Prevention

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There is no way to prevent thyroid disorders, but by managing the disorder you can prevent complications. For instance, left untreated, Graves' disease can weaken your heart muscles, leading to heart failure, and can lead to osteoporosis or severe emotional disorders. Depression, a symptom of hypothyroidism, can also have devastating effects if you don't treat the underlying condition.

Thus, even if your treatment is working, keep the following in mind:

• Be aware of any changes in how you feel. Don't disregard symptoms because you think they could be due to something else.

• Choose a health care professional who is knowledgeable about autoimmune disorders in general and thyroid diseases in particular. Make sure this person listens to what you say and takes your symptoms seriously.

• Explain how you feel to your health care professional. You may even want to keep a journal, making brief notes about your symptoms and what you think may be causing them. Include those symptoms that are the most bothersome, when they seem to be the hardest to tolerate (for example, are certain symptoms worse during a particular phase of your menstrual cycle?), and what, if anything, causes them to get better or worse. You could use the journal to jot down questions you may want to ask during your medical visit.

• Let your health care professional know about any pattern of autoimmune diseases in your family's medical history, since many are genetic in nature. You can create a family tree with the help of the "My Family Health Portrait" resource offered by the U.S. Surgeon General at American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists' Web site).

• Make sure your health care professional examines you thoroughly and orders any lab tests to help diagnosis your condition.

• Seek out second, third or even fourth opinions if you are not satisfied with how your evaluation and treatment are progressing.

• Although there is no known method to "cure" some thyroid disorders (such as Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis), there is effective treatment, and the healthier you are in general, the better your body will be able to cope with treatment. A healthy diet, exercise, meditation and other mind-body therapies have given many patients relief and comfort but cannot take the place of standard medical treatment.

If you begin thyroid hormone replacement therapy:

• Find a way to remember to take your pills every day. Some people report that associating their pill taking with something else they do everyday—such as brushing their teeth—helps them remember.

• Alert other health care professionals about the medication you're taking to avoid interactions with other drugs.

• Notify your health care professional if you become pregnant.

• Be vigilant about yearly checkups to reassess your dose.