Newswise — The American Thyroid Association, Inc. (ATA) is the world’s leading professional association of medical specialists dedicated to education and research to improve thyroid disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment; improving thyroid patient care; and educating the public about thyroid health and diseases.
Prevalence and Impact of Thyroid Disease
More than 12 percent of the U.S. population will develop a thyroid condition during their lifetime.
* An estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease.
* Up to 60 percent of those with thyroid disease are unaware of their condition.
* Most thyroid cancers respond to surgical treatment, although a small percentage can be very aggressive.
* Undiagnosed thyroid disease may put patients at risk for certain serious conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis and infertility.
* Most thyroid diseases are life-long conditions that can be managed with medical attention.
Facts about the Thyroid Gland and Thyroid Disease
The thyroid is a hormone-producing gland that regulates the body's metabolism—the rate at which the body produces energy from nutrients and oxygen—and affects critical body functions, such as energy level and heart rate.
* The thyroid gland is located in the middle of the lower neck.
* Although the thyroid gland is relatively small, it produces a hormone that influences every cell, tissue and organ in the body.
* Hypothyroidism results when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. Symptoms include extreme fatigue, depression, forgetfulness, and some weight gain.
* Hyperthyroidism, another form of thyroid disease, is a condition causing the gland to produce too much thyroid hormone. Symptoms include irritability, nervousness, muscle weakness, unexplained weight loss, sleep disturbances, vision problems and eye irritation.
* Graves’ disease is a type of hyperthyroidism; it is an autoimmune disorder that has a genetic component and estimated to affect one percent of the population. Graves’ disease is often associated with extrathyroidal manifestations with eye and skin disorders.