Merck Inc.’s Thyroid Disorder Awareness

Philippine Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism shows a study in 2012 that one in every 11 Filipino adults has goiter and around one in 12 adults suffer from some form of thyroid disorders. This means that thyroid disorder is very common, yet awareness of this disease is very low. The symptoms of thyroid disorders are often mistaken for other diseases, or worse, are ignored by patients with disease.

To be able to raise awareness, Merck Inc. held a bloggers’ event at the Radisson Blu Hotel which was hosted by Dr. Chrysanthus Herrera of Medical Science and Government Affairs Manager of Merck along with the guest speaker, Dr. April Medoy Abcede of Philippine Society and Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism.

Hypothyroidism & Hyperthyroidism

Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism are just among the thyroid disorders that are talked during the event. It was discussed too that it is important to have enough balance supply of T3 and T4 to keep our thyroid healthy.

Hypothyroidism or too little thyroid hormone tends to have slower metabolism: they gain weight despite not eating much, move, and speak slowly, feel tired and have depresses thoughts, cannot tolerate cold, and have irregular menstrual periods.

Hypothyroidism symptoms are often variable and non-specific, and may be mistaken for other diseases. Thus, those who experience the early symptoms are required to see their physician for further evaluation to ensure that the patient who is diagnosed with this disorder gets the proper treatment.

Hyperthyroidism or too much thyroid hormone will have hyperactive metabolism, total opposite to the symptoms of having hypothyroidism. They lose weight despite having good appetite, have heart palpitations most of the time, irritable thoughts and insomnia, have sweating and heat intolerance, and can have tremors in their hands.

One of the common causes of hyperthyroidism is having an autoimmune condition known as Graves’ disease (diffuse toxic goiter). This tends to run in families and typically affects young women.

Early detection is the best way to prevent your thyroid from getting damage. By undergoing screening through a blood test, one can monitor the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and thyroid hormone levels in the blood (T3 and T4). You will have low TSH and high T3 and T4 if you are hyperthyroid. As for those who are having hypothyroidism, your TSH levels will be high and T3 and T4 will be low in hypothyroidism.

The treatment of both disorders varies. For patients who are experiencing hypothyroidism, rich in iodine is required while for hyperthyroidism patients, it would depend on the condition of the patient as to why evaluation is really essential.

Goiter / Thyroid Nodule / Thyroid Cancer

Unlike hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, Goiter, Thyroid Nodule, and thyroid cancer are physical disorder that happens in the thyroid gland.

Goiter refers to the abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. It can occur in hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone), or in hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone), or in euthyroidism (correct amount of thyroid hormone).

Goiters are most commonly caused by iodine deficiency. When there is not enough iodine in the diet, the thyroid tries to compensate by enlarging. Other diseases, such as Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis can also cause goiter.

Thyroid nodules occur when there are abnormal growths of thyroid tissue. There may be a single nodule, or multiple nodules. These can produce thyroid hormone (toxic nodules). Sometimes, these growths may be malignant (thyroid cancer).

Thyroid cancer is rare compared to other cancers, but is considered very treatable and usually has high survival rates.

These disorders can be detected before it can fully grow. Sudden change in your neck is one of the signs that you can easily see.

There are a lot of people who may have thyroid disorders but aren’t even aware until it is too late. It is important to have one’s thyroid checked as early as possible, especially if there is family history of the disease or during pregnancy. Prevention, proper information and early detection will always be better than cure that comes too late.

To learn more about thyroid disorder and so as its awareness, you can visit www.thyroid.ph.