ঙযডডপপহজজচগগগগ Stressed out, run down, exhausted? Weight issues? Feeling blue? Losing hair? These could be signs that your thyroid is out of whack. It's estimated that 59 million Americans have a thyroid problem, but the majority don't even know it yet. The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck, is the master gland of metabolism. When your thyroid doesn't function, it can affect every aspect of your health, and in particular, weight, depression and energy levels. Since undiagnosed thyroid problems can dramatically increase your risk of obesity, heart disease, depression, anxiety, hair loss, sexual dysfunction, infertility and a host of other symptoms and health problems, it's important that you don't go undiagnosed. Hypothyroidism Symptoms The symptoms of hypothyroidism -- an underactive thyroid -- tend to mirror the slowing down of physical processes that results from insufficient thyroid hormone. Common symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, constipation, fuzzy thinking, low blood pressure, fluid retention, depression, body pain, slow reflexes, and much more. Hyperthyroidism Symptoms The symptoms of hyperthyroidism tend to reflect the rapid metabolism that results from an oversupply of thyroid hormone. Common symptoms include anxiety, insomnia, rapid weight loss, diarrhea, high heart rate, high blood pressure, eye sensitivity/bulging and vision disturbances, and many other concerns. Risk Factors for Thyroid Disease Some of the key risk factors for thyroid disease include... * Female: Women are at greater risk than men. *Age - being 50 and above poses the highest risk of thyroid disease, though it can strike at any age. * A personal or family history of thyroid and/or autoimmune disease increases risk. * Surgical removal of all or part of the thyroid, or radioactive iodine treatment to the thyroid -- both which typically result in an underactive thyroid. * Being left-handed, ambidextrous or prematurely gray mean greater risk of autoimmune disease, including thyroid problems * Being pregnant or within the first year after childbirth * Current or former smoker * Recent exposure to iodine via contrast dye or surgical antiseptic *Iodine or herbal supplements containing iodine, in pill or liquid form * Living in an iodine-deficient area * Various medical treatments, including Interferon Beta-1b, Interleukin-4, immunosuppressants, antiretrovirals, monoclonal antibody (Campath-1H), bone marrow transplant, Lithium, amiodarone (Cordarone), and other medications * Overconsumption of raw goitrogenic foods, i.e., Brussel sprouts, turnips, cauliflower, soy products and others *Overconsumption of soy foods *Recent neck trauma, biopsy, injection or surgery *Radiation exposure, through radiation to neck area, or exposure to nuclear facility or accident, i.e., Chernobyl *High stress life events