January is National Thyroid Awareness Month

January is National Thyroid Awareness Month. Around five per cent of the population in the UAE suffer from thyroid disease. The thyroid is a small butterfly shaped gland located just above your collarbone and in front of the windpipe.  This gland controls important functions such as regulating breathing, heart rate, body weight, muscle strength, cholesterol, and body temperature. Thyroid disease refers to a number of conditions that affect how the gland functions. The thyroid can be either overactive or underactive and both conditions can lead to health problems. Two of the most common thyroid diseases are hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.