Maverick County Hospital District joins Endocrinologist Dr. Zandra Perez-Cadena in bringing attention to thyroid disease, a medical condition that affects up to 20 million Americans. Up to 60 percent of them are unaware they suffer from this condition. Women are five to eight times more likely than men to have thyroid problems, and one woman in eight will develop thyroid disorder during her lifetime.
The month of January is designated as Thyroid Awareness Month and Dr. Perez-Cadena advises that the thyroid can be either overactive or underactive. Both conditions can lead to significant health problems.
The thyroid is found in the middle of the lower neck. The hormones it produces (T3 and T4) affect every cell in the body. They help control your body temperature and heart rate, and help regulate the production of protein.
If the thyroid produces too much — or too little — T3 and T4, it can create problems. Specifically, those conditions are hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.
Undiagnosed thyroid disease may put patients at risk for certain serious conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis and infertility.
