Did you know that thyroid disorders are some of the most common diseases worldwide? In the Philippines, 1 in every 11 adults suffer from goiter or other thyroid diseases. Unfortunately, these problems are also common in women and figures show that women are 4 to 7 times more likely to have thyroid disorders than men. They are also at risk of hypothyroidism by 10 times, with those who recently gave birth and those who are in their menopausal age being more vulnerable.
To help raise awareness about thyroid diseases, and just in time for the International Thyroid Awareness Week {ITAW} 2017, leading science and healthcare innovation company Merck, joined forces with the Department of Health {DOH}, Philippine Thyroid Association (PTA), Philippine Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism {PSEDM}, and the Iodine Global Network {IGN}, to help raise consciousness against thyroid disorders.
You + Your Thyroid
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland that sits in at the lower front of the neck and plays a key role in one’s overall health and well-being by producing thyroid hormones that help keep the body use energy, stay warm, and keep the brain, heart, muscles, and other organs in tip-top condition.
But why are thyroid diseases usually left undetected and misdiagnosed? Blame the symptoms. Tiredness, anxiety, weight fluctuations, difficulty in sleeping ~ these are some of the telling signs of a thyroid problem. Unfortunately, more often than not, people usually attribute these to merely having poor lifestyle choices. This is why the theme of this year’s ITAW is: “It’s Not You, It’s Your Thyroid.”
Thyroid Disorders
Since its primary role is to control the metabolism, disorders may occur when there’s little {hypothyroidism} or overproduction {hyperthyroidism} of thyroid hormones.
Patients with hypothyroidism, or too little thyroid hormone, tend to have slower metabolism: they gain weight despite not eating much, move and speak slowly, feel tired and have depressed thoughts, cannot tolerate cold, and have irregular menstrual periods.
On the other hand, patients with hyperthyroidism, or too much thyroid hormone, will have hyperactive metabolism: they lose weight despite having good appetite, have heart palpitations, irritable thoughts and insomnia, have sweating and heat intolerance, and can have tremors in their hands.
Goiter is also another common thyroid disorder. Abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland, goiter can either be due to hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, or iodine deficiency. You can self-check for goiter by facing a mirror and checking for your thyroid below your Adam’s Apple. Take a sip of water while facing the mirror, a bulging mass can be an indication of enlarged goiter.
The diagnosis of thyroid disorders can easily be made by checking the levels of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone {TSH} in the blood. Treatment brings the level of thyroid hormones back in balance, restoring normal metabolism to the body.
International Thyroid Awareness Week {ITAW} 2017
Happening this Saturday, 27 May, the International Thyroid Awareness Week 2017 will be held at Robinsons Novaliches Trade Hall at 2-6pm. Women can avail of free thyroid screening as well as doctors consultation. Apart from that, those who will join the event can also enjoy free nail art, eyebrow threading, hair and make-up styling, massage, and many more! Truly an interesting way to spend the weekend, so save the date and tag your mum friends along!
For more information, visit www.thyroidaware.com or follow “Unmasking Your Thyroid” on Facebook, www.facebook.com/thyroidph.
Reference: American Thyroid Association. Thyroid Information, www.thyroid.org/thyroid-information
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