Thyroid Disease Facts

By EmpowHER

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Who Has Thyroid Disease?
• According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, an estimated 30 million people may be affected by thyroid disorders, but only half have been diagnosed.¹
• More than eight out of 10 patients with thyroid disease are women.²
• Women are five to eight times more likely than men to suffer from a thyroid condition.³
• By age 60, as many as 17 percent of women have an underactive thyroid.⁴
• Fifty percent of thyroid disease patients’ offspring will inherit the thyroid disease gene.⁵
• Fifteen to 20 percent of people with diabetes and their siblings or parents are at a greater risk of having thyroid disease (compared to 4.5 percent of the general population).⁶

The Thyroid Gland
• The thyroid gland is the small, butterfly-shaped gland found just below the Adam’s apple.⁷
• The thyroid gland is a complex organ, and impacts many major parts of the body, including liver, kidney, heart, brain, bones and the reproductive system.⁸
• Decreased thyroid activity can affect the entire body.⁹

Hypothyroidism and Pregnancy
• Nearly one out of 50 women in the U.S. is diagnosed with hypothyroidism during pregnancy.¹⁰
• Six out of every 100 miscarriages are associated with thyroid hormone deficiencies during pregnancy.¹¹
• Five to 10 percent of women are diagnosed with postpartum thyroiditis.¹²
• Approximately 25 percent of women with postpartum thyroiditis will develop permanent hypothyroidism.¹³

Hypothyroidism and Aging
• Incidence of hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) increases with age.¹⁴
• The American Thyroid Association recommends adults be screened for thyroid dysfunction beginning at age 35 and every five years thereafter.¹⁵

Thyroid Disease and Children
• One out of every 4,000 to 5,000 babies born in the U.S. has hypothyroidism.¹⁶
• Undiagnosed hypothyroid children will experience slowed growth rate.¹⁷
• Additional symptoms include sluggishness, pallor, dry and itchy skin, increased sensitivity to cold and constipation.¹⁸

Common Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
• Fatigue
• Mood swings
• Forgetfulness
• Weight gain
• Depression
• Hoarse voice
• Heavy menses
• Dry, coarse skin
• Dry, coarse hair
• Constipation

References:
1 American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. AACE Thyroid Awareness – Thyroid Top Ten. http://www.empoweryourhealth.org/thyroid-top-ten. Accessed May 9, 2012
2 Thyroid Institute of Utah. Thyroid Disease Fast Facts. http://www.thyroidutah.com/thyroid-disease/fast-facts. Accessed April 17, 2012
3 Georgetown University Medical Center. Basic Thyroid Information. http://medicine.georgetown.edu/divisions/endocrinology/knowledge/204446.... Accessed May 3, 2012
4 Georgetown University Medical Center. Basic Thyroid Information. http://medicine.georgetown.edu/divisions/endocrinology/knowledge/204446.... Accessed May 3, 2012
5 American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. The Neck's Generation: Physicians Call For Better Understanding Of The Link Between Genetics And Thyroid Disease: January Is The American Association Of Clinical Endocrinologists' Thyroid Awareness Month Press Release http://thyroid.about.com/library/news/blneckgen.htm; Accessed April, 17, 2012
6 American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. The Neck's Generation: Physicians Call For Better Understanding Of The Link Between Genetics And Thyroid Disease: January Is The American Association Of Clinical Endocrinologists' Thyroid Awareness Month Press Release http://thyroid.about.com/library/news/blneckgen.htm; Accessed April, 17, 2012
7 Georgetown University Medical Center. Basic Thyroid Information. http://medicine.georgetown.edu/divisions/endocrinology/knowledge/204446.... Accessed May 3, 2012
8 Thyroid Function Tests. The American Thyroid Association. http://www.thyroid.org/patients/brochures/FunctionTests_brochure.pdf; Accessed May 3, 2012
9 Hypothyroidism . The American Thyroid Association. http://www.thyroid.org/patients/brochures/Hypo_brochure.pdf; Accessed May 3, 2012
10 Thyroid Institute of Utah. Thyroid Disease Fast Facts. http://www.thyroidutah.com/thyroid-disease/fast-facts Accessed April 17, 2012
11 Thyroid Institute of Utah. Thyroid Disease Fast Facts. http://www.thyroidutah.com/thyroid-disease/fast-facts Accessed April 17, 2012
12 John Hopkins University; Postpartum Thyroiditis; http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/printv.aspx?d=85,P00425. Accessed May 3, 2012
13 The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. Screening for Postpartum Thyroiditis. 1999. http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/84/6/1813.full.pdf. Accessed June 11, 2012.
14 Thyroid Disease in Older Patients. American Thyroid Association. http://www.thyroid.org/patients/patient_brochures/older_patient.html; Accessed May 3, 2012
15 American Thyroid Association. Guidelines for Detection of Thyroid Dysfunction. http://www.thyroid.org/professionals/publications/documents/Guidelinesde.... Accessed May 8, 2012.
16 John Hopkins Children Center; Hypothyroidism; http://www.hopkinschildrens.org/hypothyroidism.aspx. Accessed May 3, 2012
17 John Hopkins Children Center; Hypothyroidism; http://www.hopkinschildrens.org/hypothyroidism.aspx. Accessed May 3, 2012
18 John Hopkins Children Center; Hypothyroidism; http://www.hopkinschildrens.org/hypothyroidism.aspx. Accessed May 3, 2012