You can't do much about the genetic and autoimmune risk factors, but you can protect your neck by making sure you get enough iodine, which has been closely linked to thyroid hormone production. The element is typically added to salt and some breads, but as many women move toward gluten-free, low-sodium diets, they may end up iodine deficient, says Garber. He recommends taking a daily multivitamin that contains 150 micrograms of iodine (220 micrograms if you're pregnant; 290 micrograms if you're breastfeeding). Oh, and quit the cigarettes: Chemicals in the smoke may increase the risk of the Graves' disease form of hyperthyroidism.
If you're diagnosed with a thyroid disorder, know that you can soon get your life back on track. Just ask Kristin, now 37. After working out the right daily dose of levothyroxine, she's been symptom-free for more than a decade. "I no longer walk around feeling zonked out all the time," she says. "My weight is under control, and I was able to get pregnant twice. Life is good!"
Check Your Neck
Every time you look in the mirror, a key to your well-being stares back at you. An enlarged thyroid may mean your gland is producing too much or too little hormone. The key is knowing what to watch for. Perform this simple self-check once every two months.
1 Hold a mirror in front of you and focus your gaze on the lower front area of your neck, right above your collarbone.
2 Tilt your head back, moving the mirror along with you.
3 Take a medium-size sip of water.
4 As you swallow, watch your thyroid area, checking for any unusual bulges or protrusions. (Note: Don't confuse your thyroid with your Adam's apple, which is farther up.)
5 If you see anything suspicious, go to your doc.
Source: American College of Endocrinology
Cancer on the Rise
While incidences of some cancers, including breast and cervical, have been steadily dropping (hooray!), thyroid cancer is on the rise: An estimated 45,000 new cases were diagnosed last year, and 75 percent of those were in women, according to the American Cancer Society. What's more, the majority of sufferers are much younger than the typical cancer patient.
"Twenty-one percent of women who undergo surgery for thyroid cancer at our center are under the age of 35," says endocrine surgeon Keith Heller, M.D., of New York University Langone Medical Center. The encouraging news? If you are diagnosed and treated early, the cure rate is close to 99 percent.