It is estimated that over 30 million Americans suffer from thyroid problems, yet most are unaware of it. January is Thyroid Awareness Month, a time for all of us to take control of our health: familiarize ourselves with the thyroid and its functions, as well as the risks and symptoms of thyroid disease. For example, did you know that thyroid disease is the most common endocrine disorder? According to statistics from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), the number of people suffering from thyroid disease exceeds those diagnosed with diabetes by more than 40%. This number is outstanding, especially considering that many people don’t even know what the thyroid is!

So, what exactly is the thyroid?

The Thyroid
Located in the neck, the thyroid is one of the largest endocrine glands in the body. The thyroid gland uses iodine to produce thyroid hormones, the most important of those being thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The thyroid controls how quickly your body uses energy, makes proteins and how sensitive your body is to other hormones. Thyroid disease is easily and frequently misdiagnosed, and typically the blood work done during your annual physical does not test for it.

Am I at Risk?
There are many risk factors for thyroid disease, some of these include:

-GENDER: Females are at greater risk than men; women are at least 7 times more likely to develop thyroid disease in their lifetime
-AGE: Individuals over the age of 50 are at higher risk
-FAMILY HISTORY: Having a family history of autoimmune and/or thyroid disease increases your risk
-LIFESTYLE: smoking increases your risk of developing thyroid disease
-PREGNANCY: your risk of developing thyroid disease, specifically hypothyroidism, increases after pregnancy
-DIET: High consumption of soy products and/or raw goitrogenic foods (turnips, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, etc) can have a negative impact on thyroid health
-IODINE: exposure to iodine increases your risk of developing thyroid disease
-And many more…

Symptoms
Thyroid disease is frequently misdiagnosed as depression. Some key signs and symptoms of thyroid disease include:

-Unusually high or low blood pressure
-Extreme thirst or hunger
-Enlarged or tender neck or lump in neck
-Weakness and fatigue
-Low body temperature
-Aches, pains and stiffness in joints, hands and feet
-Hair loss
-Depression
-Insomnia
-Low sex drive
-Infertility
-Tremors
-Intolerability to heat or cold
-And many more…

Thyroid Testing
Are you one of the millions of Americans that has thyroid disease? Find out! If you visit www.personalabs.com, you can order a Thyroid Profile with TSH for only $45 (for additional discounts use code LAB4NF), which is a complete evaluation of your body’s thyroid function. This blood test measures the amount of Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) in your blood stream to determine if you suffer from hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. The test also measures your levels of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) circulating in your blood stream, which helps to evaluate your thyroid health. You will also find an extensive selection of other blood tests on the website that you can order at your convenience.

Visit www.personalabs.com, where you can find the same blood tests ordered by your doctor without the need a doctor’s visit. Avoid expensive mark-ups and doctor’s fees and take control of your thyroid health this January for Thyroid Awareness Month!

**Use coupon code LAB4NF for discounts off your order!!**

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