Merck Manuals Identifies Signs of Thyroid Disorders

KENILWORTH, N.J., Jan. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- This month, millions of Americans will kick off the New Year by making resolutions to stress less, get more sleep and lose weight. And while many people will achieve their goals by hitting the gym and the pillow, a portion will continue to inexplicably experience symptoms of weight gain, stress and insomnia despite their best efforts. In many cases, these may be the signs of an undiagnosed thyroid issue.

In fact, while more than 12 percent of the U.S. population will develop a thyroid condition in their lifetime, as many as 60 percent of people with a thyroid disease are unaware of it.

January is Thyroid Awareness Month, and to shed light on this important topic, Dr. Jerome Hershman, MD, Director of the Director of the Endocrine Clinic at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, has outlined three important steps for anyone suspecting a thyroid problem on MerckManuals.com:

1.    Recognize the symptoms

The thyroid, the bow-tie shaped gland just below your Adam's apple, is responsible for producing hormones that control the body's metabolism and impact vital body functions including heart rate, skin maintenance, growth, temperature regulation, fertility and digestion. If your thyroid gland produces too little or too much of essential hormones, you may develop a serious disorder. Two of the most common thyroid disorders are hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

Hypothyroidism is underactivity of the thyroid gland, slowing vital body functions. Common symptoms of hypothyroidism include weight gain, constipation, feeling cold, puffy eyes and face, hoarse and slowed speech and coarse, dry hair and skin.

Hyperthyroidism, an overactive thyroid gland, is less common. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism may include increased heart rate and blood pressure, feeling warm and sweaty, nervousness and anxiety, diarrhea, difficulty sleeping and weight loss.

2.    Check your family history

Thyroid conditions may be common, but that doesn't mean they're easy to spot. Most of the symptoms associated with thyroid issues – including weight gain and fatigue – are non-specific, meaning they don't point to a specific condition. This can make it difficult for doctors to tell whether you have a thyroid disorder unless they run tests.

There is one place you can look to help get a better idea of your risk for thyroid conditions – your family history. If thyroid issues run in your family, you may be at greater risk of developing hypothyroidism or another thyroid disease.

Additionally, women are particularly at risk for a thyroid issue. One in eight women will develop a thyroid disorder during the course of their lives – that's five to eight times the rate in men.

3.    Meet with your doctor

If your symptoms seem like they could be from a thyroid disorder, your doctor will likely order blood tests. Even if you're not experiencing symptoms, some doctors recommend regular screening for hypothyroidism for certain people. Doctors don't screen for hyperthyroidism because its symptoms are usually more obvious.

Doctors and professional groups have varying recommendations on screening, but many doctors think it is reasonable for the following people to consider getting screened:

• Women who are age 35 or older
• Men who are age 65 or older
• Women who are pregnant, especially pregnant women who have a family history of thyroid issues, or type 1 diabetes or who are extremely overweight, or older than 30

Doctors do agree that all newborn babies should have screening for congenital hypothyroidism.

If you suspect you are experiencing symptoms related to your thyroid gland, talk to your primary care physician right away – detection is the key to getting the condition under control and getting you on your way to a healthier year to come.

About The Merck Manuals
First published in 1899 as a small reference book for physicians and pharmacists, The Merck Manual grew in size and scope to become one of the world's most widely used comprehensive medical resources for professionals and consumers. As The Manual evolved, it continually expanded the reach and depth of its offerings to reflect the mission of providing the best medical information to a wide cross-section of users, including medical professionals and students, veterinarians and veterinary students, and consumers. In 2015, The Merck Manual kicked off Global Medical Knowledge 2020, a program to make the best current medical information accessible by up to three billion professionals and patients around the world by 2020. For access to thousands of medical topics with images, videos and a constantly expanding set of resources, visit MerckManuals.com and connect with us on social media:

For Consumers in the U.S. and its territories: Twitter and Facebook
For Professionals in the U.S. and its territories: Twitter and Facebook

About Merck
For over a century, Merck has been a global health care leader working to help the world be well. Merck is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.

SOURCE MerckManuals.com