thyroid awareness month: a small but important gland

Courtney Takabayashi
January 21, 2025
health

The butterfly-shaped gland at the base of your neck is your thyroid. Though relatively small, it’s vital for producing and releasing hormones that regulate breathing, heart rate, energy, muscle strength, weight, mood, and more.

According to the American Thyroid Association (ATA), about 20 million Americans have a form of thyroid disease, and up to 60% of them don’t know they have a condition. And if thyroid disease goes undiagnosed, it can put people at risk for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and infertility.

In observance of Thyroid Awareness Month in January, we asked Cindy Pau, M.D., a specialist in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism, questions about thyroid diseases, risk factors, symptoms, prevention, and treatment.   

Why is Thyroid Awareness Month important?
Thyroid Awareness Month helps people understand how important the thyroid gland is for overall health. The thyroid affects nearly every part of the body, including energy levels, metabolism, heart function, and mental health. Many thyroid diseases go undiagnosed because the symptoms can be mistaken for other conditions, so raising awareness helps people get the right diagnosis and treatment sooner.

What are some risk factors associated with thyroid diseases?

  • Family history: Thyroid problems often run in families.
  • Age and gender: Women, especially over 40, are more likely to develop thyroid disease.
  • Ethnic background: Certain Asian ethnicities, including Filipino, Japanese, and Korean populations, are considered to be at higher risk.
  • Autoimmune diseases: People with conditions like type 1 diabetes, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis are at higher risk. In autoimmune thyroid diseases, the immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid, causing it to overwork or shut down.
  • Iodine intake: Too much or too little iodine in your diet can lead to thyroid problems.
  • Radiation exposure: This includes medical treatments like radiation therapy or environmental exposure from accidents or some occupations.

What are the main types of thyroid disease?

  • Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid): The thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormones.
  • Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid): The thyroid produces too much hormone.
  • Thyroid nodules: Noncancerous lumps in the thyroid, which can sometimes cause symptoms.
  • Thyroid cancer: Abnormal growth of cancerous cells in the thyroid.
  • Goiter: Enlargement of the thyroid gland, often caused by iodine deficiency or autoimmune conditions.

What common symptoms should we be on the lookout for?

  • Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid): Fatigue, weight gain, feeling cold, constipation, hair thinning, and depression.
  • Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid): Weight loss, anxiety, rapid heartbeat, sweating, trouble sleeping, and irritability.
  • Physical signs: A swelling in the neck, called a goiter, can signal thyroid problems.

Are there any preventive measures we can take?

  • Eat a balanced diet: Ensure you get enough iodine from foods like fish, dairy, and iodized salt, but not too much.
  • Regular checkups: If you have a family history or other risk factors, ask your doctor to monitor your thyroid function.
  • Limit radiation exposure: Only undergo medical imaging or treatments involving radiation when necessary.
  • Manage autoimmune conditions: Keep other autoimmune diseases well-controlled to reduce additional strain on the thyroid.

What are some treatment options?

  • Medication: For hypothyroidism, a daily thyroid hormone replacement pill restores hormone levels. For hyperthyroidism, medications can slow down thyroid activity.
  • Radioactive iodine: This treatment destroys overactive thyroid tissue in hyperthyroidism.
  • Surgery: For severe cases, part or all of the thyroid gland may be removed.
  • Lifestyle adjustments: Addressing symptoms with dietary changes and stress management can help alongside medical treatments.

Anything else you’d like to share?
Here are some fun facts about the thyroid:

  • The thyroid is shaped like a butterfly and sits right at the base of your neck.
  • Thyroid problems are more common in women, affecting 1 in 8 women at some point in their lives.
  • The thyroid gland plays a key role in brain development during pregnancy and infancy, which is one reason why iodine is added to salt in many countries.

Eat well
Eating a healthy diet can be tough, but we have some easy and delicious recipes to help you get started.

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