ABOUT INTERNATIONAL THYROID AWARENESS WEEK
Merck Serono Supports for the Third Year the International Thyroid Awareness Week
GENEVA, May 23, 2011 -- Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, today announces its support to an information campaign focusing on thyroid disorders, especially goiters and nodules in the context of the third International Thyroid Awareness Week 2011. From May 23 to May 29, 2011, the company and its affiliates worldwide will organize educational activities and public information sessions.
The International Thyroid Awareness Week is a campaign supported by Merck Serono in cooperation with Thyroid Federation International, and endorsed by the European Thyroid Association, the Latin American Thyroid Society, the American Thyroid Association and the Chinese Society of Endocrinology. In 2010, the second International Thyroid Awareness campaign was successfully rolled out in over 40 countries, in collaboration with local patient organizations and members of the medical community.
There are many diseases and disorders associated with the thyroid. They can develop at any age and can result from a variety of causes-injury, disease, or dietary deficiency, for instance. But in most cases, they can be traced to the following problems: abnormal thyroid growth, thyroid cancer, goiters and nodules within the thyroid which could lead to hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid) or hyperthyroidism (over-active thyroid).
Although its roles are highly significant to all metabolic processes in the body, the thyroid goes about its work unnoticed, as long as it does not pose any problems. From the components derived from blood, primarily iodine, the thyroid forms two hormones that control human overall metabolism. People's well-being is dramatically affected when the thyroid's sensitive metabolism is thrown off-balance.
In general, an enlarged thyroid, or "goiter" can occur in anyone. A simple or endemic goiter is associated with iodine deficiency due to insufficient iodine intake. Shortage of iodine in the diet, estimated in one billion people worldwide by the United Nations World Food Program1, is also the number one cause of thyroid nodules that are quite common and usually benign. A "toxic" goiter may occur as a side effect of hyperthyroidism, when the thyroid is over-stimulated.
"Goiters and nodules can greatly affect patients' well-being. Because they can go unnoticed or be misinterpreted as symptoms of another disease, undiagnosed patients may follow inappropriate care or experience major discomforts for years", said Dr. Bernhard Kirschbaum, Executive Vice President, Global Research and Development at Merck Serono. "Merck Serono is pleased to contribute for the third year to this global information campaign."
GENEVA, May 23, 2011 -- Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, today announces its support to an information campaign focusing on thyroid disorders, especially goiters and nodules in the context of the third International Thyroid Awareness Week 2011. From May 23 to May 29, 2011, the company and its affiliates worldwide will organize educational activities and public information sessions.
The International Thyroid Awareness Week is a campaign supported by Merck Serono in cooperation with Thyroid Federation International, and endorsed by the European Thyroid Association, the Latin American Thyroid Society, the American Thyroid Association and the Chinese Society of Endocrinology. In 2010, the second International Thyroid Awareness campaign was successfully rolled out in over 40 countries, in collaboration with local patient organizations and members of the medical community.
There are many diseases and disorders associated with the thyroid. They can develop at any age and can result from a variety of causes-injury, disease, or dietary deficiency, for instance. But in most cases, they can be traced to the following problems: abnormal thyroid growth, thyroid cancer, goiters and nodules within the thyroid which could lead to hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid) or hyperthyroidism (over-active thyroid).
Although its roles are highly significant to all metabolic processes in the body, the thyroid goes about its work unnoticed, as long as it does not pose any problems. From the components derived from blood, primarily iodine, the thyroid forms two hormones that control human overall metabolism. People's well-being is dramatically affected when the thyroid's sensitive metabolism is thrown off-balance.
In general, an enlarged thyroid, or "goiter" can occur in anyone. A simple or endemic goiter is associated with iodine deficiency due to insufficient iodine intake. Shortage of iodine in the diet, estimated in one billion people worldwide by the United Nations World Food Program1, is also the number one cause of thyroid nodules that are quite common and usually benign. A "toxic" goiter may occur as a side effect of hyperthyroidism, when the thyroid is over-stimulated.
"Goiters and nodules can greatly affect patients' well-being. Because they can go unnoticed or be misinterpreted as symptoms of another disease, undiagnosed patients may follow inappropriate care or experience major discomforts for years", said Dr. Bernhard Kirschbaum, Executive Vice President, Global Research and Development at Merck Serono. "Merck Serono is pleased to contribute for the third year to this global information campaign."
World Thyroid Day is May 25th, a day to promote awareness and understanding of thyroid health and the advances made in treating thyroid diseases.
Diseases of the thyroid are very common and affect tens of millions of people worldwide.
The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck, produces hormones that influence virtually every cell, tissue and organ in the body.
The thyroid regulates the body's metabolism--the rate at which the body produces energy from nutrients and oxygen--and affects critical body functions, such as energy level and heart rate.