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We all know that alcohol and a good time often go hand in hand, but did you know that those boozy adventures could be playing a secret symphony with your thyroid?
It's time to pull back the curtain on a lesser-known consequence of that boozy escapade.
This article explores the surprising link between alcohol consumption and hypothyroidism, separating fact from fiction.
It’s time to dive deep into the impact of those after-work libations on your body's metabolic maestro.
Certain gene changes can put you at higher risk for developing many chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and even hypothyroidism.
Learning about your genetic risks can help plan preventional strategies even before the symptoms appear.
The thyroid is a gland located in the neck and is known to produce hormones that help in metabolism and influence the growth and development of the human body.
Due to the number of body functions the gland regulates, a properly-functioning thyroid is essential for good health.
The thyroid releases more hormones into the bloodstream when the body requires more energy in certain conditions like pregnancy or temperature fluctuations.
The thyroid produces three hormones, namely:
Iodine is the building block for both these hormones.
Since the body cannot make its iodine, adequate consumption of this trace element is required for proper thyroid functioning.
Abnormal functioning of the thyroid gland can cause hormonal imbalances, which affect other body systems, including the immune and nervous systems.
1 in 20 people is affected by thyroid dysfunction during their lifetime.
Two common conditions that affect the thyroid gland are:
It is characterized by an excessive production of thyroid hormones.
While this condition can occur in both sexes, it is more common in adult women.
This condition is called hypothyroidism.
Both an overactive and a sluggish thyroid gland impact metabolism and may cause a variety of symptoms.
When the thyroid gland is underactive, it will release lesser quantities of T3 and T4 into the bloodstream.
This will slow down the body’s metabolism.
Women are more likely to develop hypothyroidism than men, and this condition is more common among people older than 60.
Other risk factors for hypothyroidism include:
The symptoms of hypothyroidism vary from person to person, but a few common symptoms of this condition are:
While not many know, alcohol consumption affects the thyroid gland and may result in hypothyroidism.
The thyroid gland is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary axis located in the brain.
Any form of substance abuse, including drugs and alcohol, has a direct suppressive effect on this axis.
This suppressive effect is also observed in the thyroid, which forms a part of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis.
Several studies have shown that the effect of alcohol on the HPT axis and thyroid functioning is significant.
The exact mechanism of how alcohol consumption affects thyroid function is unclear, but it may have a suppressive effect on the gland.
One suggested mechanism for the same is that alcohol causes cellular toxicity (toxicity caused due to the action of external agents on living cells), resulting in the suppression of thyroid function.
There is some evidence that consuming alcohol suppresses the HPT axis, which in turn reduces the production of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH).
Reduced TSH also means a reduction in the production of T3 and T4 from the thyroid gland.
Research also suggests that during alcohol withdrawal, peripheral thyroid hormones, i.e., T3 and T4, are suppressed.
The degree of suppression is associated with the severity of withdrawal.
This thyroid suppression may increase withdrawal dysphoria and increase the risk of relapse in people with alcoholism.
The pituitary gland located in the brain produces thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).
TSH regulates the production of T3 and T4, which require iodine.
Since alcohol causes cellular toxicity on the thyroid cells, consuming it may suppress thyroid function and reduce thyroid volume.
A study found that T3, T4, and TSH levels were low in people who consumed alcohol for 20 years.
Depending on your alcohol metabolizing genes, the effect alcohol has on one’s body can be different from that of others. Learning about these genes can help you understand your alcohol tolerance and reduce the risk of side effects and health hazards of alcohol.
Alcohol Flush: Red Face After Drinking? Here's Why
There are some studies on how alcohol consumption affects thyroid cancer.
These findings may be because alcohol prevents the effect of rapid TSH production on the thyroid follicular cells, thereby reducing cancer risk.
However, more studies are required to conclusively prove that alcohol has a protective effect on thyroid cancer.
Since alcohol consumption slows down thyroid function, it is always recommended to practice abstinence if you are taking medication for thyroid problems.
Though there are no known interactions between commonly used thyroid medications and alcohol, these substances alter thyroid function.
Therefore, to allow your thyroid to regain its normal functioning, follow your medication prescription and quit alcohol.
Despite the ill effects of alcohol on the thyroid gland, a treatment called alcohol ablation therapy (percutaneous ethanol injection or PEI) is used in thyroid cancer treatment.
This treatment helps destroy cancer cells that reoccur and those which spread to lymph nodes without surgery.
PEI is also used to shrink large fluid-filled thyroid nodules and cysts.
During this procedure, ethanol is directly injected through a needle or catheter.
The side effects and complications of this treatment are found to be minimal.
Have you ever experienced a sudden and unexplained pain in your back?
While incorrect posture and a sedentary lifestyle can explain the pain, there is another surprising cause for your back pains!
Stress.
Our muscles tense up unconsciously when we are under pressure.
This can cause muscle inflammation and soreness in various parts of our bodies, such as the neck, shoulders, and back. If left unattended over time, this condition can worsen into an endless cycle of pain.
So, if you're dealing with back pain, it's time to examine your stress levels more closely and discover ways to manage them effectively.
Let's explore some strategies to help you break the stress and back pain cycle.
It can disrupt various systems within our body, resulting in discomfort and prolonged health issues.
The following are some ways that stress may impact our bodies:
'Stress-related' back pain is the idea that psychological and emotional factors significantly impact the condition.
A well-known physician and professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at New York University have also introduced a widely-accepted concept regarding stress-induced back pain called 'Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS).'
He believes that psychological and emotional elements could be the sole contributing factors to back pain.
There are a bunch of studies that support this theory. Let’s have a look at some:
There are several theories on why stress can cause or worsen back pain. For example, stress can cause muscle tension, leading to pain and discomfort in the back. Additionally, stress can affect the body's inflammatory response, which may contribute to pain.
While, in some instances, physical health conditions could be responsible for chronic back pain, it is evident from these studies that any kind of emotional distress, including stress, is a significant risk factor for back pain.
However, at this point, it may be interesting to note that the relationship between stress and lower back pain may vary among individuals due to various factors, including the person’s genetic makeup.
For example, COMT is a gene that influences how people react to stress. This gene comes in 3 variants:
So, depending on their genetic makeup, even if two people are under the same stressful conditions, they may respond differently to stress.
Gene changes or variations can also affect an individual's pain perception and the response to and effectiveness of pain medication.
Therefore, incorporating genetic information can lead to personalized treatment plans and better management of this condition.
Stress-related back pain is increasingly recognized with different symptoms and treatment considerations.
The overall characteristics of stress-related back pain include symptoms such as:
In many stress-related back pain cases, patients complain of the pain 'moving around.'
Pain connected to stress can differ in duration based on numerous elements, including discomfort and the person's reaction to strain.
Unaddressed stress-related back pain can result in enduring distress, thus making it paramount to secure medicinal attention if you think your back ache is due to strain.
Stress-induced back pain can be relieved through various methods.
Here are some tips that can help:
Stress-related back pain is a growing concern for many individuals today.
However, it can be relieved through various methods, including stress reduction techniques, regular exercise, stretching, good posture, and ergonomic workstations.
If you suspect your back pain is stress-related, seeking medical advice to rule out other possible causes is recommended.
A healthcare professional can create a treatment plan considering physical and emotional pain. This may include exercises, physical therapy, and stress management techniques.
Hypertension is referred to as the “silent killer” as it does not exhibit any symptoms until the situation is serious.
Hypertension is not a disease but a symptom that leads to several other diseases.
The symptoms of hypertension are as follows:
The definite or exact causes of hypertension are unknown but the risk factors or the probable causes of hypertension are as follows:
Normal measuring of the blood pressure will give you an idea of your blood pressure.
Some clinical tests used to diagnose hypertension are:
Here are a few ways to treatment options for hypertension:
Hypertension is claiming lives of millions around the world and causing difficulty in the lives of many more. Some lifestyle changes and dietary changes not only prevent but also control the disease to a greater extent.
Drug discoveries have always played a role in improving the quality of life and increasing the average lifespan of the human race.
With an increase in novel infections and chronic diseases, the need for new drugs is more crucial than ever now.
Experts believe that Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be the answer to creating new drugs that revolutionize the healthcare industry.
AI can make drug discovery, testing, and repurposing easier and more precise.
Keep reading to know AI's current status and future in drug discovery.
Genes can affect how we respond to medications, including the drug's efficacy and the risk of side effects.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has started impacting various industries, including healthcare.
Drug discovery is an extensively time-consuming and expensive process that only very few pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies can afford to take up.
AI in drug discovery has the potential to affect the lives of millions around the world.
Experts now believe that AI can reduce the cost of drug discovery, speed up the process, and pave the way for transforming healthcare.
Drug discovery involves discovering new drugs or medications with the efforts of large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and governments.
With the results of drug discovery uncertain and the high costs involved in the process, traditional drug discovery comes with multiple challenges and bottlenecks.
Did you know the average cost of discovering a drug can be up to $2.6 billion?
From research to approvals and marketing, the average time needed to discover a drug is about 12 years.
Unfortunately, many patients don’t have this time.
A drug must go through these four stages to be released into the market.
The first stage of drug discovery is identifying a target and finding a possible lead that can affect or treat the target.
In this stage, the substances identified during the early discovery stage are tested in the lab for toxicity and efficacy. Animal testing and lab testing happen in this stage.
Four phases of clinical research happen after the preclinical trials are successful.
Phase I, II, and III are safety and efficacy tests performed on healthy human volunteers and patients.
The side effects, rate of improvement, and maximum tolerated doses are identified and recorded in these stages.
Phase IV is the post-marketing stage after approvals that monitors the side effects after the drug hits the market.
After the first three phases of clinical trials, the drug is submitted for approval.
A regulatory authority examines the results of the trials and drug-related documents and chooses to approve or reject the drug. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is one such regulatory body.
The following are some of the challenges in the traditional drug discovery process.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a term that refers to various computing technologies that can simulate human intelligence.
According to experts, AI can speed up drug discovery and help get the right drugs to needy people.
AI may also help handle the vast amount of data generated during every step of drug discovery.
Every stage of research and drug testing creates several terabytes of data.
Even though the researchers take years to analyze the data and find patterns and links, the sheer quantity of data available may lead to misses and overlooks.
Machine Learning (ML), a segment of AI, can help analyze large amounts of data precisely yet quickly and identify insights that may help better the drug.
Such insights can add value to the present and future drug discoveries.
With just one out of 5000 components reaching the approval stage, researchers spend a lot of time pursuing leads that may have severe or ineffective side effects.
AI can be trained to do a cost-benefit analysis and check historical data to predict the outcome of these leads.
This will save researchers a tremendous amount of time, resources, and effort.
Proposal submissions include extensive work, including collecting all the needed documents, putting them together, and having the correct answers to the authorities' questions.
AI can also be used to put together a tight case using predictions and historical analysis.
For a long time now, medical professionals have considered the idea of personalized medicine and the benefits this may have on patients.
Personalized medicine is the idea of curating drugs based on the patient's physical, mental, genetic, and environmental features.
Personalizing drugs can improve the treatment's efficiency and reduce the risk of side effects.
Personalizing medicine for billions of people can only be possible with supportive technology like AI.
Image source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7580505/
(This image shows how different the steps of personalized medicine discovery would be compared to traditional drug discovery)
Many biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies have started experimenting with AI for drug discovery. Here are a few such success stories.
Atomwise is a pharmaceutical company based in San Francisco, California, using AI technologies to create small-molecule drugs.
The Atomnet model is a trademark drug discovery algorithm created by this brand based on deep convolutional neural networks.
This AI/ML-based algorithm does the following.
The company has used AI technology since 2013 for its drug discovery process.
BenevolentAI is an AI-based drug discovery and pharma company based in Luxembourg, Europe.
The Benevolent Platform is a trademarked AI platform of the brand that handles every step of drug discovery - from target identification to clinical development.
This AI platform has generated multiple drug possibilities, most in their lead optimization or preclinical stages.
BEN-2293, a possible drug for atopic dermatitis, has reached Phase III of clinical trials and will soon be submitted for approval.
The following are some of the features of the Benevolent Platform.
Regarding using AI for drug discovery, safety, and privacy are two factors everyone is worried about.
Significant deals and mergers have occurred between pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and tech companies in the last couple of years.
As a result, regulators worldwide are working on initiatives that would help combat some of the challenges of AI in drug discovery.
In 2022, the UK published a 10-year National AI Strategy that would regulate the use of artificial intelligence in different industries, including pharmaceuticals.
Canada proposed a national regulatory framework called the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA) in 2022 to focus on trade and commerce using AI systems.
This would also encompass regulations regarding the use of AI for drug discovery.
The FDA has already issued an action plan named ‘Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Software as a Medical Device’ in 2019 to monitor the use of AI by medical device manufacturers.
The FDA is right now focusing on regulating cybersecurity in the use of AI systems.
The advancement of AI combined with a better understanding of this technology will help finetune drug discovery in the future.
AI will make discovering ground-breaking drugs easier, quicker, and more effortful.
However, this would take time.
As more pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies invest in AI technologies, they will get closer to modernizing the drug discovery process.
Although no AI-developed drugs are available, companies are getting closer to achieving this.
Varicose veins are a type of vein disorder affecting millions of people worldwide.
According to studies, about 20% of adults will develop varicose veins in their lifetimes.
Varicose veins can cause discomfort, pain and affect the quality of life.
Untreated varicose veins can lead to severe skin and tissue damage.
Various studies report that varicose veins could be hereditary.
These studies have identified multiple gene mutations that may increase the risk of developing the condition.
Many skin conditions like varicose veins have a genetic component to them. Having certain gene variations can increase your risk for these conditions. Learn more:
Varicose veins are a condition caused by weak vein valves.
The veins are vessels carrying blood from the rest of the body to the heart for recirculation.
When the vein valves weaken, they cannot carry blood to the heart.
As a result, blood gets collected in the damaged area, and the veins become swollen and twisted.
While this condition can occur anywhere in the body, it is common in the lower extremities.
Varicose veins are easily identifiable. When the veins swell up or get twisted, the skin around the area turns purple or blue.
The veins may appear twisted or bulged to touch and see.
Other signs of varicose veins include:
Veins are one-way valves that carry blood from other body parts to the heart.
The walls of these valves can get weak, stretched, and loose for different reasons.
As a result, the veins can’t push blood successfully toward the heart.
As a result, blood pools up, and the veins can enlarge.
When this happens to the veins closer to the skin's surface (superficial veins), the signs are visible.
The most common cause of varicose veins is pregnancy.
During pregnancy, the growing uterus can pressure the blood vessels, slowing blood flow.
Pregnancy-related hormonal changes can also lead to increased blood volume flowing through the veins, leading to vein enlargement.
A 2016 meta-analysis reports that pregnant women are at 82% higher risk of developing varicose veins than non-pregnant women.
Other common causes of varicose veins are excess weight and standing for long periods.
The following are some of the risk factors for developing varicose veins.
Gender - women are at higher risk for developing varicose veins than men. Pregnancy is an added risk factor in women.
Age - as people age, the blood vessels weaken, increasing the risk of developing varicose veins.
Genetics - inherited genes are a critical risk factor for varicose veins. Studies report that between the parents, mothers have a higher chance of passing on varicose veins gene mutations to children than fathers.
Body Weight - excess body weight stresses the circulatory system, and the veins must work harder to push blood toward the heart. This can weaken the vein walls, increasing the risk of developing varicose veins.
Studies report that obesity increases the risk of developing varicose veins and the severity of the condition.
Occupation - some jobs require the person to keep standing for extended periods, which can increase the risk of developing varicose veins.
Height - a 2018 Stanford article reports that height may be a risk factor for developing varicose veins.
Apart from age and gender, genes remain a significant risk factor for developing varicose veins.
A 2019 community-based clinical study analyzed the genes responsible for causing varicose veins in about 500,000 individuals in the UK.
According to this study, about 30 independent genetic variants could cause varicose veins.
These can be inherited from either of the parents.
A 2009 study report that in the case of positive family history, men have a 30% chance, and women have a 56% chance of inheriting the condition.
Without a family history, the risk reduces to 7% in men and 22% in women.
Another older study conducted among Japanese women reports that 42% of women with varicose veins have a family history of the condition.
So, varicose veins run in families.
According to a French study, the risk may increase by up to 90% if both parents have the condition.
So, overall, there’s compelling evidence that suggests that varicose veins have a hereditary factor and that the risk can run in families.
The following are major genes associated with varicose veins in humans.
CASZ1 gene
The CASZ1 gene (castor zinc finger 1 gene) produces the CASZ1 protein.
Mutations of this gene are associated with blood pressure variations.
rs11121615 is a Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) in this gene. The T allele of this SNP increases the risk of developing varicose veins.
THBD gene
The THBD gene (thrombomodulin gene) is responsible for producing the THBD protein.
THBD gene mutations may alter vein function and increase the risk of developing varicose veins.
Other genes associated with varicose veins are PIEZO1, PPP3R1, GATA2, HFE, and EBF1.
If you have taken an ancestry genetic test (from companies like 23andMe and AncestryDNA), you can upload your DNA data to receive varicose veins report.
In most cases, it is not possible to reverse the vein wall damage.
Treatment involves removing or making the affected veins dormant so the other healthier veins can carry blood in that area.
There are more than 30 genes identified that may cause varicose veins.
When either or both parents have varicose veins, the children are more likely to inherit them.
Gene mutations and other risk factors determine whether a person develops varicose veins and the intensity of the condition.
When genetic testing puts a person at a higher risk for developing varicose veins, lifestyle changes like losing weight and staying physically active may help prevent or postpone the development of the condition.
The onset of muscle fatigue has hampered many athletes from achieving their maximum potential. The lactic acid buildup is a byproduct of anaerobic metabolism. Under normal activity levels, the body mostly relies on aerobic metabolism and hence lactate (another name for lactic acid) buildup is not a major concern.
However, with increased activity levels, specifically, when the metabolism switches from aerobic (oxidative) to anaerobic (glycolytic), as in power activities performed at high heart rates, lactate levels quickly build-up, which, if not cleared from muscles, cause fatigue and a burning sensation.
But how quickly lactic acid is cleared and how quickly a person feels this fatigue is also influenced by your genetics, especially the MCT1 gene. This article provides insights into how individual differences affect the lactic acid clearance rate and muscle fatigue.
During short-term power (anaerobic) exercise, our body uses substances such as ATP and creatine phosphate (CP) within the first 7 seconds to produce energy. This signals the body to start glycolysis, a process to utilize the glycogen (stored glucose) to produce energy. When glycogen is broken down to release energy, which allows the muscle movement to continue. During this process, a substance called lactic acid is formed. Small amounts of lactic acid operate as a temporary energy source, thus helping you avoid fatigue during a workout. However, a buildup of lactic acid during a workout can create burning sensations in the muscle & limits muscle contraction, resulting in muscle fatigue. For this reason, it may be desirable to reduce lactic acid build-up in the muscles. However, if you are a bodybuilder, the lactic acid buildup has been shown to be highly anabolic- meaning, good for muscle building. Bodybuilders routinely work out to feel the “burn” in their muscles.
Monocarboxylate transporters (MCT) regulate the transport of lactate and many other substances and remove lactic acid from the muscles. The MCT1 gene influences the amount of MCT you produce. The more you produce, the quicker the clearance rate, thus the delay in the onset of muscle fatigue. Individuals with a certain type of the MCT1 gene produce higher levels of MCT, making them more suitable for endurance-based exercises than individuals with the other types of the MCT1 gene.
| Adequate magnesium levels in your diet will help the body deliver energy to the muscles while exercising, thus limiting the buildup of lactic acid. Foods rich in magnesium include legumes like navy beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, and lima beans, seeds such as pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower seeds, and vegetables like spinach, greens, turnips. Omega-3 fatty acids help the body to break down glucose and limit the body’s need for lactic acid. Food sources of these fatty acids include fish like salmon, tuna, and mackerel, nuts and seeds like walnuts and flaxseed, and plant-based oils such olive oil, canola oil, and rice bran oil. B vitamins: help transport glucose throughout the body and help provide energy to the muscles. Food sources of B vitamins include leafy green vegetables, cereals, peas and beans, fish, beef, poultry, eggs, and dairy products. |
BOTTOM LINE: If you are an endurance runner, excess lactic acid buildup is undesirable as it leads to fatigue. If you are a bodybuilder, lactic acid, being highly anabolic, is good for muscle growth.
Discover your genes and align your training with your genetic type. Try Xcode’s fitness genetics test which can tell you whether you carry faster, slower or both versions of the MCT1 genes . Write to us at hello@xcode.life
Updated May 12, 2023
