Thyroid Awareness Month: 2000
Americans Urged To
"Take Cholesterol By The Neck"
New Survey Shows Thyroid - Cholesterol Link Unknown
New York, NY - January 18, 2000 - Millions of Americans who have elevated cholesterol levels may actually need to check their necks for an underlying condition that could be putting them at greater risk for heart disease and stroke, according to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE). A new survey released by AACE found that fewer than half of the adults who had been diagnosed with high cholesterol knew if they had ever been tested for thyroid disease, despite the well-documented connection between the two conditions. After diet, thyroid disease is the most common secondary cause of high cholesterol.
Even more astounding, nearly ninety percent of survey participants were unaware of the thyroid gland's impact on cholesterol regulation. While most adults did not know which organs in the body played a role in the regulation of blood cholesterol levels, the role of the thyroid gland was the least well-known among the organs, which included the heart and liver. To combat this lack of awareness, AACE is urging all Americans to "Take Cholesterol by the Neck" by educating themselves about the connection between the thyroid gland and cholesterol.
"For the millions of Americans actively trying to reduce their cholesterol levels by eating right, increasing physical activity and taking medication, understanding the role of secondary medical conditions, such as thyroid disease, is essential," says AACE President Richard A. Dickey, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.E. "Patients who have been diagnosed with high cholesterol should ask their physician about having their thyroid checked. If they have an underlying thyroid condition in addition to their high cholesterol, the cholesterol problem will be difficult to control until normal levels of thyroid hormone are restored." Both the National Cholesterol Education Program and the Food and Drug Administration recommend thyroid testing in patients with high cholesterol levels. The prescribing information for the most widely used cholesterol-lowering drugs - a class of medications known as statins - clearly states that all patients diagnosed with high cholesterol should be tested for thyroid disease prior to initiating cholesterol-lowering therapy.
The Thyroid-Cholesterol ConnectionCholesterol is a substance that is transported by fat-carrying proteins in the bloodstream. The body manufactures cholesterol to maintain the integrity and strength of cellular walls. However, if there is a decrease in the body's ability to metabolize cholesterol, an excess of cholesterol in the blood may occur - a condition known as hypercholesterolemia. Elevated blood cholesterol levels can lead to the formation of cholesterol deposits in the walls of the arteries, especially around the heart. These deposits can potentially block blood flow, causing heart attacks or strokes. An estimated 98 million Americans (more than half of American adults) have elevated cholesterol - a major contributor to heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.
The thyroid, a small, butterfly-shaped gland located below the Adam's apple, produces hormones that regulate body metabolism. If the thyroid gland is underactive (hypothyroid) and producing too little thyroid hormone, metabolism can slow, having a direct impact on the body's ability to metabolize blood cholesterol. Common symptoms of hypothyroidism include moderate weight gain, fatigue, mood swings or depression and dry skin, hair or nails. The average blood cholesterol levels of patients with underactive thyroid are often 250 mg/dL or more, which is 30 to 50 percent higher than desirable (normal range is considered under 200 mg/dL).
"Clinical experience shows that an estimated 10 percent of patients with elevated cholesterol levels have an underactive thyroid,& explains Stanley Feld, M.D., M.A.C.E., past-president of AACE. "For these patients, treatment of hypothyroidism with thyroid replacement hormone will restore the body's metabolism to normal levels and increase the ability to clear cholesterol from the blood, resulting in lower cholesterol levels and a decreased risk for heart disease."
Thyroid disease affects approximately 13 million Americans, yet more than half of these patients remain undiagnosed. In addition to hypothyroidism, thyroid disease can result from an overactive thyroid gland, a condition known as hyperthyroidism. Commons symptoms of hyperthyroidism are weight loss, insomnia, sleep disturbances, nervousness and irritability. An enlarged thyroid gland (goiter) can be a sign of either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.
Once treated, these symptoms can be relieved and the patient's quality of life can be improved. Left untreated, however, thyroid disease can lead to an increased risk for heart disease, infertility and osteoporosis.
"It is important that patients learn to recognize and evaluate the subtle signs and symptoms that can be significant markers of thyroid disease," says Dr. Dickey. "Many people dismiss common feelings of fatigue or mood swings as part of normal menopause or aging when, in fact, they are symptoms of thyroid disease and can be relieved easily with treatment."
"Take Cholesterol By The Neck" with Thyroid Awareness Month
To raise awareness of the common, yet unrecognized impact of the thyroid gland in cholesterol regulation, AACE is launching a year-long public education initiative titled "Take Cholesterol by the Neck." AACE is encouraging patients who have elevated cholesterol levels, even if they are currently on a cholesterol-lowering therapy, to perform a simple self-examination called the thyroid Neck Check™ to detect an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter) and to speak with their doctor about being tested for thyroid disease.
To perform the Neck Check™, an individual stands before a mirror and drinks a glass of water while looking for signs of an enlarged or irregular thyroid gland. For step-by-step instructions on how to perform the Neck Check™ visit the AACE Web site, www.aace.com, or send a self-addressed stamped envelope to AACE at Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 3426, New York, NY 10163. Patients who find an enlarged thyroid gland as a result of the self-examination may have a thyroid condition.
Even the slightest thyroid abnormality can have a serious impact on long-term cardiac health. If a patient is experiencing symptoms of a possible thyroid disorder or has an enlargement in the neck, AACE recommends asking a physician or an endocrinologist (a thyroid specialist) for a simple blood test called thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) to determine if the gland is functioning properly.
"The Neck Check™ is an important first step in identifying a thyroid condition, which may need further examination and evaluation by an endocrinologist," explains Dr. Feld. "With the TSH blood test, physicians can detect even slight abnormalities in thyroid function and discover whether an underlying thyroid condition may be causing or complicating the treatment of elevated cholesterol. Once properly treated with thyroid replacement hormone, patients with thyroid disease can lead normal, active lives."
The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) was established in 1991 and is the country's largest professional organization of clinical endocrinologists. Its membership consists of 3,400 clinical endocrinologists devoted to providing care for patients with endocrine disorders. The association strives to improve the public's understanding and awareness of endocrine diseases and the added value of the clinical endocrinologist in the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases.
Additional information about AACE, including a copy of the Neck Check™, can be obtained on the association's Web site at www.aace.com.
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