After sugar and heart related problems, thyroid disorders are among the most common ailments gripping Indians today. Yet it is the most under-diagnosed of all disorders - making thyroid a hidden disease.

The Indian Thyroid Society (ITS) has declared January 2008 as “Think Thyroid” month. The aim is to not only increase public awareness about thyroid disorders and the importance of the thyroid gland among the general public but also general practitioners and others in the medical fraternity.

ITS President Prof RV Jayakumar says, “Our main endeavour is to raise awareness about thyroid disorders and get more people to get themselves tested. ITS is conducting awareness camps in over 50 towns and cities across the country and we hope to reach the maximum number of people through these camps.”

The thyroid gland is part of the delicate endocrine system and is located in your neck, just under the Adam’s apple. It produces hormones that help to regulate every cell, tissue and organ in your body. In short, if your thyroid doesn’t work properly, nor do you.

The most common symptoms of Hypothyroidism, which constitutes 88 per cent of all thyroid disorders are fatigue, weight gain, intolerance to cold, sleepiness, depression, enlarged thyroid (goitre), dry, coarse skin and hair, hoarse voice, forgetfulness and constipation.

Serious health consequences such as elevated cholesterol, heart disease, osteoporosis, infertility, depression - even coma and/or death can result if a thyroid disorder is untreated for long.

Fact FILE
* It is projected that around 4.2 crore Indians suffer from thyroid diseases.
* Hypothyroidism is the most common thyroid disorder.
* Thyroid disease is much more prevalent in women.
* Women are 5 to 8 times more likely to get thyroid disease than men
* 1 woman in 8 will develop thyroid disease in her lifetime.
* To ward off the disease before its onset, ITS advocates consulting your physician about doing a simple blood test called the thyroid stimulating hormone or TSH test.
* the Thyroid Self Test to detect an enlarged thyroid gland.

Source: http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Think-Thyroid/261844/