HYDERABAD: Thyroid problem found in 53.4% of women
HYDERABAD: Thyroid problems have emerged as a major health concern among women living in Hyderabad’s slum areas, with a recent screening programme finding the condition in 53.4% of those tested.
The screening was conducted last month jointly by Hyderabad-based Helping Hand Foundation and Pune-based Direct Innovations. In the first phase, tests were conducted at community health centres serving major slum areas in First Lancer, Rajendranagar and Shaheen Nagar.
Of the 561 women screened, 300 were found to have thyroid problems, accounting for 53.4% of those tested. Of these, 290 had hypothyroidism, while three per cent had hyperthyroidism.
Thyroid disorders can affect the body’s metabolism
The thyroid is an important endocrine gland located in the front of the neck and shaped like a butterfly. It produces the hormones T3 and T4, which regulate the body’s metabolism.
When the thyroid does not produce enough hormones, it can lead to hypothyroidism. Excessive production of thyroid hormones can result in hyperthyroidism.
Experts advise women to undergo regular thyroid tests
Helping Hand Foundation founder and trustee Mujtaba Hasan Askari said every woman should undergo regular thyroid screening after the age of 30.
Rajeshwari, a doctor associated with the organisation, said thyroid problems are five to eight times more common among women than men. She advised women to include leafy vegetables, fibre-rich foods and iodine-containing foods in their diet.
