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tamarian
Wed, Feb-13-02, 11:42
Tuesday February 12, 6:30 am Eastern Time

Press Release
SOURCE: Thyroid Disease Information Center

Research Reveals Millions of Thyroid Patients Undiagnosed
'Findings Underscore Urgent Need for Patient Self-Education,' Says Patient Advocate

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- A study has found that nearly 5 percent of Americans suffer from thyroid disease, and more than 4 percent have an underactive thyroid condition known as hypothyroidism. This may mean that almost 10 million Americans are hypothyroid, with as many as 8 million of them undiagnosed. The findings, published in the February 2002 ``Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism,'' also suggested that one out of every three thyroid patients is not receiving adequate treatment.

``People with thyroid disease must become knowledgeable advocates for themselves if they have any chance of getting well,'' says thyroid patient advocate Mary Shomon, author of the bestselling book, ``Living Well With Hypothyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know.'' The book discusses the widespread problems of undiagnosed and misdiagnosed hypothyroidism, and offers guidelines on optimal treatment from conventional and alternative perspectives.

Shomon is concerned about the many people who have common thyroid symptoms, which include fatigue, weight gain, depression, hair loss, muscle/joint aches, infertility, and low sex drive. ``Women in particular, who are at highest risk for hypothyroidism, are diagnosed as stressed, depressed, PMSing or menopausal,'' says Shomon. ``They're sent home with antidepressants, diet pills, estrogen, or a pat on the back -- instead of the thyroid tests and treatment they obviously need.''

Shomon has found that proper diagnosis and treatment require knowledgeable and assertive patients. ``In my book, I tell patients that in order to be taken seriously and tested, you may have to go to the doctor armed with a detailed checklist and history of your thyroid symptoms,'' says Shomon.

Hypothyroid herself, Shomon's patient empowerment, education and advocacy efforts since 1997 have included running several high-traffic thyroid websites, founding ``Sticking Out Our Necks,'' the nation's only independent thyroid newsletter, and answering emails from hundreds of thyroid patients each week.

A chapter from ``Living Well With Hypothyroidism,'' as well as an excerpted version of the book's ``Hypothyroidism Risk Factors and Symptoms Checklist,'' are online at http://www.thyroid-info.com/book.htm, and Shomon's Thyroid Information Source website for patients is located at http://www.thyroid-info.com .

``Living Well With Hypothyroidism'' was published in March 2000 by HarperCollins. Named an Amazon.com Top 40 health bestseller in both 2000 and 2001, the book is currently in its 11th printing.

SOURCE: Thyroid Disease Information Center


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