Happening from 25-31 May 2019, International Thyroid Awareness Week aims to help unlock the secrets of the thyroid for patients, parents and expectant/new mothers. The week-long celebration will start off with World Thyroid Day on 25 May, which was initiated by the Thyroid Federation International in 2007.
The International Thyroid Awareness Week is endorsed by the European Thyroid Association, the American Thyroid Association, the Latin American Thyroid Society & the Asia & Oceania Thyroid Association.
The event, which was established in 2008, has five major goals:
- Increase awareness of thyroid health
- Promote understanding of advances made in treating thyroid diseases
- Emphasize the prevalence of thyroid diseases
- Focus on the urgent need for education and prevention programs
- Expand awareness of new treatment modalities
Each year, a website in 7 languages (Arabic, English, French, German, Greek, Portuguese, Spanish) is created to commemorate a special thyroid issue. For example in 2010, “Pregnancy/ children”, while in 2011, “Nodules and goiter”). The website thyroidweek.org has downloadable brochures, posters, videos, etc. to help everyone learn more about the thyroid.
In Australia, Thyroid Awareness Week is celebrated with the initiative of the Australian Thyroid Foundation (ATF), a member based organisation, managed by volunteers and was founded in 1995. The ATF is now the peak advocacy and support organisation for Australians living with a thyroid disorder. The ATF is a national not-for-profit organisation with a focus on providing education and support to its members and promoting Good Thyroid Health messaging throughout the community. The ATF is a member of TFI.
The thyroid gland is a soft, small bow-shaped gland, located in the front of the neck, below the voice box or larynx on either side of the trachea. Thyroid disease is usually caused by an auto-immune disease, which affects more women than men. Iodine deficiency is the most common worldwide cause of thyroid disorders. Along with auto-immune thyroid disease, a low iodine diet can cause hypothyroidism, an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter) and can affect fertility, pregnancy outcomes and foetal brain development.
For more information, check out thyroidweek.org.
|
Do you have a natural health & wellness business? |
