Public Awareness of the Symptoms and Risk Factors of Thyroid Disease in Saudi Arabia

October 2024 in “ Cureus ”

Ramy Hassan Agwa, Warda Othman, Khalid M Alkhalifah, Reem M Alharthi, Fatemah H Algafli, Sara M Alghamdi, Taif S Alghamdi, Sarah I Alghamdi, Salman J Alharthi

thyroid disease hair loss amiodarone

TLDR Many people in Saudi Arabia lack awareness of thyroid disease risk factors and symptoms, highlighting the need for better health education.

The study in the Al-Baha region of Saudi Arabia, involving 531 participants, revealed significant gaps in public awareness of thyroid disease risk factors and symptoms. While 14.9% had been diagnosed with thyroid disease and many recognized symptoms like fatigue and hair loss, less than half were aware of key risk factors such as amiodarone medication use. Nearly half of the participants had low knowledge scores, with females, those aged 38-48, university-educated individuals, and those with a family history or previous diagnosis showing higher knowledge. The study emphasizes the need for targeted health education to improve awareness and early detection, enhancing community quality of life.

View this study on cureus.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Related Community Posts Join

6 / 298 results

community Female with hair loss - turns out it’s been thyroid cancer

in Update 284 upvotes 1 year ago

A woman with hair loss discovered she has thyroid cancer, which was found during an MRI and confirmed with an ultrasound. She advises others with symptoms to see a doctor and shares that her cancer was detected after her dog sniffed her neck and she experienced neck pain.

community Hair started thinning and found out i have high cortisol and thyroid issues

in Treatment 8 upvotes 6 months ago

User experienced hair thinning due to high cortisol and thyroid issues, along with insulin resistance. They are taking magnesium, zinc, vitamin D, calcium, and selenium as supplements.

community Diffuse hair loss and scalp biopsies

in Research 692 upvotes 4 months ago

Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

community Quit vaping/smoking = 80% less loss

in Research/Science 235 upvotes 8 months ago

Quitting vaping significantly reduced hair loss for a user who was a heavy vaper and also taking finasteride. Some participants suggest nicotine's vasoconstrictive properties may worsen hair loss, while others share personal anecdotes of hair improvement after quitting smoking or vaping.

community [20M]What 8 months of no progress looks and feels like on fin/min/derma.

in Finasteride/Dutasteride 8 upvotes 8 months ago

A 20-year-old has seen no improvement in hair loss after 8 months using finasteride, minoxidil, topical solutions, and microneedling. They express frustration and a loss of confidence due to the lack of results.

community Vitamin D - I was taking vitamin D last 6 month, my hair is back(4000UI daily)

in Progress Pictures 566 upvotes 1 year ago

User took vitamin D for 6 months and experienced hair regrowth. Others suggest comparing hair at the same length and lighting for accurate results.

Similar Research

5 / 1000+ results

research Alopecia and Thyroid Disease

January 2008 in “Springer eBooks”

Thyroid disease can cause hair loss and treating thyroid problems might help with hair disorders.

research Systemic Causes of Hair Loss

18 citations, May 2016 in “Annals of Medicine”

The article concludes that correctly diagnosing systemic causes of hair loss requires a detailed clinical evaluation and a systematic diagnostic approach.

The Skin and Subcutaneous Tissues: Conditions, Diagnosis, and Systemic Implications