The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 1999-2002) of 4392 individuals reflecting the US population reported hypothyroidism (defined as TSH levels exceeding 4.5 mIU/L) in 3.7% of the population. Regarding the subclinical hypothyroidism, estimates range between 3 and 8%. Women are more likely to develop hypothyroidism than men, and the incidence increases with age. A 2011 study conclude that about 8% of women over 50 and men over 65 in the UK suffer from an underactive thyroid. Levothyroxine, a synthetic form of thyroid hormone, is the 4th highest selling drug in the US. The number of people suffering from thyroid disorders continues to rise each year.
PREGNANCY and FIBROMYALGIA
Dr. Kurland Norbert If you have fibromyalgia and are contemplating pregnancy, it’s natural to wonder what impact your illness will have on your ability to