8 Signs Of Hypothyroidism Beyond Tiredness & Weight Gain
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When it comes to hypothyroidism, most people know to look out for tiredness and weight gain, and possibly menstrual disturbances in those who menstruate. But those symptoms could be caused by very many things, so what more specific signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism should we look out for?
Dr. James O’Donovan shows us in this short video:
The lesser-known signs
Dr. O’Donovan discusses:
- Asteatotic eczema (also called: eczema craquelé): dry, cracked skin with a “crazy paving” appearance, leading to fissures. It’s common on the lower legs, back, torso, and arms, especially in older patients and especially in winter.
- Cold peripheries with pale, dry, coarse skin: cold hands and feet, along with dryness due to decreased sweating; these invariably come together, though the exact link is unclear.
- Yellowish hue to the skin (carotenoderma): yellow-orange discoloration from elevated beta-carotene levels. This can easily be mistaken for jaundice and also occurs in diabetes, liver, and kidney diseases.
- Thin, brittle hair: the hair on one’s head may become dry, coarse, and fall out in handfuls.
- Loss of hair on the outer third of eyebrows: thinning or disappearance of hair in this very specific area.
- Slow-growing, rigid, brittle nails: slowed nail growth due to decreased cell turnover rate. Ridges may form as keratin cells accumulate.
- Myxedema: puffy face, eyelids, legs, and feet caused by tissue swelling from cutaneous deposition.
- Delayed wound healing: is what it sounds like; a slower healing process.
10almonds note: this video, like much of medical literature as well, does focus on what things are like for white people. Black people with hypothyroidism are more likely to see a lightening of hair pigmentation, and, in contrast, hyperpigmentation of the skin, usually in patches. We couldn’t find data for other ethnicities or skintones, but it does seem that most of the signs and symptoms (unrelated to pigmentation) should be the same for most people.
Meanwhile, for more on the above 8 signs, with visuals, enjoy:
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Want to learn more?
You might also like to read:
The Three Rs To Boost Thyroid-Related Energy Levels
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Fig vs Mango – Which is Healthier?
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Our Verdict
When comparing figs to mangos, we picked the figs.
Why?
In terms of macros, figs have 2x the fiber and only slightly more carbs, for the lower glycemic index, and a win in this category.
In the category of vitamins, figs have more of vitamins B1, B2, B5, B6, B7, and K, while mango has more of vitamins A, B2, B9, C, E, and choline, for a 6:6 tie.
Looking at minerals, figs have more calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc, while mangos have more copper and selenium; a clear a win for figs.
When it comes to other considerations, it’s worth noting also that figs are higher in polyphenols, another point in their favor.
Adding up the sections makes for a clear overall win for figs, but by all means enjoy either or both; diversity is good!
Want to learn more?
You might like:
From Apples to Bees, and High-Fructose Cs: Which Sugars Are Healthier, And Which Are Just The Same?
Enjoy!
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How Does Anesthesia Work?
10almonds is reader-supported. We may, at no cost to you, receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.
What do we know, and what mysteries remain?
Lights-out
Anesthesia doesn’t simply make you “sleep”—it creates a controlled state combining unconsciousness, immobility, memory loss, and pain prevention so surgery can happen without psychological trauma, or more physical trauma than necessary.
- Local anesthesia: local (or “regional”) anesthetics block pain from a specific body area by preventing electrical impulses in nerves from reaching your brain, usually by locking ion channels in neuron membranes; cocaine was one of the first discovered examples, though safer (albeit often related!) drugs are now more common.
- General anesthesia: major surgery usually merits whole-body anesthesia, often (but not always) using inhaled agents like ether, nitrous oxide, or modern sevoflurane, often (but not always) combined with intravenous drugs such as propofol for unconsciousness and (for example) fentanyl for pain relief*.
Yes, pain relief is important even when you’re not conscious and can’t feel it, because the nerves themselves are still active, and thus without simultaneous pain relief, even if you are unconscious and thus not suffering in the slightest, your body will internally respond as though you are, meaning for example that your heartrate will skyrocket, and you’ll be dumping adrenaline and cortisol like there’s no tomorrow (because so far as your body has reason to believe, there will indeed be no tomorrow unless we wake up and deal with whatever vicious animal is tearing us apart).
How anesthetics work: many anesthetics disrupt communication between different brain regions (we mostly don’t know how), reducing the chaotic connectivity associated with wakefulness (again, we mostly don’t know how), and/but with at least part of it being how they act on receptors like GABA-A to increase inhibitory signals and suppress neural activity—which, to be clear, we are almost certain plays an important role; it’s just not sufficient to explain the full effect by itself.
For more on all of this, enjoy:
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Want to learn more?
You might also like:
Calm For Surgery – by Dr Chris Bonney
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Asparagus vs Brussels Sprouts – Which is Healthier?
10almonds is reader-supported. We may, at no cost to you, receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.
Our Verdict
When comparing asparagus to Brussels sprouts, we picked the sprouts.
Why?
Both are great! But…
In terms of macros, Brussels sprouts have more fiber, carbs, and protein, making them the more nutrient-dense option in the macros category.
In the category of vitamins, asparagus has slightly more of vitamins B1, B2, B3, and E, while Brussels sprouts have more of vitamins B5, B6, B7, B9, C, K, and choline, making a respectable win for sprouts there.
When it comes to minerals, asparagus has more coper, iron, selenium, and zinc, while Brussels sprouts have more calcium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and potassium, for a more marginal win this time.
Looking at phytochemicals, asparagus has about 10x the polyphenol content (notably, quercetin), and thus scores a win here.
Adding up the sections makes for a convincing overall win for Brussels sprouts, but asparagus definitely has its merits too, so by all means enjoy either or both; diversity is good!
Want to learn more?
You might like:
Good Things Come In Small Packages: Sprout Your Seeds, Grains, Beans, Etc ← one of the reasons sprouts are so potent!
Enjoy!
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The Starch Solution – by Dr. John McDougall & Mary McDougall
10almonds is reader-supported. We may, at no cost to you, receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.
Carb-strong or carb-wrong? We’ve written about this ourselves before, and it comes down to clarifying questions of what and how and why. Even within the general field of carbs, even within the smaller field of starch, not all foods are equal. A slice of white bread and a baked potato are both starchy, but the latter also contains fiber, vitamins, minerals, and suchlike.
The authors make the case for a whole-foods plant-based diet in which one need not shy away from starchy foods in general; one simply must enjoy them discriminately—whole grains, and root vegetables that have not been processed to Hell and back, for examples.
The style is “old-school pop-sci” but with modern science; claims are quite well-sourced throughout, with nine pages of bibliography at the end. Right after the ninety-nine pages of recipes!
Bottom line: if you’re a carb-enjoyer, all is definitely not lost healthwise, and in fact on the contrary, this can be the foundation of a very healthy and nutrient-rich diet.
Click here to check out The Starch Solution, and enjoy the foods you love, healthily!
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6 Rules For Stronger Nails
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Dr. Sam Ellis advises how, and it’s not what most people think of first:
What makes the most difference
We won’t keep the six core things a mystery!
And, contrary to popular marketing, you’ll not find “skin, hair, and nails” supplements on this list.
Instead, Dr. Ellis recommends:
- Keep your hands, cuticles, and nail plates moisturized
- Use hand-shielding lotion for frequent washing
- Apply nail oils to nails and cuticles consistently
- Avoid harsh removers like prolonged acetone soaking
- Gently file and trim your nails to prevent snags
- Avoid using your nails as tools, and wear gloves for chores
For example, about not using your nails as tools… This writer has medium-length nails most of the time (I like the look of almond-shaped* nails, but over a certain size, they start interfering with my typing and must be trimmed), and/but if ever I need to open something (e.g. ring-pull on canned goods in the kitchen) I lift it up using a short and rather blunt knife that I keep for exclusively that purpose.
*appropriately enough, as a 10almonds team member!
Dr. Ellis also mentions nutrition, advising to ensure adequate protein intake, and to investigate iron deficiency causes before supplementing, if it looks like that might be needed (or else you may be treating a symptom rather than the problem, and might not even be successful at treating the symptom, if the cause of anemia is “can’t absorb iron properly”, for example). In terms of other supplements, collagen may help (being essentially a rather bioavailable protein), but biotin has mixed evidence and megadoses can interfere with certain blood tests, so be aware of that if supplementing.
She’s not a fan of beauty salon treatments, noting (as we have before at 10almonds) that removal of gels, acrylics, or dip powders often damages nails through acetone soaking and filing. Nor is she a fan of Russian manicures that cut away cuticles, as they increase risk of infections and irregular (read: in-growing) nail growth.
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Want to learn more?
You might also like:
The Counterintuitive Dos and Don’ts of Nail Health
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Dangers Of Root Canals And Crowns, & What To Do Instead
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Dr. Michelle Jorgensen, a dentist, tells us that it’s a lot rarer than people think to actually need a crown or a root canal; there are ways of avoiding such:
The tooth, the whole tooth, and nothing but the tooth?
First, some of the problems with the treatments that are most popular, especially in the US:
Problems with root canals:
- Involves cleaning and filling the tooth’s main canal but leaves microtubules that can harbor dead tissue and attract bacteria.
- This can lead to infections, often undetected for a long time due to the nerve removal, potentially harming overall health and weakening the tooth.
- Root canals often result in brittle teeth that can break, necessitating crowns.
And then…
Problems with crowns:
- A crown requires significant removal of tooth structure (up to 1.5 mm of enamel), making the tooth more vulnerable and sensitive.
- Crowns can also lead to new cavities underneath due to weak bonding to dentin.
- The cycle often leads from a healthy tooth to fillings, crowns, root canals, and eventual extraction (and then, perhaps, an implant in its place). That’s great for the dentist, but not so great for you.
Biomimetic dentistry the exciting name currently being used for what has been more prosaically called “conservative restorative dentistry”, which in turn has also been known by other names in recent decades, and its goal is to strengthen and preserve natural teeth as much as possible.
Methods it uses:
- Treats affected but still living teeth with non-invasive procedures.
- Uses ozone treatment to kill bacteria in deep cavities, avoiding direct nerve exposure.
- Applies conservative partial restorations like onlays instead of full crowns.
Benefits of this approach:
- Preserves enamel, minimizes trauma, and reduces the risk of tooth death.
- Maintains long-term tooth structure and health.
- 95% success rate in saving affected teeth without resorting to root canals.
In short, Dr. Jorgensen says that 60–80% of traditional crowns and root canals can be avoided. Which is surely a good thing.
For more on all of this, enjoy:
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Want to learn more?
You might also like:
Tooth Remineralization: How To Heal Your Teeth Naturally
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