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The myths perpetuated about thyroid problems, mostly do have a factual basis, however it is human nature for sufferers to find various ways of coping with, or understanding their illness, and they will then go on to pass this knowledge on as useful opinion rather than as a hard fact.

With so much information to choose from on the Internet it can be hard to find out what is completely true...

Myth: Being hypothyroid has been said to make it difficult for people to lose weight.
Fact: There is no medical evidence to support this. An explanation of this could be that one of the symptoms is an overwhelming tiredness and as a result of this many people with this thyroid problem may not be as active as they were before becoming ill. The truth is, the less exercise taken and the less energy used means that weight loss will be more difficult anyway but not impossible.

Myth: People with hyperthyroidism cannot gain weight.
Fact: One of the side effects from an over active thyroid gland is a loss of weight. Once treatment has commenced, sufferers usually regain any weight they previously lost.

Myth: It is a condition that develops as you get older.
Fact: Children and adults can develop the disease and although women over the age of 60 do have a 20% chance of developing thyroid problems it is by no means restricted to a single age group. The recommendation is that everyone has their thyroid gland tested every 5 years.

Myth: I am OK because I have no symptoms.
Fact: Many people have thyroid problems and don't even realize it. They will put themselves at risk to heart disease and high cholesterol because they mistakenly believe that if they have no symptoms then they haven't got the disease.

Myth: You haven't got thyroiditis unless you have bulging eyes or a large goiter.
Fact: Left untreated these are symptoms indicative of certain thyroid problems, many people will seek medical help before these particular symptoms manifest themselves.

Myth: It is easy to find out if you have a thyroid condition.
Fact: Sometimes a TSH test will not always reveal what you need to know. The doctor will have to look at the medical history and give a medical examination and look at a patient's diet and take into account the physical symptoms described to him by the patient before he can make a diagnosis. It is mistakenly thought that a low TSH score level means that you are relatively safe and you could consider yourself a low risk. However the truth is these TSH level tests are very sensitive and any positive

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