This International Thyroid Awareness Week we’re raising awareness about the importance of mothers and babies maintaining good thyroid health. ITAW is an annual campaign developed by Merck (Merck Healthcare KGaA) in close collaboration with Thyroid Federation International and this year with ThyroidChange.
Be thyroid aware
Thyroid disorders are common conditions worldwide1, which occur when the thyroid gland – a small butterfly shaped gland in the front of the neck – is not working properly.3
The thyroid gland is known to play a key role in our health and wellbeing.4,5 However, nearly 260 million people worldwide are affected by an undiagnosed thyroid disorder.6
While living with an undiagnosed thyroid disorder can be debilitating, it doesn’t have to be this way! Inspired by the butterfly-shaped gland, with the right management, we say to those with thyroid disorders to ‘Spread Your Wings’.
1 in 8 women will develop thyroid problems in her life. Too little or too much thyroid hormone can cause problems in getting pregnant and during pregnancy, therefore, proper functioning of the thyroid gland plays an important role in a mother’s life.8 Which is why for ITAW we are focused on raising awareness about the importance of mothers and babies maintaining good thyroid health.
‘Spread Your Wings’ infographic
Our ‘spread your wings’ infographic helps people to be thyroid aware. Read and share to spread awareness about the impact of thyroid disorders on mothers and babies and the common symptoms.
Get your blood tested – regular full thyroid panel blood tests can detect levels of your thyroid hormones and allow optimal treatment control
Manage your thyroid – thyroid health can be managed by treatment based on your needs
If you are pregnant, ask your doctor about optimal thyroid ranges for pregnant women
Spread thyroid awareness
Help us spread the news on this important topic and let us make a difference to the lives of those affected by thyroid disorders.
Keep up with the campaign via our channels on Twitter and LinkedIn
Engage by using the hashtag #SpreadYourWings21
Share the ‘Spread Your Wings’ infographic to encourage others to be thyroid aware
Why are we doing this?
International Thyroid Awareness Week (ITAW), now in its 13th year, was created to highlight the detrimental impact that thyroid disorders have on people’s quality of life when left undiagnosed. 1.6 billion people worldwide are thought to be at risk of thyroid disorders, with hundreds of millions living with a thyroid condition right now.9
Once diagnosed, thyroid disorders are treatable,5,7 and the ITAW campaign is pushing to improve testing and diagnoses globally.
Assumptions: Country data population: The World Bank – Population Data; Prevalence rate Assumptions: Adapted from Canaris et.al. Arch Intern Med. 2000; Compliance Rate: Comparison of Drug Adherence Rates Among Patients with Seven Different Medical Conditions / Becky A. Briesacher, Ph.D.1,3, Susan E. Andrade, Sc.D.2,3, Hassan Fouayzi, M.S.3, and K.ArnoldChan, M.D.4; * treatment rate in China for overt and severe subclinical hypothyroidism is 15%
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