Unlocking the Secrets to a Healthier Body

January is Thyroid Awareness Month

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.,  Jan. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- We often go to great lengths to look and feel our best. Yet many never realize that one of the keys to a healthy body and a productive life rests just below the neck.  

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland below the larynx that produces thyroid hormones; chemicals that affect the function of many of the body's organs including the heart, brain, liver, kidneys, bones and skin. It's a good rule that if your thyroid is not working properly, neither are you.

The American College of Endocrinology (ACE) is proud to announce that January is "Thyroid Awareness Month," the only national campaign targeted towards helping the millions of Americans living with a thyroid condition. The campaign's focus is to help people understand the effects of the thyroid throughout all aspects of life: conception, birth, adolescence and throughout adulthood.  "Thyroid Awareness Month" is a major component of the ACE "Power of Prevention®" program.

"Many people with thyroid disease are often undiagnosed for years," AACE President and Chief of Endocrinology at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Dr. Jeffrey Garber, said.  "The ill consequences resulting from a thyroid disorder could be prevented by a simple visit to their doctor."  

An integral part of the 2010 campaign is the latest edition of the "Power of Prevention" magazine.  The January issue, which is available as a free download here, offers a wealth of information about thyroid dysfunction such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroid cancer, thyroid nodules, and the critical role a healthy thyroid plays in infancy and pregnancy.  The online magazine will also feature special sections written by expert endocrinologists covering a variety of thyroid-related topics.    

On the Power of Prevention Web site, users can also read real patients' stories, learn how to take the thyroid "Neck Check" and review a list of the "Top 10 Things You Should Know about Your Thyroid."  For women considering pregnancy, the website also has a list of the "Things Every Mother Should Know."

To download your copy of the Power of Prevention®: "Thyroid Awareness" online magazine, please click here.

About the American College of Endocrinology (ACE)

The American College of Endocrinology (ACE) is the educational and scientific arm of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE). ACE is a scientific and charitable medical organization dedicated to promoting the art and science of clinical endocrinology for the improvement of patient care and public health. The American College of Endocrinology is the leader in advancing the care and prevention of endocrine and metabolic disorders by: providing professional education and reliable public health information; recognizing excellence in education, research and service; promoting clinical research; and defining the future of clinical endocrinology.

About the Power of Prevention^®

The Power of Prevention® program is the umbrella program for all public health awareness initiatives created and promoted by the American College of Endocrinology (ACE).  These programs are designed to educate patients about endocrine disorders and the importance of preventive health care.

SOURCE American College of Endocrinology