‘It’s not you. It’s your thyroid.’ Campaign Launched to Raise Awareness of Symptoms - Seite 2

Ashok Bhaseen, President of TFI, said: "The survey results highlight an important reason why millions of people go through life without being diagnosed or treated for a thyroid disorder, resulting in a poor quality of life. It reveals that thyroid disorders can be the culprit hiding behind the symptoms that many of us put down to today's busy lifestyle. We hope it will encourage more people to speak to their healthcare professional rather than dismissing their symptoms as a normal part of everyday life."

The aim of the 'It's not you. It's your thyroid.' campaign is to help people recognize that they may be wrongly blaming themselves for their symptoms. Some of the symptoms of too little thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) are constipation, lack of motivation, lack of concentration, depression, or weight gain.^[7] The symptoms of too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) include weight loss and irritability.^[8],[9] Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can lead to anxiety, menstrual difficulties, and difficulty sleeping.^[7],[8]

The survey underlined why it can be so difficult to spot a thyroid disorder. Symptoms such as feeling unable to concentrate (29.6%), difficulty getting pregnant (30%), and slow bowel movements and constipation (29%) were not commonly associated with thyroid disorders by respondents.^[6] A feature of thyroid disorders that makes them difficult to spot is that the hormones produced in the thyroid gland help regulate many different functions in the body. The symptoms can therefore be diverse and are not specific or unique.^[10]

Simon Sturge, Chief Operating Officer at Merck's Biopharma division, said: "Merck is partnering with TFI on the International Thyroid Awareness Week for the ninth year running. Together, we help to ensure that people have the information they need to recognize potential thyroid disorders and see their doctor, rather than blame themselves and accept how they're feeling. A simple blood test can check whether or not the thyroid gland is functioning normally."

Campaign materials can be accessed via the campaign website at http://www.thyroidaware.com. These include a brochure and an interactive quiz that address misconceptions about the symptoms of thyroid disorder, and provide information to help people identify if they could be suffering unnecessarily.

ITAW is now an established and highly regarded global awareness campaign endorsed by the American Thyroid Association (ATA), the European Thyroid Association (ETA), and the Chinese Society of Endocrinology (CSE). For more information visit the ITAW website, http://www.thyroidaware.com.