Your thyroid may be small, but it plays a powerful role in how your body functions. This butterfly-shaped gland in your neck helps regulate metabolism, energy levels, heart rate, and hormone balance throughout the body. Left unaddressed, hyperthyroidism can affect nearly every system in the body, but with proper evaluation and personalized care, it can be effectively managed.
Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid becomes overactive and produces too much thyroid hormone (T3 and T4). This excess can place the body in a constant “overdrive” state, leading to symptoms that are often not seen as a thyroid issue. It’s important to distinguish hyperthyroidism from other thyroid disorders, such as hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid), or other diagnoses, as the causes, symptoms, and treatments differ significantly.
According to the American Thyroid Association, nearly 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease—and up to 60% don’t know it. Left undiagnosed or untreated, thyroid imbalances can increase the risk of serious health concerns, including osteoporosis, heart disease, and infertility.
Causes/Risk Factors of Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism can affect people of all ages and genders but it is most often seen in women between the ages of 30-60. Causes of hyperthyroidism include:
Graves disease – is an autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to create antibodies that overstimulate the thyroid gland, causing it to overproduce thyroid hormone.
Thyroiditis – inflammation of the thyroid gland
Family history of hyperthyroidism
Overactive thyroid nodules
Too much iodine
Too much thyroid medication
Other chronic or autoimmune conditions
Postpartum thyroid changes
Periods of prolonged stress
Common Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism
The overproduction of thyroid hormone can affect nearly every system in the body and vary widely from person to person. The most common symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:
Unexplained weight loss despite normal or increased appetite
More frequent bowel movements
Fast and/or irregular heart rate, palpitations
Anxiety, irritability, difficulty concentrating
Insomnia
Protruding eyes (thyroid eye disease)
Enlarged thyroid (goiter)
Hand tremors
Fatigue
Weakness
Thinning hair
Changes in menstruation
Increased sweating and increased sensitivity to heat
Not every individual experiences all of these symptoms and often they can be misattributed to stress, aging, or other conditions. This is why thyroid disorders are often undiagnosed for many years.
Diagnosing and Managing Your Thyroid Imbalance – The Kaplan Method™
At the Kaplan Center, your visit begins with a comprehensive medical history and physical exam so your provider can fully understand your past and current health. Using a functional medicine approach, we evaluate all aspects of your health to identify the root cause—or causes—of your symptoms. Our goal is to restore resilience and rebuild your health—we’ll discuss your unique wellness goals and systematically address all of the health issues that have been uncovered.
Blood tests are central to confirming hyperthyroidism. In addition, we may order digestive tests, vitamin & mineral testing, and adrenal testing to evaluate the overall health of your thyroid and uncover imbalances and deficiencies that may exist.
Managing hyperthyroidism must take into account the cause of the hyperthyroidism, the symptoms you have been experiencing and the impact that it is having on your quality of life. Our goal is to find the best possible treatment options that work for your condition and your lifestyle. Our approach is a holistic one that may include any of the following:
Medications such as beta blockers, antithyroid drugs, and radioactive iodine may be necessary (depending on the cause of your hyperthyroidism and the results of your thyroid lab tests)
Improvement of the adrenal-cortisol function by introducing activities to reduce stress such as therapy, meditation, yoga or exercise
In certain cases, surgery to remove your overactive thyroid may be required
Living Well With Hyperthyroidism
With proper care, many people with hyperthyroidism are able to lead full, active lives. Ongoing monitoring of symptoms and lab values is important, as thyroid needs may change over time. Lifestyle strategies—such as prioritizing sleep, managing stress, and maintaining balanced nutrition—can further support recovery and stability.
If you suspect that you have a thyroid disorder or feel that you aren’t being treated well for a thyroid disorder that you do have, make an appointment to speak to one of our providers.
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2
Do you find yourself feeling sad, anxious, or low as the holiday season approaches? You’re not alone. It’s not always just the growing to-do list—the shift in seasons can be a challenging time for many people. Some notice increased emotional strain during a specific season. For others, seasonal transitions bring its own difficulties.
December 21 marks the winter solstice—the official beginning of winter—and the move from fall into winter can be especially tough. According to Five Element Theory in Chinese Medicine each season is associated with a particular element (see Table 1), and even a corresponding emotion. When these transitions occur, our bodies and minds may feel out of sync.
Winter in Chinese Medicine
The Winter season corresponds to the Water element and is a time for turning inward, resting, and replenishing our vital energy for the year ahead. The emotion associated with Water is fear, which can surface when we are out of balance. For this reason, winter is an especially important time to slow down, prioritize rest, and embrace quiet moments.
Table 1: Five Element Theory (seasons, emotions and corresponding elements)
How Acupuncture Can Help Support Balance This Season
Cold weather puts extra stress on our bodies. The cold strains our immune system, can worsen pain (like arthritis, back pain), disrupt our mood (seasonal affective disorder or SAD), and hinder circulation, since our blood vessels tighten. Acupuncture is a great treatment to support balance in our bodies ahead of the cold months with helping by:
Strengthening Immunity: Acupuncture helps to stimulate immune cells, like white blood cells, and improves circulation to help fight off illness.
Improving Circulation: Acupuncture enhances blood flow by increasing nitric oxide to warm our bodies and relieve stiffness.
Boosting Mood: Acupuncture also regulates neurotransmitters like serotonin to combat SAD and improve energy.
Relieving Pain: By increasing circulation, acupuncture releases muscle tension, easing arthritis, back pain, and headaches.
Reducing Stress and Improving Sleep: Lastly, acupuncture calms the nervous system, reducing stress hormones, promoting restorative sleep.
At the Kaplan Center, many of our patients choose to schedule acupuncture treatment quarterly, aligning sessions specifically at the change of each season. Even just one single session can help reset the body and restore balance as you move into the next phase of the year!
Other Supportive Practices
Balancing the nervous system is also key. What works best can vary from person to person, but other supportive practices that help regulate the nervous system include:
Taking time to support your body and mind now can help you feel grounded, resilient, and well throughout the winter months. Each of these supports the body’s natural ability to adapt—and can make the holiday season feel a little lighter!
To learn more about our Acupuncture services, Click Here. To schedule an appointment, call 703-532-4892.
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2
Now is the time to cultivate healthy living strategies like improving your diet, getting better sleep, losing weight, quitting smoking or vaping, cutting back on alcohol, or starting a regular exercise routine. Any of these changes will make a positive impact on your health, but sometimes the anxiety of making them can get in the way of getting started. If you need help setting and reaching any of your health goals, here are some ways we can help.
IV Therapy
Long-term vitamin and mineral deficiencies can wreak havoc on anyone’s health, not just the chronically ill (yes, that means you too!). IV Therapy is a highly effective way to deliver vital nutrients to the body whether you are looking to improve or maintain your health.
By restoring optimum levels of key nutrients, like Vitamin C (Modified Myers Cocktail), magnesium, glutathione, or NAD +, our IV patients see benefits that include an increase in energy, a decrease in stress, and improvements in mental focus and clarity. And unlike oral supplements, IV solutions are infused directly into the bloodstream and available for immediate use by your body.
IV Therapy is a natural and effective way to keep your immune system strong, keep your body hydrated, and minimize the negative health effects that come with life’s stressors.
Your body mirrors your diet. So, when you feel pain, fatigue, and anxiety, your body is trying to tell you something.
What we know is that chronic inflammation contributes to several pain conditions, as well as depression and other mental health disorders and that cutting out inflammatory foods can make a big difference. But we are not always successful in making those changes.
Professional nutritional counseling is a great way to tackle your personal health goals. Using the latest scientific research, years of clinical experience, and problem-solving skills, our providers can offer you help for every health concern, whether it’s managing an illness, reducing aches and pains, losing weight, or increasing energy and overall wellness.
Chronic sleep deprivation can impair the body’s immune system, physical reflexes, emotional stability, and cognitive functions. Severe sleep deprivation can result in weight gain, an increase in muscle and nerve pain, and even depression.
Acupuncture has been used to treat sleep disorders for thousands of years. Research supports acupuncture’s ability to calm the nervous system, increase melatonin levels, and increase periods of deep sleep (REM) to help restore healthy sleep patterns.
Supplements, when chosen thoughtfully, can supply nutrition to support the physiological and biomechanical processes of the human body. The Kaplan Team has designed – and discounted – several different supplement packages tailored to a variety of needs. If you are looking to boost your immune system, check out our immune boosting supplement packages.
If you’re not sure where to begin, a Functional Medicine (FM) assessment is a great place to start. Using a systematic approach, we’ll take a close look at 6 major areas of health, including the immune system, to identify areas of imbalance or deficiencies that may be limiting your overall health or contributing to disease. Once identified, you and your doctor are ready to set goals and create a roadmap to achieve them. Because of its whole-health approach, an FM assessment and its recommendations can help prevent illness while optimizing your current state of health.
There is a lot you can do to keep your immune system strong. To make an appointment for any of the services listed above, or for more information, call 703-532-4892, ext. 2.
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2
This article was reviewed and updated in December, 2025.
Is Your Thyroid in Overdrive? Understanding Hyperthyroidism
/in Conditions, Hormone Health/by Kaplan CenterYour thyroid may be small, but it plays a powerful role in how your body functions. This butterfly-shaped gland in your neck helps regulate metabolism, energy levels, heart rate, and hormone balance throughout the body. Left unaddressed, hyperthyroidism can affect nearly every system in the body, but with proper evaluation and personalized care, it can be effectively managed.
Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid becomes overactive and produces too much thyroid hormone (T3 and T4). This excess can place the body in a constant “overdrive” state, leading to symptoms that are often not seen as a thyroid issue. It’s important to distinguish hyperthyroidism from other thyroid disorders, such as hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid), or other diagnoses, as the causes, symptoms, and treatments differ significantly.
According to the American Thyroid Association, nearly 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease—and up to 60% don’t know it. Left undiagnosed or untreated, thyroid imbalances can increase the risk of serious health concerns, including osteoporosis, heart disease, and infertility.
Causes/Risk Factors of Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism can affect people of all ages and genders but it is most often seen in women between the ages of 30-60. Causes of hyperthyroidism include:
Common Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism
The overproduction of thyroid hormone can affect nearly every system in the body and vary widely from person to person. The most common symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:
Not every individual experiences all of these symptoms and often they can be misattributed to stress, aging, or other conditions. This is why thyroid disorders are often undiagnosed for many years.
Diagnosing and Managing Your Thyroid Imbalance – The Kaplan Method™
At the Kaplan Center, your visit begins with a comprehensive medical history and physical exam so your provider can fully understand your past and current health. Using a functional medicine approach, we evaluate all aspects of your health to identify the root cause—or causes—of your symptoms. Our goal is to restore resilience and rebuild your health—we’ll discuss your unique wellness goals and systematically address all of the health issues that have been uncovered.
Blood tests are central to confirming hyperthyroidism. In addition, we may order digestive tests, vitamin & mineral testing, and adrenal testing to evaluate the overall health of your thyroid and uncover imbalances and deficiencies that may exist.
Managing hyperthyroidism must take into account the cause of the hyperthyroidism, the symptoms you have been experiencing and the impact that it is having on your quality of life. Our goal is to find the best possible treatment options that work for your condition and your lifestyle. Our approach is a holistic one that may include any of the following:
Living Well With Hyperthyroidism
With proper care, many people with hyperthyroidism are able to lead full, active lives. Ongoing monitoring of symptoms and lab values is important, as thyroid needs may change over time. Lifestyle strategies—such as prioritizing sleep, managing stress, and maintaining balanced nutrition—can further support recovery and stability.
If you suspect that you have a thyroid disorder or feel that you aren’t being treated well for a thyroid disorder that you do have, make an appointment to speak to one of our providers.
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2
Balance Through the Seasons: Insights from Acupuncture
/in Wellness/by Rebecca Berkson, L.Ac, Dipl.OMHow to Optimize Your Health This Winter
Do you find yourself feeling sad, anxious, or low as the holiday season approaches? You’re not alone. It’s not always just the growing to-do list—the shift in seasons can be a challenging time for many people. Some notice increased emotional strain during a specific season. For others, seasonal transitions bring its own difficulties.
December 21 marks the winter solstice—the official beginning of winter—and the move from fall into winter can be especially tough. According to Five Element Theory in Chinese Medicine each season is associated with a particular element (see Table 1), and even a corresponding emotion. When these transitions occur, our bodies and minds may feel out of sync.
Winter in Chinese Medicine
The Winter season corresponds to the Water element and is a time for turning inward, resting, and replenishing our vital energy for the year ahead. The emotion associated with Water is fear, which can surface when we are out of balance. For this reason, winter is an especially important time to slow down, prioritize rest, and embrace quiet moments.
Table 1: Five Element Theory (seasons, emotions and corresponding elements)
How Acupuncture Can Help Support Balance This Season
Cold weather puts extra stress on our bodies. The cold strains our immune system, can worsen pain (like arthritis, back pain), disrupt our mood (seasonal affective disorder or SAD), and hinder circulation, since our blood vessels tighten. Acupuncture is a great treatment to support balance in our bodies ahead of the cold months with helping by:
Strengthening Immunity: Acupuncture helps to stimulate immune cells, like white blood cells, and improves circulation to help fight off illness.
Improving Circulation: Acupuncture enhances blood flow by increasing nitric oxide to warm our bodies and relieve stiffness.
Boosting Mood: Acupuncture also regulates neurotransmitters like serotonin to combat SAD and improve energy.
Relieving Pain: By increasing circulation, acupuncture releases muscle tension, easing arthritis, back pain, and headaches.
Reducing Stress and Improving Sleep: Lastly, acupuncture calms the nervous system, reducing stress hormones, promoting restorative sleep.
At the Kaplan Center, many of our patients choose to schedule acupuncture treatment quarterly, aligning sessions specifically at the change of each season. Even just one single session can help reset the body and restore balance as you move into the next phase of the year!
Other Supportive Practices
Balancing the nervous system is also key. What works best can vary from person to person, but other supportive practices that help regulate the nervous system include:
• Meditation
• Breathing techniques
• Regular exercise
• Time spent outdoors
• Maintaining a clean, nourishing diet
Taking time to support your body and mind now can help you feel grounded, resilient, and well throughout the winter months. Each of these supports the body’s natural ability to adapt—and can make the holiday season feel a little lighter!
To learn more about our Acupuncture services, Click Here. To schedule an appointment, call 703-532-4892.
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2
5 Ways We Can Keep Your Immune System Strong
/in Treatments, Wellness/by Kaplan CenterNow is the time to cultivate healthy living strategies like improving your diet, getting better sleep, losing weight, quitting smoking or vaping, cutting back on alcohol, or starting a regular exercise routine. Any of these changes will make a positive impact on your health, but sometimes the anxiety of making them can get in the way of getting started. If you need help setting and reaching any of your health goals, here are some ways we can help.
IV Therapy
Long-term vitamin and mineral deficiencies can wreak havoc on anyone’s health, not just the chronically ill (yes, that means you too!). IV Therapy is a highly effective way to deliver vital nutrients to the body whether you are looking to improve or maintain your health.
By restoring optimum levels of key nutrients, like Vitamin C (Modified Myers Cocktail), magnesium, glutathione, or NAD +, our IV patients see benefits that include an increase in energy, a decrease in stress, and improvements in mental focus and clarity. And unlike oral supplements, IV solutions are infused directly into the bloodstream and available for immediate use by your body.
IV Therapy is a natural and effective way to keep your immune system strong, keep your body hydrated, and minimize the negative health effects that come with life’s stressors.
More info →
Nutritional Counseling
Your body mirrors your diet. So, when you feel pain, fatigue, and anxiety, your body is trying to tell you something.
What we know is that chronic inflammation contributes to several pain conditions, as well as depression and other mental health disorders and that cutting out inflammatory foods can make a big difference. But we are not always successful in making those changes.
Professional nutritional counseling is a great way to tackle your personal health goals. Using the latest scientific research, years of clinical experience, and problem-solving skills, our providers can offer you help for every health concern, whether it’s managing an illness, reducing aches and pains, losing weight, or increasing energy and overall wellness.
More info →
Acupuncture for Sleep Management
Chronic sleep deprivation can impair the body’s immune system, physical reflexes, emotional stability, and cognitive functions. Severe sleep deprivation can result in weight gain, an increase in muscle and nerve pain, and even depression.
Acupuncture has been used to treat sleep disorders for thousands of years. Research supports acupuncture’s ability to calm the nervous system, increase melatonin levels, and increase periods of deep sleep (REM) to help restore healthy sleep patterns.
More info →
Homeopathic Remedies & Supplements
Supplements, when chosen thoughtfully, can supply nutrition to support the physiological and biomechanical processes of the human body. The Kaplan Team has designed – and discounted – several different supplement packages tailored to a variety of needs. If you are looking to boost your immune system, check out our immune boosting supplement packages.
More info →
Functional Medicine Assessment
If you’re not sure where to begin, a Functional Medicine (FM) assessment is a great place to start. Using a systematic approach, we’ll take a close look at 6 major areas of health, including the immune system, to identify areas of imbalance or deficiencies that may be limiting your overall health or contributing to disease. Once identified, you and your doctor are ready to set goals and create a roadmap to achieve them. Because of its whole-health approach, an FM assessment and its recommendations can help prevent illness while optimizing your current state of health.
More info →
There is a lot you can do to keep your immune system strong. To make an appointment for any of the services listed above, or for more information, call 703-532-4892, ext. 2.
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2
This article was reviewed and updated in December, 2025.