root cause

View the Show Notes For This Episode

Get Free Weekly Health Tips from Dr. Hyman

Sign Up for Dr. Hyman’s Weekly Longevity Journal

Get Ad-free Episodes & Dr. Hyman+ Audio Exclusives

Do you feel fatigued, lethargic, and sluggish, especially when you wake up in the morning? Do you have poor-quality, cracked nails? Are you cold all the time? Do you have dry skin, coarse hair, or hair loss? Are you depressed? Are you constipated? Do you have muscle and joint pains? 

If you answered yes to any of the above, you may be one of the 38 million Americans with low thyroid function. 

In today’s episode of a new series I’m calling Know Your Numbers, I dive deep into thyroid dysfunction. I discuss why millions of people suffer with undetected thyroid issues, how conventional medicine misses the mark in measuring thyroid levels, how Functional Medicine treats hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, and much more.

You can test your magnesium levels with Function Health, a company I co-founded. It has been a lifelong dream for me. Function is the first-ever membership that includes 100+ lab tests and personalized insights from globally renowned doctors based on your results. Join Function at FunctionHealth.com.

This episode is brought to you by Mitopure and AG1.

Support essential mitochondrial health and save 10% on Mitopure. Visit TimelineNutrition.com/Drhyman and use the code DRHYMAN10.

Get your daily serving of vitamins, minerals, adaptogens, and more with AG1. Head to DrinkAG1.com/Hyman and get 10 FREE travel packs plus a FREE Welcome Kit with your first order.

Here are more details from the episode (audio version / Apple Subscriber version):

• Symptoms and prevalence of hypothyroidism (4:29 / 2:29)
• Autoimmune thyroid disorders: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and hyperthyroidism (7:37 /  5:37)
• What does a healthy, hypo- and hyper- thyroid gland do? (8:55 / 6:55)
• Risk factors for thyroid problems (15:58 / 13:58)
• Gluten and other drivers of thyroid problems (17:40 / 15:40)
• How conventional medicine misses the mark with thyroid testing and treatment (22:15 / 20:15)
• The Functional Medicine approach to thyroid testing and treatment (25:21 / 23:21) 
• Addressing poor thyroid function using diet, lifestyle, and supplements diet (28:59 / 26:59)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode

Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content

Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter

Stuart McGill is a distinguished professor emeritus at the University of Waterloo and the chief scientific officer at Backfitpro Inc. where he specializes in evaluating complex cases of lower back pain from across the globe. In this episode, Stuart engages in a deep exploration of lower back pain, starting with the anatomy of the lower back, the workings of the spine, the pathophysiology of back pain, and areas of vulnerability. He challenges the concept of nonspecific back pain, emphasizing the importance of finding a causal relationship between injury and pain. Stuart highlights compelling case studies of the successful treatment of complex cases of lower back pain, reinforcing his conviction that nobody needs to suffer endlessly. He also covers the importance of strength and stability, shares his favorite exercises to prescribe to patients, and provides invaluable advice for maintaining a healthy spine.

We discuss:

• Peter’s experience with debilitating back pain [3:30];
• Anatomy of the back: spine, discs, facet joints, and common pain points [14:45];
• Lower back injuries and pain: acute vs. chronic, impact of disc damage, microfractures, and more [24:45];
• Why the majority of back injuries happen around the L4, L5, and S1 joints [31:00];
• How the spine responds to forces like bending and loading, and how it adapts do different athletic activities [36:15];
• The pathology of bulging discs [43:15];
• The pathophysiology of Peter’s back pain, injuries from excessive loading, immune response to back injuries, muscle relaxers, and more [46:00];
• The three most important exercises Stuart prescribes, how he assesses patients, and the importance of tailored exercises based on individual needs and body types [56:15];
• The significance of strength and stability in preventing injuries and preserving longevity [1:08:15];
• Stuart’s take on squats and deadlifting: potential risks, alternatives, and importance of correct movement patterns [1:19:30];
• Helping patients with psychological trauma from lower back pain by empowering them with the understanding of the mechanical aspects of their pain [1:30:00];
• Empowering patients through education and understanding of their pain through Stuart’s clinic and work through BackFitPro [1:39:00];
• When surgical interventions may be appropriate, and “virtual surgery” as an alternative [1:46:45];
• Weakness, nerve pain, and stenosis: treatments, surgical considerations, and more [1:55:30];
• Tarlov cysts: treatment and surgical considerations [2:00:15];
• The evolution of patient assessments and the limitations of MRI [2:02:15];
• Pain relief related to stiffness and muscle bulk through training [2:07:00];
• Advice for the young person on how to keep a healthy spine [2:14:15];
• Resources for individuals dealing with lower back pain [2:25:30]; and
• More.

Connect With Peter on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

Today’s episode is a re-release of a conversation I had just over 2 years ago, a few weeks after completing the London marathon for the very first time. I have decided to re-release it because I am seeing so much online about people being injured, struggling with their running, their walking or their sport. I believe that this conversation - and my wonderful guest - can help.

My guest is my dear friend, Helen Hall. Helen is a movement therapist, she's a running coach, a pain expert…in fact, to be frank, all of these labels feel a little bit limiting - in many ways, I would call her a detective for the human body.

Helen has had a lifelong passion for analysing posture and movement, and her clients include elite athletes as well as regular everyday folk who simply want to walk or run pain-free. She combines objective clarity from motion analysis technology, 46 years of visual experience, and study in the field, to seek out the root causes of chronic pain and injury that often seem resistant to standard treatment protocols.

Helen first shared her movement philosophy in her wonderful book Even With Your Shoes On. More recently, she has launched an online course called PFM Pilot. It is aimed at both professionals working in the field of movement, pain, and injury, and also for amateurs keen to learn more and help themselves.

We look at the core principles of Helen’s approach. Awareness is everything and she teaches clients to really notice what their body is doing. Where is your head sitting? How are you using your arms? It’s only when you’ve noticed that you can begin to change. And changing means becoming more efficient – learning the adjustments that help you to move with freedom. Movement, Helen points out, is a ‘job share’. We need to be able to recruit as much of our bodies as we can to do it well.

I can testify to this holistic approach. Working with Helen hasn’t just changed my running, it’s helped me to walk faster, breathe better and stand more comfortably. It’s made me aware of how past injuries and trauma can affect you for decades. I’ve even learned how the surgery I had for appendicitis as a child played a huge part in my experience running the London Marathon.

And, this conversation is my first real deep dive into my marathon experience. It wasn’t the race I’d planned, but it turned out to be the race I needed. Helen helps me unpack why I found it so emotional and explains why my physical struggles were a sign of progress not limitation. I hope this conversation conveys just how valuable I think Helen’s approach is. Whether running is for you or not, I know it’ll get you thinking about how you’re sitting or standing right now, and noticing how you use your body for the rest of the day.

Thanks to our sponsors:

https://www.vivobarefoot.com/livemore

https://drinkag1.com/livemore

Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/391

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Check out a few minutes of the latest podcast from NPR: Hidden Brain. Shankar Vedantam explores what happens when two people think they are talking about the same thing, but in reality are speeding down separate tracks. It usually doesn't end well.