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Pregnant Women Should Be Checked For Low Thyroid Levels

I found this very informative article on acessibility .com.au ( Source: HPD — Country of Origin: US — Date originally Published: 11-Feb-08 -Date added to Accessibility: 13-Feb-08.)
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I though this was very important informatin for Pregnant Woman, therefor I hope they dont mind me shareing it with you.
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Latest medical data indicates there are dangers to pregnant women with low thyroid levels and alerts physicians to the importance of hypothyroid screening for these women.
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The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry recommend thyroid testing for women if they are pregnant or hope to become pregnant.
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More than six million women in the United States become pregnant every year. Of these women, those with mild hypothyroidism may have no symptoms or attribute symptoms they have to the pregnancy. Approximately 3% will have elevated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels during pregnancy.
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Thyroid levels should be monitored approximately every 6-8 weeks during the course of a pregnancy to ensure normal function.

pgtiredThyroChek®, the first rapid screening test to detect thyroid deficiencies in the convenience of the doctor’s office, is now available from Healthcare Providers Direct, Inc. (OTCBB: HPRD), a growing company focused on the development and distribution of rapid diagnostic tests directly to physicians’ offices.

.ThyroChek® quickly and accurately detects elevated levels of human thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), the primary indicator of low thyroid function commonly known as hypothyroidism.

.”Thyroid disorders that affect pregnancy can be easily treated, but early detection is crucial. ThyroChek® is a fast, simple and accurate way to effectively test this large population of women,” noted Norman Proulx, Healthcare Providers Direct Chief Executive Officer.

.”Until recently, young women of childbearing age were not considered for thyroid testing because it was thought to be a condition primarily experienced by older women.

.Now there is mounting medical data indicating that hypothyroidism during pregnancy is associated with miscarriages, preeclampsia, preterm delivery, placental abruption and developmental problems.”

.ThyroChek® is an easy test to use and provides results while the patient is still in the office, allowing the doctor to determine appropriate treatment levels at the earliest possible time.

.One drop of blood from a simple finger stick is placed on the ThyroChek® cassette - if two pink lines appear in 10 minutes, the patient is positive for elevated levels of TSH, the primary indicator of low thyroid function. ThyroChek® is a qualitative test.

.”Classic symptoms of hypothyroidism are fatigue, constipation, intolerance to cold, muscle cramps, hair loss, dry skin, weight gain and insomnia.

.These same symptoms are common and almost indistinguishable in pregnancy, leaving pregnant women with virtually no warning signs of low thyroid levels. We believe this further punctuates the need for routine thyroid testing in prenatal care,” continued Mr. Proulx.

.Thyroid hormone levels affect the function of many of the body’s organs including the heart, brain, liver, kidneys and skin. Untreated low thyroid function can contribute to high cholesterol levels, heart disease, infertility, muscle weakness and osteoporosis.

.Low thyroid function is relatively common in pregnancy affecting as many as five percent of pregnant women.

.The American Thyroid Association recommends routine screening for low thyroid function at age 35 and every five years thereafter. New recommendations provided by The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry encourage screening for all pregnant women to help ensure safe delivery of a healthy child.

.Hypothyroidism effects an estimated 27 million Americans, 80 percent of those are women and half are undiagnosed. In women over 45 years of age, 14 percent have low thyroid function, particularly Caucasian and Hispanic women.

.Healthcare Providers Direct is a public company, with a unique business model focused on the growing U.S. point-of-care (POC) healthcare market. HPRD has developed a “direct-to-doctor” multi-dimensional marketing communication model, coupled with “novel” (new) and “legacy” (existing) FDA-approved diagnostic products, to deliver these products and services cost-effectively to physicians’ offices, public health facilities, and selective alternative care businesses in the professional POC segment of the U.S. healthcare market.

Their website is available for viewing at http://www.healthcareprovidersdirect.com

2 Responses to “Pregnant Women Should Be Checked For Low Thyroid Levels”

  1. What is the best way to say goodbye to our daycare provider? | Parenting Advice and Custody Tips Says:
    March 17th, 2009 at 8:14 pm

    [...] Pregnant Women Should Be Checked For Low Thyroid Levels « THE … [...]

  2. wonker Says:
    March 18th, 2009 at 10:36 am

    Interesting blog, I’ll try and spread the word.

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