The disease is also more common among individuals older than 60 years.
2 While hypothyroidism can affect anyone at any age, it is most prevalent among females and affects an estimated 10% of women and 6% of men. 1 According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, an estimated 25 million people have some form of hypothyroidism, but only half have been diagnosed. Statistics show that an estimated 1% of all adults in the United States have some degree of hypothyroidism and that this condition affects an estimated 10% of patients in the elderly population. When levels of thyroid hormone are low, the body burns energy slower than normal and the heart rate and regulation of body temperature decrease as well. The thyroid gland is a butterflyshaped gland located in the front of the neck just below the voice box (larynx) and it releases the hormones that regulate the body’s energy and control metabolism. Hypothyroidism is an endocrine condition characterized by having an underactive thyroid gland, which results in a deficiency in the thyroid hormone. Hypothyroidism is caused by a variety of factors, and adults, particularity women, should have a blood test to determine thyroid problems every 5 years to detect the condition and treat it effectively.