Thyroid Awareness Month 1999

	MENOPAUSE	THYROID DISEASE
Typical Age	Peri-menopausal: 35-45 Menopausal: 45-50 Post-menopausal: 50 plus	35 - 65: 1 in 8 women 65 plus: 1 in 5 women
Common Symptoms	Fatigue · Forgetfulness · Depression Mood Swings · Muscle Weakness Change in Skin/Hair Texture · Sleep Disturbances Anxiety/Irritability · Palpitations · Irregular Periods
Unique Symptoms	Hot Flashes/Night Sweats Vaginal Dryness Loss of Urinary Control Headache		Intolerance to Heat/Cold Weight Fluctuations Goiter Hoarse Voice
Long-Term Complications	Osteoporosis Heart Disease		Elevated cholesterol levels, which may lead to heart disease. Increased risk for osteoporosis, depression and infertility.
Diagnosis	FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) test which is a reflection of the level of estrogen in the bloodstream.		TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) test which is a reflection of the level of thyroid hormone in the bloodstream.
Treatment	Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) with estrogen or in combination with progesterone		Synthetic Thyroid Replacement Hormone (levothyroxine sodium)

Millions of American women with unresolved menopausal-like symptoms, even those taking estrogen, may actually be suffering from undiagnosed thyroid disease.

By the end of this year, an estimated 50 million American women will have reached menopause; they will account for approximately 18% of the total U.S. population.

An estimated 1 in 3 women over age 40 who are on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for symptoms of menopause continued to experience symptoms.

Since the symptoms of thyroid disease and menopause often overlap, the two conditions can be confused and thyroid disease may go undetected.

An estimated 13 million Americans have a thyroid disorder, yet more than half remain undiagnosed.

Left untreated, thyroid disease affects essentially every organ and system in the body.

For Media Inquiries Only, Please Contact: Louise Leavitt or Bryn Marie Putt at (212) 453-2000.

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.