January is thyroid awareness month. This is important because the thyroid plays a significant role in the human body such as helping with breathing, keeping a steady heart rate, regulating body weight and muscle strength, keeping cholesterol in check, and regulating body temperature. Having an underactive thyroid, also known as hypothyroidism is caused when the thyroid gland is unsuccessful in producing enough of the thyroid hormone.
Common symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, constipation, weight gain, dry skin, muscle weakness, thinning hair, puffy skin, and memory loss. In some cases, if the condition is left untreated it can lead to autoimmune disease, heart problems, mental health issues, and infertility.
Here are a few facts and stats to help you understand your thyroid and hypothyroidism:
- Hypothyroidism is most commonly found in women, 5-8 times more likely than men
- One in eight women will develop a thyroid condition or disorder in her lifetime
- Around 10% of women in the United States claim to have thyroid hormone deficiency
- Hypothyroidism can affect people of all ages but is most commonly found in people over the age of 20
- There are more than 3 million new cases of hypothyroidism per year in the US overall, about 20 million Americans are affected by thyroid disease
- Many people are unaware they have a thyroid condition, nearly 60 percent of those affected
- The cause of thyroid conditions and hypothyroidism is still unknown
- Thyroid conditions usually last a lifetime, but they are manageable
- Hypothyroidism requires a medical diagnosis and is treatable by a medical professional
At LongevityMed we specialize in the assessment and treatment of hypothyroidism and hormone deficiency. It’s what we do, every day, and our specialty. Schedule a consultation today and discuss if hypothyroidism or hormone deficiency may be affecting you.
