Tuesday, January 19, 1999 4 - The Daily Utah Chronicle U Hospital's Clinics Participate in Thyroid Screening Utah health system sites along the David McEntire Wasatch Front. Chronicle News Writer Feeling rotten? Are you sleepy, depressed, gaining weight, or do you have unexplainable weight loss, nervousness or muscle tremors? You may be suffering from let down, or your condition may be more serious and validate treatment for thyroid disease. Thyroid disease testing will be offered Tuesday through Friday, Jan. at a number of University of post-vacati- 19-2- 2, THE QUIGMANS The U has a cooperative agreement with the Associated Regional University Pathologist that allows them to conduct the screening. The first screening was conducted in 1996. More than 1,200 people participated, many of which were U students, and nearly 11 percent had abnormal results on the thyroid disease screening test. Thyroid disease affects between 6 and 8 million Americans and fre quently goes undiagnosed. "Thyroid disease is more common in women than in men, but it can occur with cither sex at any age," says Chris Nelson, the U Hospital representative from the Office of Public Affairs. Thyroid diagnosis is divided into two areas, the first of which is hypothyroidism, which is the underproduction of a hormone of the thyroid gland. Symptoms are sleepiness, fatigue and lethargy; loss of memory; dry skin; goiter (swelling of the front of the neck); personality changes; depression; dry, coarse hair and hair loss; weight gain; bloating and and sensitivity to cold. "It's almost like you're overactive," says Nelson. The second condition is hyperthyroidism which is the of two hormones by the thyroid gland. This is diagnosed by nervousness, heart palpitations, unexplained weight less, heat intolerance, irritability and muscle puffi-rres- s; over-producti- by Buddy Hickerson tremors. Thomas Knecht, M.D., Ph.D., a U School of Medicine endocrinologist and medical director for the community screening program says the underdiagnosis of thyroid disease is a serious public health problem. "The symptoms of thyroid disease may appear very slowly and are easy to disregard as the result of stress or overwork," Knecht says. letThe result of down, such as depression, financial post-holid- see screening, page by Buddy Hickerson THE QUIGMANS i.tsC T'5 CU CoMS wit J ay FF K)eW T"L0f6 Tnn 11 4 1.1 CATs, peTcHBLe fjB..H& 3 XUKiNG SiNGlc?h old vj. jot LAST FEW DAYS IN BUSINESS WAKING OWL BOOKS 1 3TH EAST HOURS THROUGH JANUARY 30TH MONDAY-FRIDA- Y 10-- 9 SATURDAY 10-- 6 SUNDAY 11-- ' He coMeS CoMPLTe "Don't mind him ... He just stubbed his head again." 208 SOUTH Guy 5 WELL, OK, EXCEPT FOR TEXTBOOKS AND SALE BOOKS 5