World Thyroid Day is May 25, 2012

On May 25th, 2012, we recognize the 5th Annual World Thyroid Day.  Established in 2008, World Thyroid Day highlights five major goals to:

• Increase awareness of thyroid health,
• Promote understanding of advances made in treating thyroid diseases,
• Emphasize the prevalence of thyroid diseases,
• Focus on the urgent need for education and prevention programs, and
• Expand awareness of new treatment modalities.

In humans, dogs and cats, the thyroid, a large endocrine gland located in the neck, produces hormones that influence virtually every cell, tissue and organ in the body. The thyroid gland regulates the body's metabolism — the rate at which the body produces energy from nutrients and oxygen — and affects critical body functions, such as energy level and heart rate.

Diseases of the thyroid  gland include hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and thyroid cancer.  These disorders are very common and affect tens of millions of people worldwide. As we all know from reading this blog, the same thyroid diseases are also common in dogs and cats.

For more information, see: www.worldthyroidday.com.