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
