JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(January 10, 2015) – In conjunction with January being Thyroid Awareness Month, the American College of Endocrinology (ACE) – the educational and scientific arm of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) – has kicked off a year-long campaign to help people understand the importance of their thyroid, a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland located low in the front of the neck.  

10 Questions to Ask About Your Thyroid Health was created by ACE to encourage dialogue between patients and their physicians, and – if necessary – their pharmacists regarding this vital hormone-producing gland. The list is available for public download at www.thyroidawareness.com, a website that also features general information about thyroid conditions and diseases including thyroid cancer. In addition to the informational sheet, the awareness campaign will be featured in major health fairs throughout the year, interviews on media outlets across the U.S, and a special issue of EmPower Magazine, ACE’s nationally distributed patient education magazine.  

“An estimated 28 million Americans suffer from some type of thyroid problem that needs to be properly diagnosed and treated,” said endocrine expert Yehuda Handelsman, M.D., FACP, FACE, FNLA, and president of ACE. “This campaign identifies the different types of thyroid disorders, signs and symptoms to look for and important questions to ask your doctor about thyroid illness.”

“For 20 years, AACE and ACE have focused on public awareness campaigns to help educate people about thyroid health and other endocrine-related diseases,” said R. Mack Harrell, M.D., FACP, FACE, and president of AACE. “As the endocrine experts, it’s our responsibility to help people learn more about these serious but treatable conditions.”

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE)
The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) represents more than 6,500 endocrinologists in the United States and abroad. AACE is the largest association of clinical endocrinologists in the world. The majority of AACE members are certified in Endocrinology and Metabolism and concentrate on the treatment of patients with endocrine and metabolic disorders including diabetes, thyroid disorders, osteoporosis, growth hormone deficiency, cholesterol disorders, hypertension and obesity. For more information, visit the AACE website at www.aace.com, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/theaace or follow AACE on Twitter at www.twitter.com/theaace.