Description:
Thyroid diseases are extremely common--but they often go undetected because symptoms are subtle and develop slowly, diagnosis can be tricky, and thyroid diseases can mimic so many other disorders (after all, sudden weight changes, fatigue, nervousness, and sleeplessness are symptoms associated with dozens of other health disorders, including psychological problems such as depression). This empathetic reference from two leading members of The Thyroid Center--a multidisciplinary group of doctors at The Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City who have treated thousands of thyroid patients--gives you all the facts you need to understand this important gland and its functions, recognize trouble signs, and get proper treatment. The book is especially reader-friendly because many sections are written in a question-and-answer style and it's sprinkled with case studies about real-life people who have thyroid disease but went undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. The book starts off with a chapter on how to find a good thyroid doctor--usually an internist, family practitioner, or endocrinologist with expertise in this area--with whom you'll feel comfortable over the long term (since thyroid disorders tend to need lifelong surveillance and treatment). It then covers the various types of thyroid disease: the underactive and overactive thyroid gland, thyroid nodules (usually benign lumps), cancer, and thyroid disorders common to children, and those that appear during and after pregnancy. The authors also describe tests used to diagnose thyroid disease and the latest surgical, pharmacological, and nutritional techniques for treating it. --Nancy Monson
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