Thyroid Awareness Month: 2000
Facts About Thyroid Disease
Who Has Thyroid Disease?
- An estimated 13 million Americans have thyroid disorders, but more than half still remain undiagnosed.
- Approximately 1 out of every 8 women will develop a thyroid disorder in her lifetime.
- Women are 5 to 8 times more likely than men to suffer from a thyroid condition.
- The elderly are also more likely to suffer from hypothyroidism. By age 60, as many as 17 percent of women have an underactive thyroid.
- Five to 8 percent of women develop thyroid abnormalities post-partum.
Thyroid Gland: The Body's Regulator
- The thyroid gland is the small, butterfly-shaped gland found just below the Adam's apple. It is central to the proper functioning of the body, regulating its metabolism and organ function. The thyroid produces hormones that influence essentially every organ, tissue and cell in the body.
- Left untreated, thyroid disease can cause elevated cholesterol levels, osteoporosis, infertility and depression.
What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Thyroid Disease?
| Hypothyroidism (Underactive) | Hyperthyroidism (Overactive) |
|---|---|
| Fatigue | Irritability/nervousness |
| Mood swings | Muscle weakness/tremors |
| Forgetfulness | Irregular menstrual periods |
| Weight gain | Weight loss |
| Dry, coarse skin and hair | Sleep disturbances |
| Enlarged thyroid (goiter) | Enlarged thyroid (goiter) |
| Depression | Depression |
| Hoarse voice | Vision problems or eye irritation |
| Intolerance to cold | Heat intolerance |
| Difficulty swallowing | |
| Heavy menstrual periods |
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 Necks Generation
- Thyroid Awareness Month 2001 The Necks 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