World Thyroid Day

Tags: Important Days

World Thyroid Day is celebrated every year on 25 May.

• This day is celebrated with the aim of spreading awareness about thyroid and to know about the prevention and treatment of thyroid diseases.

• World Thyroid Day was first celebrated in the year 2008 by the American Thyroid Association (ATA) and the European Thyroid Association (ETA) with the aim of creating awareness about thyroid.

• What is thyroid?

• The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland. It is located in the front of the neck.

• This gland produces tetraiodothyronine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) hormones in the body.

• Both these hormones released from the thyroid gland help all the cells of the body to function properly and both these hormones also contribute in controlling the process of metabolism.

• Thyroid problems arise when the thyroid gland produces more or less hormones, and due to this, every cell of the body starts getting affected.

• Hypothyroidism (sudden weight gain) is caused by a deficiency of thyroid hormones.

• An increase in thyroid hormones causes hyperthyroidism.

• Women are more prone to this disease than men.