When we don't feel well and there are symptoms that persist without us being able to understand why, our health seems more like a puzzle for which we need to find the missing piece. And that piece could be the thyroid. That's because, says Paula Freitas, president of the Portuguese Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, the malfunction of this gland can result in "very nonspecific symptoms and signs". And that leads to a lack of diagnosis: the American Thyroid Society estimates that about 60% of people with thyroid disorders are not diagnosed, which means that hundreds of millions of people suffer worldwide without knowing the cause of their symptoms.

In Portugal, data from SPEDM and the Thyroid Study Group reveal that, of the 7.4% of the adult population affected by these disorders, "undiagnosed thyroid dysfunction may cover more than 5%".

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It is to give a name to these problems that Merck, together with SPEDM and the Thyroid Disease Association, is conducting a screening to help find the missing piece in the health puzzle. On May 27, between 10 am and 5 pm, CascaiShopping will host a screening event where, in addition to the TSH test that identifies people at risk of hypothyroidism, the aim is to share information about the signs and symptoms of this disease, to raise awareness and health literacy.

Among the most frequent thyroid disorders, hypothyroidism stands out, "one of the most common endocrinological diseases, which is more prevalent in Caucasians and women (five to eight times more than in men)" and which manifests itself through a set of symptoms that can be confused with those of other diseases. "We can mention intolerance to cold, reduced sweating, fatigue, lethargy, drowsiness, anorexia, myalgia or muscle pain, joint pain; depression, amnesic disorder or memory changes, constipation, blurred vision, decreased number of annual menstrual cycles or even absence of menstrual flow, carpal tunnel syndrome, hair loss (on the scalp, axillary, pubic)", explains Paula Freitas.

Therefore, she adds, "it is obviously recommended that anyone with symptoms compatible with thyroid disease, even if somewhat nonspecific, should undergo a laboratory evaluation". In other words, consulting a doctor is essential in the presence of these and other symptoms, which may indicate the existence of hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodules or any other dysfunction in this gland, so that treatment can begin. Also because, says the specialist, "failure to diagnose means that people with the disease and criteria for treatment are not being treated. Thyroid dysfunction can impact all organs and systems of the body, and failure to treat obviously impacts the 'quantity' and quality of life. Given that about 4 to 6.5% of thyroid nodules can be malignant, failure to treat may also impact the quantity and quality of life of people, especially those with higher-risk tumors".

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