Indian Thyroid Society calls for urgent action to stem the alarming rise in thyroid disorders in India

Indian Thyroid Society in order to create awareness on World Thyroid Day (May 25) will educate the public and the medical fraternity on the importance of creating awareness about thyroid disorders, and highlight the importance of screening people for thyroid dysfunction. With crores of Indians suffering from thyroid related disorders, it is becoming increasingly important for patients and doctors to understand this common but overlooked health problem.

This year the Indian Thyroid Society has planned to do something even more significant. It will announce the launch of the ITS Clinical Manual of Thyroid Disorder, a textbook which will give the medical fraternity comprehensive information about this hidden disease, which often goes undetected and undiagnosed.  The Indian Thyroid Society will be distributing 1500 textbooks to medical colleges across India. ITS believes that the new members of the medical fraternity need to be fully aware of the implications of thyroid disorders and would like to see this manual as essential reading material for them.

Dr R V Jayakumar, President, Indian Thyroid Society said, “Recent studies have shown an alarming increase in thyroid disorders across India. The Indian Thyroid Society wants to ensure that doctors and the general public focus on early diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disorders.  We would like to persuade every adult in India to go for a regular thyroid checkup. Often people suffer from a variety of ailments, completely unaware that these could be linked to thyroid dysfunction.”

The ITS Clinical Manual has been authored by 58 number of leading doctors including Dr Jayakumar. The book covers a wide variety of topics such as the history of thyroid disorders, clinical approach and evaluation of thyroid diseases, hypothyroidism and thyroid disorders in pregnant women. The manual offers comprehensive, up-to-date and easy to understand information on thyroid disorders making it invaluable for doctors and medical students.

Dr Jayakumar said, “Millions of people have an undiagnosed thyroid problem, and don’t realise that it is the source of the other health challenges they face. Obesity, depression, fatigue, high cholesterol, infertility and many other conditions are often the direct result of undiagnosed and untreated thyroid conditions.  In order to lead a healthy life I would recommend that all patients who recognise any of these symptoms should go for a TSH test. Make a difference to life, Think Thyroid. Think Life.”