for junk food

• her feelings of depression and anxiety

• her chronic fatigue

I can prove that Oprah has sleep apnea—all she has to do is to undergo a formal sleep study.

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