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| :: Women Suffer from Thyroid Disease More Than Men :: |
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Diagnosis of thyroid diseases has become increasingly common, especially among women. More than 27 million Americans have thyroid conditions which result when too little or too much thyroid hormone circulates in their bodies. More than half of the cases go undiagnosed and, what?s more, roughly 8 out of 10 people with thyroid disease are women.
?Although we are not certain why many thyroid conditions are 5-10 times more common in women than in men, we do know that this is not likely to be a hormonal effect of estrogen since these conditions can occur before puberty and long after menopause,? explains Rhoda H. Cobin, M.D., clinical professor of medicine at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City and president-elect of the American College of Endocrinology.
There may be a genetic link to these disorders. Researchers at Mount Sinai are currently investigating the genetics of autoimmune thyroid disease. ?It is likely that the gender predisposition is likewise genetically mediated,? says Cobin. In other words, women may inherit a predisposition to these disorders based on their gender.
Most people don?t pay much attention to their thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland in their neck. But when a person experiences a problem with her/his thyroid, it?s virtually impossible to ignore. This little gland plays an important role in the regulation of many of the body?s organs including the heart, liver, brain, kidneys and skin.
If left untreated, thyroid disease can wreak havoc on the body and leave a person at risk for heart disease, infertility and osteoporosis. According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, there is a possible genetic tie between thyroid disorders and other autoimmune conditions including diabetes, lupus and certain forms of arthritis.
In the United States, approximately 1 in 50 women is diagnosed with hypothyroidism (below normal thyroid function) during pregnancy. The thyroid gland plays an important role in the immune system. But, when a woman gets pregnant, her immune system is suppressed and the function of the thyroid gland is altered. In most women, the thyroid regains normal functioning after pregnancy when the immune system is released from suppression. For some, the thyroid gland never fully recovers.
According to Cobin, in some women (approximately 10 percent of women in the United States), the release from immune suppression after giving birth leads to thyroid disease following pregnancy. This ?postpartum thyroiditis? results from the heightened immune response following pregnancy, which leads to the body?s production of antibodies that can damage the thyroid tissue. Many women who suffer from postpartum thyroiditis have detectable levels of these antibodies in their system prior to or during pregnancy. Cobin adds, ?As a result, there is a period of worsening of thyroid disease that can cause temporary hyperthyroidism (overactivity of the thyroid), followed by hypothyroidism (underactivity of the thyroid).? In some women, this condition resolves itself. In others, it can persist for a lifetime.
Women need to become aware of the signs of thyroid disease. Some of the common symptoms of hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) include: weight gain, fatigue, dry skin and hair, hoarse voice, constipation, heavy periods and mood swings. Pregnant women will sometimes notice swelling or tenderness in the neck region. For hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), some of the more common symptoms include: weight loss, heat intolerance and profuse sweating, frequent bowel movements, changes in appetite, sleep disturbances and tremors.
People over the age of 35 and those who have any symptoms should speak with their doctor about getting tested. Considering that thyroid disease tends to run in families, people with a family history of thyroid disease should also be tested. The TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) test is a simple blood test that checks the condition of a person?s thyroid gland. If a problem exists, medication is available to keep the body?s thyroid hormone levels in check.
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Source/Author Info:
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New York Thyroid Center, Thyroid disease in women, Columbia University: 2003.
American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, Take Control of Your Health: Keep your thyroid in balance. 2004.
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