Merck initiates campaign on International Thyroid Awareness week 2007

In time for the International Thyroid Awareness Week [ITAW] 2017, Merck, the leading science and healthcare innovation company has worked hand in hand with the Philippine Thyroid Association [PTA], Philippine Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism [PSEDM], and the Iodine Global Network [IGN], to raise consciousness and create more public awareness on thyroid diseases.

Thyroid disorders are some of the most common diseases worldwide. In our country, the case is about one in every 11 adults that suffers from goiter or other thyroid problems. It was also discovered that thyroid diseases are most common in women than in men. They are also at risk of hypothyroidism by 10 times. Studies also show that women who recently gave birth and those who are in the menopausal stage are more vulnerable.

You can have your thyroid checked and learn more about thyroid when you come and visit the International Thyroid Awareness Week 2017 on May 27, 2017, Saturday, at the Robinson’s Novaliches Trade Hall! There will be Free Thyroid screening, lectures and doctors consultaion plus other exciting perks in store for you. Best of all, they’re all absolutely FREE and it’s open to the public from 2:00 to 6:00PM!

Thyroid gland is a butterfly-shape endocrine gland that sits in at the lower front of the neck. It plays a key role in one’s overall health and well-being by producing thyroid hormones that help keep the body use energy, stay warm, and keep the brain, heart, muscles, and other organs in tip-top condition.

The thing with thyroid is that they’re usually left undetected and misdiagnosed. Why? Because of its symptoms: tiredness, anxiety, weight fluctutations, difficulty in sleeping—these are some of the tell tale signs of a thyroid problem. Usually, people would more often than not associate these signs with poor lifestyle choices. That’s why this year’s ITAW theme is: “It’s Not You, It’s Your Thyroid.”

Since the primary role of thyroid gland is to control metabolism, disorders may occur when there’s little (hyperthyroidism) or overproduction (hyperthyroidism) of thyroid hormones. Patients with hypothyroidism tend to have slower metabolism: they gain weight despite not eating as much, move or speak slowly, feel tired and have depressed thoughts, cannot tolerate cold, and have irregular menstrual periods. As for hyperthyroidism, they have unusually hyperactive metabolism: they lose weight despite having good appetite, have heart palpitations, irritable thoughts and insomnia, have sweating and heat intolerance and even tremors in hand.

The diagnosis of thyroid disorders can easily be made by checking the levels of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) in the blood. Treatment brings the level of thyroid hormones back in balance, restoring normal metabolism to the body.

For more information, visit www.thyroidaware.com or follow “Unmasking Your Thyroid” on Facebook (www.facebook.com/thyroidph).