CHRIS Hani Baragwanath Hospital held Thyroid Screen and Awareness Day at the hospital’s Recreational Hall.

Did you know?

Up to 300 million people worldwide experience problems with their thyroid. The largest problem being that patients do not know they have the condition.

In South Africa, where 10.2-million people live below the food poverty line (i.e. R321 per month used for food), thyroid disease affects mainly women and children. Many of whom are undiagnosed.

The burden of non-diagnosis is not only the impact on one’s health, but the financial pressure it places on poor households that do not have the funds to tackle more complicated health issues that have evolved from thyroid dysfunction. It can be too little too late!

What are the symptoms?

The following symptoms are easily ignored or dismissed making the challenge of thyroid dysfunction a serious issue for most of the population:

• Fatigue, drowsy
• Weak
• Cold intolerance
• Impaired memory
• Weight gain
• Difficulty in losing weight (despite a controlled diet and exercise)
• Depression
• Constipation
• Abnormal menstrual cycles
• Fertility problems
• Thinning of the hair
• Dry/flaky skin

Ignoring the signs just makes matters worse

Long term complications of Hypothyroidism can be very serious. In adults this includes, elevated cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, infertility and diabetes, while in children it could result in delayed mental development, low heart rate, anaemia, battle to regulate temperature, delayed dentition, and cretinism disease. It is therefore important to have the thyroid function checked.