ATA Fact Sheet on Thyroid Disorders

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.

Women and Thyroid Health* One woman in eight will develop a thyroid disorder during her lifetime.* Women are five to eight times more likely than men to have thyroid problems. * Pregnant women with undiagnosed or inadequately treated hypothyroidism have an increased risk of miscarriage, preterm delivery, and severe developmental problems in their children.

Research Advancements in Thyroid DiseaseResearch funded by the American Thyroid Association over the past 40 years has accomplished:

* Mandatory screening of newborns for congenital hypothyroidism, and early treatment that has prevented mental retardation. * Cost-effective methods to detect thyroid cancer by screening the 250,000 thyroid nodules developed in Americans each year. * Groundbreaking work in brain development and thyroid hormone function. * Promising Graves’ disease genetic research that may lead to improved prognosis and new preventive treatments.

The American Thyroid Association (ATA) is the lead organization in promoting thyroid health and understanding thyroid biology. The ATA values scientific inquiry, clinical excellence, public service, education, collaboration, and collegiality.

A non-profit medical society founded in 1923, the ATA fulfills its mission through supporting excellence and innovation in research, clinical care, education, and public health. ATA members are physicians and scientists who work to enhance the understanding of thyroid physiology and pathophysiology, improve the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid diseases, and promote the education of physicians, patients, and the public about thyroid disorders. The official journal “Thyroid” of the ATA is published monthly. “Clinical Thyroidology” is published online monthly for the benefit of clinicians and scientists around the world.

Thyroid diseases are among the most common disorders of the endocrine system, affecting almost 13 million Americans alone. The ATA has extensive online information for patients on thyroid disease (in English and Spanish) serving the clinician as a resource for patients and the public who look for reliable information on the internet. To further benefit patients, the ATA publishes an online journal “Clinical Thyroidology for Patients.” The Alliance for Patient Education was formed in 2002 to offer an exchange of information between the ATA and patient education groups: ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc.; the Light of Life Foundation, and the Graves’ Disease Foundation. A public forum is held each year in conjunction with the ATA annual meeting.

The 80th Annual Meeting of the ATA will be in Palm Beach, Florida, from September 23-27, 2009 at The Breakers Hotel. All registration and program information is available at http://www.thyroid.org. We welcome your participation.

ATA 6066 Leesburg Pike, Suite 550, Falls Church, VA 22041 * (703) 998-8890 (Fax) (703) 998-8893 * http://www.thyroid.org