"I Blew Out My Thyroid" Says the Daytime Diva Oprah Winfrey

For years, a “thyroid” condition was widely viewed as a euphemism for being fat. But now, the ultimate celebrity endorsement from Oprah Winfrey may finally give thyroid problems the respect they deserve.
 
Earlier this week, Oprah spoke on her talk show about a recent bout with exhaustion and weight gain that was diagnosed as thyroid disease, an issue she also wrote about in her magazine.

Thyroid disorders, which are far more common in women than men, are said to be among the most undiagnosed and misdiagnosed health problems. Part of the problem is that the symptoms are ambiguous and likely to be written off as stress, menopause or normal aging. The most common thyroid problem is caused by an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), and symptoms include weight gain, fatigue, depression, high cholesterol, neck pain, hair loss, low sex drive and worsening menstrual symptoms. An overactive thyroid, or hyperthyroidism, can also cause neck pain, hair loss and menstrual and sex-drive problems, as well as insomnia, unexpected weight loss, chronic diarrhea, anxiety and panic attacks, heart palpitations, high blood pressure and bulging eyes.
 
The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck, has gotten celebrity attention in the past. Former president George Bush and his wife Barbara both suffered from thyroid problems, as did Olympic track stars Gail Devers and Carl Lewis. But the reality is that nothing compares to Oprah in terms of raising public awareness about anything, whether it’s a favorite book, a politician or a disease.