Thyroid disease affects as many as 30 million Americans and 60% of people with thyroid disease don’t know they have it.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 25, 2021 -- In recognition of World Thyroid Day, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE) has launched new thyroid education materials to help Americans recognize symptoms, risk factors, and the need to seek treatment for the small butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck. Thyroid disease affects as many as 30 million Americans and 60% of people with thyroid disease don’t know they have it. To help raise awareness, AACE has developed a series of public awareness resources to help educate the community about this common, yet treatable disease which is often undiagnosed.
The thyroid gland serves many functions for the body. It produces critical hormones which help regulate the brain, heart, kidneys, liver, skin, metabolism, growth, and even some functions of the nervous system. Ensuring the thyroid gland is healthy and functioning properly is vitally important to the body's overall well-being. When the thyroid gland is overactive or underactive, it can impact the entire body and cause thyroid disease. Symptoms of thyroid disease can vary from person to person and often mirror other medical conditions, which cause it to be overlooked or misidentified.
“Undiagnosed thyroid issues can increase the risk for other serious conditions such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, osteoporosis, and infertility,” said Howard Lando, M.D., FACP, FACE, president of AACE. “However, most thyroid diseases are life-long conditions that can be managed with medical attention. At AACE, we are committed to raising awareness and educating the public about thyroid health and diseases, so they know when to speak with their health care professionals.”
The new AACE thyroid video series is comprised of seven educational videos for viewers to understand the gland itself, as well as a few common diseases and conditions including hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and thyroid eye disease. The videos are posted on AACE’s YouTube channel and website for patients, health care professionals, and the global community.
AACE.com also features new thyroid content written by endocrinologists, providing up-to-date medical information on the common signs, symptoms, causes, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment options for different types of thyroid disorders. This comprehensive platform provides patients and their family members everything they need to know about hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto's disease, Graves' disease, and thyroid eye disease. In addition, there is a step-by-step guide on how to perform a self-exam neck check at home.
Thyroid disease can be managed. The first step is to talk with a health care professional or endocrinologists to ensure the thyroid gland is healthy and functioning properly. An endocrinologist, is a doctor that specializes in hormone-related diseases and conditions, including all those related to the thyroid gland.
Visit aace.com/thyroid to learn more about thyroid health and find endocrine care near you.
About the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE)
Established in 1991, The American Association of Clinical Endocrinology is a global, inclusive community of over 5,000 endocrine-focused clinical members, affiliates, and partners from every walk of professional life. As the vital hub of knowledge and experience in clinical endocrinology, AACE works to define the best paths of patient care and disease prevention, educate multi-disciplinary care teams and their patients, and set the factual record straight about endocrine diseases. Together, the AACE community is elevating the practice of clinical endocrinology to benefit each individual patient and the health of our society. Visit our website at www.aace.com.
Support for thyroid awareness is provided by AbbVie and Horizon Therapeutics.