Thyroid Awareness Month: 1998

Baby Blues	Sunset Blues	Moody Blues	Midnight Blues
Common Symptoms	The Neck Check	Press Release	Background Information

THE THYROID GLAND is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck just below the Adam's apple. Although relatively small, the thyroid gland influences the function of many of the body's most important organs, including the heart, brain, liver, kidneys and skin. Ensuring that the thyroid is healthy and functioning properly is important to the body's overall well being.

Thyroid disease affects an estimated 13 million people of all ages, yet more than half remain undiagnosed. Many common symptoms of thyroid disease - fatigue, mood swings, sleep disturbances and depression - often mimic the symptoms women experience during menopause. Many of these menopausal-like symptoms may actually be related to an undiagnosed thyroid disorder. Even women on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may continue to experience symptoms of thyroid disease. This occurs because the two conditions can co-exist.

That's why the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) has launched a new public education initiative, Thyroid: The Missing T in HRT, to heighten awareness of the need for women and their physicians to include the thyroid hormone in the discussion of menopause. AACE is urging all women of menopausal age to conduct the simple self-exam for thyroid disease as a first step toward identifying a potential underlying problem.

Take the "Neck Check"to help determine whether or not you have an enlarged thyroid gland, which may require further examination or testing by an endocrinologist with a highly sensitive TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) test.

All you will need is:

A glass of water

A hand-held mirror

1. Hold the mirror in your hand, focusing on the area of your neck just below the Adam's apple and immediately above the collarbone. Your thyroid gland is located in this area of your neck.
2. While focusing on this area in the mirror, tip your head back.
3. Take a drink of water and swallow.
4. As you swallow, look at your neck. Check for any bulges or a protrusion in this area when you swallow. Reminder: Don't confuse the Adam's apple with the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located further down on your neck, closer to the collarbone. You may want to repeat this process several times.
5. If you do see any bulges or protrusions in this area, see your physician immediately. You may have an enlarged thyroid gland or a thyroid nodule and should be checked to determine whether cancer is present or if treatment for thyroid disease is needed.

Previous Thyroid Awareness Month Campaigns

• Thyroid Awareness Month 2007 – How's Your Thyroid - Who needs to know?
• Thyroid Awareness Month 2006 – A Thyroid Imbalance? Target Your Numbers
• Thyroid Awareness Month 2005 – A Healthy Thyroid: You Make The Difference
• Thyroid Awareness Month 2004 – Take Control of Your Health: Keep Your Thyroid in Balance
• Thyroid Awareness Month 2003 – Thyroid Undercover – Hiding in Plain Sight
• Thyroid Awareness Month 2002 – The Neck’s Generation
• Thyroid Awareness Month 2001 – The Neck’s Time is Now – Think Thyroid
• Thyroid Awareness Month 2000 – Take Cholesterol by the Neck
• Thyroid Awareness Month 1999 – Thyroid: The Missing T in HRT
• Thyroid Awareness Month 1998 – When the Blues Hit
• Thyroid Awareness Month 1997 – 1995 – Not available on AACE Online

Thyroid Awareness Month is supported through an unrestricted grant from Abbott Laboratories.