What Causes Thyroid Disorders? 

The many causes of thyroid disorders include:

• Iodine Deficiency
  
• Autoimmune Disease
  
• Viral and bacterial inflammation causing thyroiditis (subacute thyroiditis)
  
• Familial Disorders (inherited genetic disorder)
  
• Nodules which have formed on the Thyroid Gland
  
• Benign and Malignant (cancer) tumours on the Thyroid Gland

Exposure to Radiation

Exposure to Radiation at a young age from dental x-rays, other forms of x-rays are the main causes in Australia of radiation exposure which can affect the function of the thyroid gland.

Are Thyroid Disorders Common?

• Ten times more women than men worldwide will be diagnosed with some form of thyroid disorder.
• Thyroid disorders, especially hypothyroidism - or an underactive thyroid, becomes more common as we grow older.  
• Autoimmune Thyroid Disorders – Hashimoto’s & Graves’ Diseases are hereditary and run in families.
• Iodine Deficiency has re-emerged in Australia and we can expect more people to suffer from swelling and enlargement of the thyroid gland, also known as a 'Goitre'.
• 50% of pregnant women are iodine deficient.  A daily pregnancy supplement including at least 150mcgs of iodine is recommended along with thyroid function blood tests before and during pregnant.
• Statistics show 1 million Australians have an undiagnosed thyroid disorder.