Bonners Ferry Local Guide including all of Boundary County Idaho

Early gray hairs may indicate health risk

Friday, April 13, 2007; KREM

When it comes to auto-immune diseases, there's now an easy way to pinpoint who's at highest risk. The trouble is, most women and now some men are becoming better at hiding the evidence. Heres what you need to know: If you or a family member started going gray before the age of 30, you need to tell your doctor. One gray hair before 30 is the clue that there is the tendency in your family almost always to autoimmunity. The most obvious health risk is early thyroid disease. Thats why Dr. Lawrence Wood, who heads the Thyroid Foundation of America, recommends earlier testing for women in this high-risk group. Hes in Seattle to get the message out. Most women don't begin to get hypothyroidism until they're about 50, but by 50 one in 10 women has hypothyroidism, Wood said. So if you're 50, any woman should have the test, but if you're gray young, you should certainly have it before pregnancy or during pregnancy if you haven't had it yet. A simple blood test is all it takes. Left untreated, the condition can lead to miscarriage, premature birth and pre-eclampsia. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located just below the Adams apple. It produces a hormone essential for the mind, muscles and organs to function. In older women, the disease and the fatigue that comes with it are often mistaken for normal signs of aging. "There are 14 million Americans walking around with hypothyroidism right now and they really should be found because they can be helped to feel better, Wood said. They can get their cholesterol lower just by taking the right dose of thyroid medication. For those families with a history of going gray early, thyroid disease isn't the only concern. "Juvenile diabetes, also rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis is another one, colitis is another one, Wood said. But also it appears attention deficit disorder may also track with the gray hair. The Thyroid Foundation of America is holding a public forum Friday night (April 13) from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Washington Convention and Trade Center, in room 620. Admission is free; reservations are requested. Call 1-800-832-8321 - Full Story