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Hypothyroidism is a National Epidemic

   Written by on August 8, 2013 at 6:33 am

By Averett Jones, Southside Messenger Editor

“It’s estimated that as many as 59 million Americans have a thyroid problem, but the majority don’t know it yet. The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck, is the master gland of metabolism. When your thyroid doesn’t function, it can affect every aspect of your health, and in particular, weight, depression and energy levels.

Since undiagnosed thyroid problems can dramatically increase your risk of obesity, heart disease, depression, anxiety, hair loss, sexual dysfunction, infertility and a host of other symptoms and health problems, it’s important that you don’t go undiagnosed. “ according to patient advocate and author Mary Shomon who transformed her 1995 thyroid diagnosis into a mission to educate and empower others struggling with thyroid and hormonal conditions.

Roughly 20 percent of Americans have thyroid problems. Drugs to treat hypothyroidism are the number two seller in America yet somehow hypothyroidism is one of the most under diagnosed medical issues in America.

For five years my wife visited a variety of doctors with a list of symptoms that (unknown to us) could have been taken straight from the list of hypothyroid symptoms. She was diagnosed with a variety of conditions including menopause at age 30, depression, metabolic disorders and even “having a man’s job.” Not one doctor in five years mentioned a thyroid problem or tested for it.

When she finally received an accurate diagnosis we wondered why a condition that affects almost a fourth of all American women was not the first on the list of possible conditions and the first to be considered.

We thought the correct diagnosis was the end of her problems. It was just the beginning. The first issue was that only one of the four thyroid functions was tested. The T4 test results for a normal thyroid is between 1 and 5. Doctors would get my wife’s T4 below 5 and call it fixed even though the symptoms remained. She struggled for years to find a doctor who would treat symptoms and not just treat her like she was a lab value.

T1, T2, and T3 were not even considered or tested for even though all are necessary for proper bodily function and health.

Using an automotive analogy the thyroid is the computer in a car. In order to run properly an engine must have fuel, spark, compression and lubrication. If your  mechanic only checked one of these and insisted your car ran properly even when it didn’t you would find a competent mechanic.

In my opinion, any condition that is as prevalent as hypothyroidism and that causes 25 percent of American women and many men to suffer from obesity, heart disease, depression, anxiety, hair loss, sexual dysfunction, infertility and a host of other symptoms is a national epidemic.

Why isn’t it being treated as one?

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