World Thyroid Day observed on 25 May every year is aimed to bring awareness about the disease and attention to the millions of people suffering across the world. Thyroid problem is under or over secretion of thyroid hormone that maintains body metabolism.
SRL Diagnostics, India's leading diagnostic chain, in a study conducted over 33 lakh people across India between 2014 and 2016 has found out that around 32 per cent of the population is suffering from various kinds of thyroid disorders.
Subclinical hypothyroidism when there are mild or symptoms is the most prevalent form of thyroid disorder across the country with maximum cases present in the Eastern parts. North India witnesses maximum cases of hypothyroidism while the South and West zones have more cases of hyperthyroidism and its variants.
Dr Avinash Phadke, President Technology & Mentor from SRL Diagnostics said "The data shows how thyroid abnormalities are present all across the country in various forms. The presence of subclinical hypothyroidism as the most thyroid dysfunction in India is expected since it doesn't show symptoms. We have seen a steady rise in preventive health testing and believe many such healthy individuals might be suffering from subclinical hypothyroidism."
Thyroid cases are mostly prevalent in women and cause a host of problems, most importantly weight gain and hormonal imbalances. Although men are at risk as well but their chances of suffering from the disease are wayward less.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism include weakness, fatigue, weight gain, depression and high cholesterol affecting day to day life. Statistics report that men have up to eight times less chance of developing a thyroid disorder than women, it would be wrong to dismiss it as a threat altogether.
Dr Phadke added, "Genetics play a crucial role in determination of thyroid hormones and vulnerability to autoimmune thyroid disease. People who have a history of thyroid problems in their family would be at more risk to thyroid abnormalities."
Thyroid needs early diagnosis and thyroid hormone replacement is a safe and effective treatment that can manage symptoms and prevent complications. Subclinical hypothyroidism is a silent disease where thyroid level falls below normal is being increasingly diagnosed in the Indian population.
