As part of their awareness raising campaign for Thyroid Awareness Week 2009, i.e. this week, The organisation Thyroid-Disease.Org.UK have launched a Photography competition for 12 pictures to be used in our 2009 fundraising calendar.  Cost to enter is £5.   This will be a nationwide competition and the final selection made by their members  all photographers will be fully credited on the website for their photograph and it will also be up on the Thyroid-Disease website for all to see in a specially created gallery for the next year  If you are interested in entering please email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for an entry form or download and entry form and poster here http://thyroid-disease.org.uk/photo%20comp%20entry%20form%202009.doc,  http://thyroid-disease.org.uk/photo%20comp%20poster%202009.doc 

 In 2003 the American Association of Endocrinology named thyroid disease as the 3^rd most fatal illness in the western world, after heart disease, Thyroid disease causes high cholesterol levels if underactive and fast heart rate if overactive, and Cancer, of which Thyroid cancer plays a part.

As a result of this they lowered the reference ranges in the USA, meaning that more people who had been previously undiagnosed and instead told they were suffering from depression (including postnatal depression), fibromyalgia, and ME among others were finally diagnosed and back on the road to a healthier and better quality of life.

 Opinion is divided among medics as to what the normal testing range should be – the TSH test which is used to diagnose thyroid illnesses results in a score which in the UK is said to be normal if it is between 0.5 and 5. But in other countries that range can be much narrower down to 2.5 at the upper end, leading to many more people being diagnosed In the Uk, official figures say that one in 20 people suffer from a form of thyroid disease, however if the test ranges reflected those of other countries such as the USA, Canada, Germany, and many, many more then it is estimated that in fact 1 in 4 of the population would be diagnosed and treated giving them back a better quality of life and getting them back to work.

It is therefore no wonder that these desperately ill people  are turning to support groups, such as Thyroid-Disease.Org.Uk, for help and to find out they are not alone, and joining in the campaign to have the NHS look more closely at thyroid disease and treat it with current research and treatments not ones outmoded in the 1970’s.

Thyroid disease is a leading cause of heart disease, infertility, dementia, obesity, causing those with the condition to have to take time off work due to exhaustion, pain, memory loss etc however as it is perceived to affect only middle aged women it is not considered sexy enough for money to be given to raise its profile, and those who are lucky enough to be treated are just told to take a pill and get on with it, when monitoring,  dietary and lifestyle changes similar to those of diabetics are also needed to be taken into consideration and advice given The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland at the front of the neck. It is one of the main endocrine glands and produces three hormones which help regulate the rate of the body's internal functions, such as the metabolism, heart rate and body temperature.

There are 2 different types of thyroid disease, which may or may not be autoimmune in cause, as well as thyroid cancer  The first Hypothyroidism/Hashimoto’s disease leaves sufferers with symptoms like unexplained weight gain, extreme fatigue, loss of co-ordination and memory and depression.

At the other end of the scale, hyperthyroidism/Graves disease, the thyroid gland can overwork so it produces too many hormones. They result in patients suffering severe weight loss, hyperactivity, loss of sleep and paranoia. It can affect people of both sexes and all ages, although it is more prevalent in females due to the sex hormonesBecause of its affect on the all parts of the body the symptoms are very wide and varied leading to suggestions of hypochondria and patients often being dismissed by gp’s

Symptoms include

Low body temperature
High cholesterol
High or low blood pressure
Diabetes
Allergies
Intolerance to cold or heat
Heart problems or palpitations
Dizzy Spells
Anaemia
Water retention
Loss of appetite
Joint/muscle pain
Weight gain
Extreme tiredness
Dry, sore or scaly skin
Hair loss
Broken sleep
Lethargy
Sensation of a lump in the throatFor more information please email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or log onto: www.thyroid-disease.org.uk and join our forum. non for profit voluntary organisation runs by patients for patients 

Dawn wood

Chair  www.thyroid-disease.org.uk