January is National Thyroid Awareness Month, a time dedicated to promoting the prevention, treatment, and cure of thyroid-related illnesses. Thyroid disease is more common than you may think––an estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease and up to 60 percent of them don’t know they have it, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Women are also at higher risk and are five to eight times more likely to develop thyroid disease than men.
What is Thyroid Disease?
You’re probably wondering – what is the thyroid and why is thyroid disease so common? Small but mighty, the thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that sits at the base of your neck, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This gland controls the rate at which every cell, tissue, and organ in your body functions, including the brain, heart, and digestive tract. “The thyroid is the master controller of metabolic function throughout the body,” Dr. Ryan M. Green, DO, MS, the Medical