March is Thyroid Awareness Month

Thyroid disease is more common than diabetes or heart disease.  Thyroid disease is a fact of life for as many as 30 million Americans – and more than half of those people remain undiagnosed. Women are five times more likely than men to suffer from hypothyroidism (when the gland is not producing enough thyroid hormone). Aging is just one risk factor for hypothyroidism.

The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the base of the neck just below the Adam’s apple. Although relatively small, the thyroid gland plays a huge role in our body, influencing the function of many of the body’s most important organs, including the heart, brain, liver, kidneys and skin. Ensuring that the thyroid gland is healthy and functioning properly is vitally important to the body’s overall well-being.

Certain diseases, drugs or other factors can cause the thyroid to stop producing enough hormone, a condition known as hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid. The thyroid could also produce too much hormone, a condition known as hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid. These two conditions are most often features of an underlying thyroid disease.

To find out more about your thyroid, related conditions and various types of treatments, go to: http://www.thyroidawareness.com/about-your-thyroid