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Like Oprah Winfrey Millions Struggle for Better Thyroid Diagnosis and...

The recent announcement by talk show host Oprah Winfrey that she has struggled with an underactive thyroid has focused much-needed attention on an epidemic of undiagnosed thyroid problems in America's women.

At the same time, Winfrey's views on the cause and treatment of thyroid disease are controversial. As Winfrey wrote in the October issue of her magazine, she claims to have resolved her thyroid condition by taking a month off to relax at her Hawaiian estate, taking vitamins, eating fresh foods and drinking soy milk. Winfrey also sought advice from menopause maven Dr. Christiane Northrup, who regularly preaches that women develop thyroid problems "because of an energy blockage in the throat region, the result of a lifetime of 'swallowing' words one is aching to say." In joining Oprah on her talk show on October 16, 2007 to discuss thyroid problems and women's health, Northrup claimed that women's symptoms "are actually your soul's way of bringing deeper issues to your attention."

While thyroid patient advocate Mary Shomon welcomes the increased awareness of thyroid disease generated by Winfrey, she is concerned that these messages could be misleading. "Thyroid disease is not, at its core, an emotional, mental or lifestyle disorder," says Shomon. "Rest, stress reduction and good nutrition are part of a healthy lifestyle, but they can't prevent or cure thyroid disease. Thyroid disease is an endocrine imbalance, like diabetes, and proper medical diagnosis and treatment are essential to truly feel well again."

Shomon has been educating thyroid patients for more than a decade a through her outspoken patient advocacy efforts, popular web sites including http://thyroid.about.com

* Top Thyroid Doctors Directory: http://www.thyroid-info.com/subscribe.htm

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