6 Jan :Over 4.2 crore Indians suffer from thyroid related disorders, it’s thus been identified as the ‘next diabetes’ Thyroid disorders are among the most common and yet most under diagnosed of all disorders – making thyroid a hidden disease. Thus the Indian Thyroid Society has declared the month of January as Think Thyroid Month and aims to conduct over 70-80 thousand tests during the month.
According to Dr R V Jayakumar, Chairman Indian Thyroid Society (ITS), many doctors simply aren’t communicating with their patients about thyroid risks, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. "I don’t know whether the problem is lack of knowledge on the part of doctors, the bottom line — millions of people are walking around with thyroid conditions, but they are not getting properly diagnosed and treated."
The thyroid gland is part of the delicate endocrine system and is located in your neck, just under the Adam’s apple. It produces hormones that help to regulate every cell, tissue and organ in your body. In short, if your thyroid doesn’t work properly, neither do you.
ITS advocates consulting your physician about doing a simple blood test called the thyroid stimulating hormone, or TSH, test. At home, you can perform an easy self-examination called the Thyroid Self Test to detect an enlarged thyroid gland. Step-by-step instructions on how to do the Thyroid Self Test and further information on Thyroid are available at www.thyroidindia.com or www.indianthyroidsociety.com
ITS recommends routine TSH testing for:
* Women over age 35
* Men over age 60
* Anyone with a family history of thyroid disease or autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis
The most common symptoms of Hypothyroidism, which constitutes 88% of all thyroid disorders are fatigue, weight gain, intolerance to cold, sleepiness, depression, enlarged thyroid (goitre), dry, coarse skin & hair, hoarse voice, forgetfulness and constipation
Serious health consequences such as elevated cholesterol, heart disease, osteoporosis, infertility, depression – even coma and/or death can result if a thyroid disorder is untreated for long.
Thyroid and the conditions it causes can be easily managed with early detection and a little care. But most patients are not even aware of the problems the thyroid can cause hence the “Think Thyroid” month – to draw attention to this crucial gland among patients and their physicians.
