Tired All the Time? Ten Things You Should Know about Thyroid Disease
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"If it seems like everyone you know is tired all the time, or constantly stressed, you may be tempted to overlook your own fatigue or anxiety," says Dr. Steven Petak, FACE, President of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. "In today's hectic world, it's easy to convince yourself that these problems are really just signs of the times."

It's estimated that more than half the 27 million Americans who have thyroid disease remain undiagnosed. "The disorder can be difficult to diagnose because its most common symptoms are also indicative of a host of other problems," says Dr. Petak. "Doctors may focus on one or more of these isolated symptoms without looking at the total picture that adds up to thyroid disease."

"For years, I complained to my doctors that I was tired - really fatigued - all the time," says Wall (names have been changed to protect the patients' privacy). "They all told me it was because I was overweight and that if I dropped some pounds I'd have more energy." Finally, at a walk-in clinic where she'd gone for treatment of a common cold, a doctor asked Wall if she'd ever had her thyroid checked. "My results came back at the very edge of the normal range," she says. "And while my hormone levels were in the normal range, it turns out the level wasn't 'normal' for me and needed to be adjusted with medication." Wall was diagnosed with hypothyroidism.

A few years ago, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and the American Thyroid Association redefined the range of TSH (the thyroid hormone) that is considered normal. Many labs working with TSH still may not be aware of the new parameters, says Dr. Petak. "This could lead to a patient being told their results were 'normal,' when in fact they fall outside the new acceptable range."

"I'd had my thyroid tested in the past and was told everything was normal," says Mckinnon. "I didn't know that you can develop thyroid disease at any time. A few years ago, I noticed that I felt hyper and stressed all the time. My heart raced constantly and I always felt hot, even in a room others said was cold." Mckinnon's doctors finally did a TSH test and diagnosed her with hyperthyroidism.

The good news is, thyroid disease is one of the easiest maladies to detect and treat, experts say. Here are the 10 most important things to know about thyroid disease, according to the AACE:

1. Approximately 27 million Americans are affected by thyroid disease. About half have never been diagnosed.

2. More women than men experience thyroid disorders.

3. Thyroid problems run in the family. If you have a close relative with the disease, you should get checked regularly.

4. Fatigue is the most common complaint for both under (hypo) and over (hyper) active thyroid conditions.

5. TSH testing can detect more than 90 percent of both over and under active thyroid disorders.

6. Regular check ups are essential to the successful management of thyroid disorder.

7. When you and your doctor find the right medicine to treat your disorder stick with it. Variations in brands and dosage can affect the body's blood levels.

8. If you change brands of medicine, get tested to make sure the new medicine is working for you.

9. If you are pregnant, it's especially important to monitor your thyroid disorder.

10. Thyroid cancer is the fastest growing type of cancer in America - and the most curable.

To learn more about thyroid disorders, visit www.thyroidawareness.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content

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