Thyroid Disorder Awareness
Makati City, Philippines - Merck Inc. held a bloggers event at the Holiday Inn Makati to raise awareness of thyroid disorder. September is Thyroid cancer Awareness month in the Philippines. According to a study in 2012 by the Philippines Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, 1 in in 11 Filipino adults has goiter, and around 1 in 12 Filipino adults suffers from some form of thyroid disorders.
Awareness of this disease is very low even though there are millions of Filipinos are affected with thyroid problem. That is because of the symptoms of thyroid disorders usually mistaken for other diseases and some just ignore the disease that may cause it to worsen.
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Dr. Nemencio Nicodemus, jr.
President of the Philippine Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Professor, UP College of Medicine
Professor, Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health
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Dr. Nicodemus gave an informational talk about thyroid and thyroid disease symptoms, as well as the effects. Thyroid diseaseis
Patients with hypothyroidism, a condition that the thyroid gland is not producing enough thyroid hormone, has a tendency to have a slower metabolism:
- Gain weight despite not eating too much
- Move and speak slowly
- Feel tired and have depressed thoughts
Patients with hyperthyroidism, a condition that the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone, has a tendency to have hyperactive metabolism:
- They lose weight despite having good appetite
- Heart palpitations
- Irritable thoughts and insomia
- Sweating and heat intolerance
- Can have tremors in their hands
They found out that among Asians, people with hyperthyroidism tend to develop a form of paralysis that is intermittent. A sudden weakness, and Potassium level in blood decreases. It is called Thyrotoxic Period Paralysis which is peculiar among Asians. They become immobilized for a time until they are brought to the hospital.
The treatment for hyperthyroidism may last for months to years. Aseans treated with this condition needs to have a follow-up check-up on a regular basis to monitor that T4 is decreasing.
There's so much to know about thyroid disorders. Many people may have this disease and are not aware that they have until it's too late. It is imperative to have your thyroid checked as soon as possible, especially if you have a family history of thyroid disease and for women during your pregnancy. Prevention, proper detection and early detection is better than cure that may be too late. If you are not sure if you have a family history, and you see signs and symptoms, consult a doctor.
For more information about thyroid, visit their website:
You'll find a vault of information to know more about thyroid disorders. It contains useful guides and thyroid quiz that can help you check yourselves for symptoms of thyroid disorders, like goiter, hyperthyroidism, or hypothyroidism.
Merck is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company with headquarters in Darmstadt, Germany. Merck is a leading science and technology company that works to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life -- from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat canceror multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crytals of smartphones and LCD televisions.
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