Thyroid Awareness Month

Thyroid Awareness Month

It's January, and that means it's Thyroid Awareness Month. And this year, there is no better time to check your neck to change your life. Some health experts estimate that upwards of 60 million Americans are suffering from thyroid disease -- but because thyroid problems can be tricky to recognize and diagnose for patients and doctors -- the majority of sufferers are not yet even diagnosed.

According to thyroid patient advocate and author Mary Shomon, "Millions of people have an undiagnosed thyroid disorder, and don't realize that it is the source of the other health challenges they face. Obesity, depression, fatigue, high cholesterol, infertility, low sex drive, and many other conditions are often the direct result of undiagnosed and untreated thyroid conditions."

Patient advocate Mary Shomon has developed the following tips on how to "Check Your Neck, Change Your Life."

1. Think Thyroid

The thyroid gland has an impact on so many health issues, and can cause a variety of symptoms. If you are overweight, and can't lose weight despite diet and exercise -- think thyroid. If you are suffering from infertility or recurrent miscarriage, think thyroid. If you have a low sex drive -- think thyroid. If you are depressed -- think thyroid. If you are feeling fuzzy-brained and having memory problems -- think thyroid. If you've just had a baby and you're exhausted, losing hair, or having trouble breastfeeding -- think thyroid. If you have menstrual problems, or are going through a difficult menopause -- think thyroid. If you have muscle aches, joint pains, hair loss, puffiness, or constipation -- think thyroid. If you suspect a problem with your "hormones" -- think thyroid. And especially, if you are a women suffering from any vague symptom -- think thyroid!

2. Check Your Own Neck

You can potentially detect a thyroid abnormality early by follow these steps to check your neck.

1. Stand in front of a mirror
2. Stretch your neck back
3. Swallow water
4. Look for enlargement in your neck (below the Adam's Apple, above the collar bone)
5. Feel the area to confirm enlargement or bump
6. If any problem is detected, see a doctor

3. Get the Right Blood Tests

When it comes to thyroid diagnosis, most conventional doctors rely on the TSH -- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone -- test. But keep in mind, the "typical" normal range, which runs from about .5 to 5.5, is controversial. Many endocrinologists and physicians believe that levels above 2.5 are evidence of a thyroid condition. Millions of people, however, fall into the limbo between 2.5 and 5.5, where doctors wrongly claim they are "normal," and fail to diagnose and treat symptoms. If you don't feel well, and your TSH is in "limbo" and your doctor won't treat you, get another opinion. Also, keep in mind that forward-thinking doctors don't just test TSH, they test Free T4, Free T3 to get a more complete picture of thyroid function. A thyroid autoimmune antibodies panel can also identify thyroid diseases as well. So ask your physician for these additional blood tests, and consider treatment if levels are borderline or abnormal.

4. Get a Thorough Clinical Thyroid Examination

Blood tests are only a part of the equation. The challenging part of thyroid diagnosis comes in the clinical thyroid exam. During a thorough thyroid exam, the doctor may:

· Feel (known as "palpate") your neck for thyroid abnormalities

· Listen to your thyroid using a stethoscope.

· Test your reflexes

· Check your heart rate, rhythm and blood pressure

· Measure your weight, and discuss changes

· Measure body temperature

· Examine your face for puffiness and eyebrow loss

· Examine your eyes for protrusion, eyelid retraction and other potentially thyroid-related signs

· Discuss changes in the quality/quantity of your hair

· Examine your skin, for hives, lesions or roughness on the shins, and blister-like bumps on the face

· Note any tremor, shakiness, slowness in movement or speech, hoarseness of voice, and swelling of hands/feet

· Discuss your personal and family history of thyroid and autoimmune disease

· Listen carefully to your medical history, and your symptoms

5. Find a Doctor Who Has the Complete Picture

When it comes to thyroid disease diagnosis and treatment, most practitioners fall into one of two camps. On one side are the conventional endocrinologists and physicians, who believe that thyroid problems should be diagnosed solely by a TSH test, and treated solely by the synthetic thyroid medication levothyroxine (i.e., Synthroid). These doctors are most concerned with normalizing blood test results, not whether patients feel well and symptoms are relieved. The other side includes integrative physicians, some gynecologists and hormone experts, and many holistic practitioners who believe that thyroid problems are diagnosed by evaluating symptoms, a clinical exam, taking a complete medical history, and results of a variety of relevant thyroid tests. These practitioners also believe that treating thyroid disease means finding the best thyroid medication -- which can include the addition of medications like Cytomel or time-released T3, or natural desiccated thyroid like Armour and Nature-throid rather than levothyroxine -- that can safely treat each patient and resolve symptoms.

General Health Clinic encourages you to speak with your health care professional with any thyroid concerns.The Clinic welcomes most major insurances along with Medicare and Medicaid. Payments by cash, credit cards, and debit cards are accepted. The clinic is located at the junction of highways 148 and JJ in Hopkins, Missouri. The clinic will be open Saturday, January 29 and Saturday, February 19. Appointments can be made by calling 660-778-3209.

Source: http://www.prweb.com/releases/thyroid/awareness/prweb1840874.htm