Bulldog Wellness

What is the thyroid?

It is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of the neck and is part of your endocrine system.

What does the thyroid do?

It secretes hormones into the blood to be carried throughout the body. These hormones control metabolism, growth and development.

Thought to be one of the most important endocrine organs, the thyroid plays a vital role in how our bodies function. However 60% of people with thyroid disease are unaware of their condition. There are several different types of thyroid disease: hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, nodules, goiter, thyroiditis, and cancer; but the two most common are hypothyroidism (underactive) and hyperthyroidism (overactive).

Warning signs of underactive thyroid can include feeling fatigue (both mental and physical), cold intolerance, constipation, weight gain, hair loss, and depression. When your thyroid is underactive it slows the body down. Contrary to this, when your thyroid is overactive it speeds your body up, so symptoms can include racing heart rate, anxiety, insomnia, weight loss despite increased appetite, sweating/ heat intolerance, and muscle weakness.

Women are 5-8 times more likely to experience thyroid problems when compared to men, and 1:8 women will develop a thyroid disorder in her lifetime. Although, most thyroid diseases are life-long they can usually be managed with proper medical attention. If you have symptoms or concerns please speak with your health care provider. There are several blood tests that can be done to evaluate thyroid function.

Congress designates January as Cervical Health Awareness Month to highlight issues related to cervical cancer, HPV, and the importance of early detection. In the US about 14,000 women are diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer each year. Screening and prevention are key factors in efforts to decrease and eliminate cervical cancer. HPV is a viral infection that causes skin or mucous membrane growths (warts). While there are more than 100 types of HPV, most do not lead to cancer. However, more than 95% of cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV (human papillomavirus) infection.

There is now a vaccine to protect against HPV. The vaccine is recommended for children (male and female) 11-12 years of age. It is a 2 dose series given 6 months apart. It is typically not recommended for adults over 26 years of age, however some adults 27-45 who have not been previously vaccinated can speak with their providers about possible benefits. The vaccine usually has less benefits for adults as many have already been exposed to HPV.

Regular Pap tests are important to reducing the risk of cervical cancer because they can catch, and lead to treatment of the disease at the pre-cancerous stage. Women 21-29 should have a Pap test every 3 years with normal results, women 30-65 have a few options for testing (HPV only test every 5 years, HPV test along with a Pap test every 5 years, or a Pap only test with normal results every 3 years), and over 65 years of age you may not need to be screened anymore if you meet certain criteria.

HPV infection and early cervical cancer usually do not cause noticeable symptoms. Vaccination (if eligible) is the best protection against cervical cancer, and regular screening tests are important to detect pre-cancerous changes that may lead to cancer. If you have any questions or concerns please seek the advice of your primary care doctor.

A frequent complaint of students is "headache." A 2013 study found that 33% - 40% of children 12-15 years old have at least one headache per week, and 66% -71% have one every 3 months. Headaches can be caused by a lot of different things, including but not limited to: sleep, stress, infection, eye problems, screen time, hormones, emotional factors, diet, head trauma and others.

When a student complains of headache nurses become detectives to determine what the underlying cause may be. Often kids (and adults alike) immediately reach for the ibuprofen or Tylenol bottle - however this is not always necessary and regular use of even over the counter medication are not without risk. This is why nurses often encourage other solutions before giving medication.

Side effects of ibuprofen (Motrin/ Advil) include headache, nausea/ vomiting, dizziness, and a host of others. Regular use of ibuprofen can eventually cause kidney damage, increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

Side effects of acetaminophen (Tylenol) include headache, nausea/ vomiting, and fatigue. Regular use of acetaminophen can cause liver damage leading to liver transplant or even death.

While there is no specific definition of 'regular use' our orders, signed by the district medical director, state that, "if a pattern of headaches is noted (3 times per week or more), the student should be referred to their physician and medication will not be administered without written physician approval."

As you can see from the risks associated with even these over the counter medications why nurses may try non-pharmacological interventions before reaching for a bottle of medicine. In fact many times the student can try these without a trip to the nurse by drinking water, taking some deep breaths (oxygen), and waiting/ resting about 15-30 minutes. WOW!

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless pork chops, cut 1/2" thick (about 1 pound)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1 Tbsp finely snipped fresh rosemary or 1 tsp dried rosemary crushed
• 3 cloves minced garlic

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a shallow roasting pan with foil. Sprinkle all sides of chops with salt and pepper; set aside. In a small bowl combine rosemary and garlic. Sprinkle rosemary mixture evenly over all sides of the chops; rub in with your fingers.

2. Place chops on a rack in the shallow roasting pan. Roast chops for 10-12 minutes, or until a thermometer inserted in the chop reaches 145 degrees.

https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/263155/rosemary-garlic-pork-chops/