Thyroid Awareness Month 2002
Gail Devers' Story: Knowing Genetic Links Gives Your Health A Running Start
In 1990, Gail Devers was diagnosed with Graves' disease, a thyroid dysfunction marked by an overactive and enlarged thyroid gland. Despite clear signs of a thyroid disorder including fatigue, weight loss, brittle hair and nails, a goiter in her neck and forgetfulness, it took doctors two years to properly identify Graves' disease as the culprit.
Along with physical symptoms, however, Gail had another clue that could have led to an earlier diagnosis. Diabetes and anemia run in Gail's family, but she did not know at the time that these diseases had a link to thyroid disease. Had she known that thyroid disease was in the autoimmune disease family - just like certain types of diabetes, arthritis, anemia and other conditions - she may have received treatment earlier and not lost two years of her life to an undiagnosed, and ultimately life-threatening, condition.
Not knowing what is wrong can be one of the most terrifying experiences prior to diagnosis. Gail struggled with this aspect of her life before she was diagnosed, especially since, as an accomplished athlete, she felt like she had no control over her body. Since her diagnosis, Gail has encouraged the public to educate themselves about the signs of thyroid disease to prevent others from experiencing what she did - delayed diagnosis and treatment.
Now that Gail has taken an active role in her disease management and learned about the genetic links of thyroid disease, she is again reaching out to the public - with the help of AACE - to encourage an increased health dialogue within American families. If family members keep one another informed about the health conditions that run genetically within their family, early diagnosis and easier treatment is the result. Case in point: Gail's aunt was recently diagnosed with early Graves' disease and received prompt treatment because she knew, from talking to Gail, the symptoms to look for and the questions to ask her doctor. Others can make the same impact if they keep talking.
Mapping out a family tree can be extremely helpful in learning about what diseases may run in your family, and can also serve as a tool to begin an open dialogue with your doctor. Gail recently completed hers online at www.aace.com. You can do yours, too - and also send an informative e-card to family members and loved ones letting them know the genetic links between thyroid disease and other autoimmune diseases. Start the dialogue now. It can mean the difference between undiagnosed illness and getting your life back on the fast track.
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