Why Test for Hypothyroidism?
There are 27 million Americans who have overactive or underactive thyroids. Half remain undiagnosed; over 90% of them will have underactive thyroids, or hypothyroidism. The thyroid is the small, butterfly-shaped gland just below the Adam s apple. It produces hormones that influence every organ, tissue and cell of the body. If the thyroid does not work, the body doesn’t work well either. Thyroid disease is genetic. Left untreated, hypothyroidism can cause elevated cholesterol, infertility, muscle weakness, osteoporosis, lupus and a range of other autoimmune diseases. Fifteen to 20 percent of people with diabetes have siblings or parents that are likely to develop thyroid disease. ThyroChek helps you as a doctor, a pharmacist or a wellness provider to answer the question: Could it be the thyroid? Information on this site is from www.aace.com, the website of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.
