Affects at least 30 million Americans -- some experts say 59 million!
Is easily -- and frequently -- misdiagnosed as depression
Is at least 7 times more likely to affect women
Can be the actual cause of weight gain/difficulty losing weight, fatigue, depression, hair loss, and high cholesterol in some people
Is most often due to autoimmune disease
In women, can cause infertility, low sex drive, miscarriage, irregular menstrual periods, breastfeeding problems, and difficult menopause
Is NOT typically tested for as part of regular blood work in an annual physical
Is often overlooked, misdiagnosed, or insufficiently/incorrectly treated by physicians
Mary Shomon is the nation's leading thyroid patient advocate, and author of a number of best-selling books on thyroid disease. Mary is also Guide to the About.com Thyroid Site -- part of the New York Times Co.--since 1997. Contact Mary now.
Thyroid Awareness Month:
January 2012
Making Thyroid Tests Affordable for Everyone
MyMedLab.com Offers $25 Thyroid Basic Screening Test During Thyroid Awareness Month
To honor Thyroid Awareness Month, digital health pioneer, MyMedLab will help undiagnosed patients take that first important step toward a thyroid diagnosis. For only twenty five dollars, consumers can purchase a baseline blood test panel that includes the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) along with the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) screening test for thyroid disorders.
The MyMedLab thyroid basic panel was designed by thyroid expert, patient advocate, and author Mary Shomon, who is also helping make the thyroid community and her readers aware of the Thyroid Awareness Month test panel. Other thyroid advocacy groups have also signed on as co-sponsors for the effort to make Thyroid Awareness Month test panels available around the nation. The Coalition for Better Thyroid Care’s Executive Director Geri Rybacki, and DearThyroid Founder Katie Schwartz have said that they will be focusing their patient advocacy efforts this month on helping promote the special $25 test panels at their sites, http://www.betterthyroidcare.org and http://www.dearthyroid.org.
“It is estimated that as many as 40 million Americans may be suffering from undiagnosed or misdiagnosed thyroid conditions,” said Shomon. “I am excited to be able to help make these important tests available and affordable to as many people as possible in the patient community.”
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland, located in the neck. The hormones released by the thyroid control energy and metabolism, and are essential for many important physical functions.
When undiagnosed and untreated, thyroid problems can cause a variety of debilitating symptoms, including weight gain or inability to lose weight, depression, brain fog, anxiety, fatigue, low sex drive, hair loss, high cholesterol, infertility, and other troublesome issues. Because symptoms can sometimes be broad, thyroid disease is often misdiagnosed as a mental health issue, and symptoms attributed to lack of sleep or exercise, overeating, or other lifestyle issues.
“Patients are frequently charged as much as $100 or more for just a TSH test,” said David Clymer, CEO of MyMedLab. “We wanted to mark Thyroid Awareness Month 2012 by making the first-level thyroid screening affordable to everyone.”
The MyMedLab tests provide a simple and affordable way to receive an unbiased evaluation of an important marker of thyroid health. Along with the TSH test, the CMP panel offers a grouping of essential tests that provide information about the status of kidneys, liver, electrolytes, blood sugar, protein levels, and more. Available in over 2,000 locations nationwide, the initial test results will establish a baseline of values, including a secure online electronic health record, that can be used for easy comparison to future results.
The Thyroid Stimulating Hormone test is typically the first step to getting a thyroid condition diagnosed. Log on to MyMedlab.com to order your thyroid lab tests for only $25.00 through January 31, 2012.
About MyMedLab
MyMedLab is a leading provider of direct-to-consumer laboratory testing services. MyMedLab has developed a unique suite of software applications and professional networks that enable the ordering, processing, and reporting of test results directly to consumers. MyMedlab.com allows consumers to access test results in 5 easy steps! Step 1. Order test online. 2. MML Dr. Approves. 3. Print lab order. 4. Visit local lab. 5. View results online. Get started making informed health care choices visit http://www.mymedlab.com.
The thyroid may be only a small butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck, but the hormones it produces are essential; they deliver oxygen and energy to every cell in the body.
The most common thyroid problem is insufficient thyroid hormone, known as hypothyroidism, "low thyroid" or an underactive thyroid. Hypothyroidism causes metabolism to slow down, and can result in fatigue, depression, weight gain, hair loss, infertility, low sex drive, memory and concentration problems, and a host of other symptoms.
Sometimes, the thyroid can go into overdrive, and produce too much thyroid hormone, a condition known as hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid. When too much thyroid hormone floods the body, it's common for heart rate and blood pressure to go up, and an overactive thyroid can cause anxiety, tremors, panic attacks, diarrhea, muscle weakness, eye problems, insomnia, and rapid, debilitating weight loss.
The thyroid can also get enlarged (known as a goiter), develop lumps (known as nodules), and in rare cases, those lumps can be cancerous. Thyroid cancer is, unfortunately, one of the fastest growing cancers in the United States.
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MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA
As experienced spokespeople for thyroid patients, Mary Shomon, Katie Schwartz and Geri Rybacki can address the topics of thyroid disease, thyroid awareness, patient empowerment, the Internet and health, for television, radio or print interviews. Members of the media can email Mary, Katie or Geri, or call Mary Shomon's publishing/publicity office at 1-888-810-9471.
The material on this web site is being provided for educational purposes only,
and is not to be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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