April 2022

Estimates indicate that roughly 200 million people across the globe have thyroid disease. That figure undoubtedly raises an eyebrow, and it also may spark curiosity regarding just what the thyroid does. According to the American Thyroid Association, the butterfly-shaped thyroid gland is responsible for producing thyroid hormones. The gland is normally located in the lower front of the neck and the hormones it produces are carried to every tissue in the body. Those hormones help the body perform various vital functions, which is one reason why thyroid disease poses such a significant threat. Thyroid hormones help the body use energy and stay warm. In addition, these hormones play an important role in keeping the brain, heart, muscles, and other organs functioning at full capacity. Estimates from the Canadian Cancer Society indicated that 6,700 Canadians would be diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2021, while the ATA indicates that more than 12 percent of the United States population will have some form of thyroid disease in their lifetime. Such statistics, coupled with knowledge of the thyroid gland and the vital role it plays in overall health, should compel anyone who suspects they have a thyroid problem to speak with their physician immediately.

U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) will host a U.S. Service Academy Virtual Open House on the evenings of Monday, May 2 and Tuesday, May 3. This will be an opportunity for Iowa students and their families to learn more about the five military service academies including the application and nomination processes.

Headaches can be a nuisance unlike any other. When suffering from headache, it’s not uncommon for individuals to experience difficulty concentrating and many people also find it hard to sleep.

Learn the latest information about dairy nutrition and management at the 2022 Four-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference June 1 and 2 at the Grand River Center in Dubuque, Iowa. This conference features information on improving transition cow performance as well as other pertinent information.

Individuals’ bodies, including their eyes, change with age. Vision can become less sharp as a person ages. Some aging individuals also experience difficulty seeing in bright light or in the evening. Cataracts may be to blame for these vision changes.

Adults who feel good, eat right and exercise regularly may feel as though annual wellness visits are unnecessary, but nothing could be further from the truth. Data from the Office for National Statistics indicates that, for most cancers, one- and five-year survival rates are significantly higher if the cancer is detected early. But many cancers do not exhibit symptoms in their early stages, or if they do, produce only mild symptoms that do not compel adults to visit their physicians. As a result, annual wellness visits may serve as the only opportunity for physicians to uncover cancers before they reach advanced stages, where survival rates tend to be much lower. During annual physicals, women may receive routine pelvic exams and pap tests, while men may be tested for colon cancer and prostate cancer. Skipping these visits allows cancers more time to spread, thus complicating treatment plans and potentially reducing survival rates. Annual physicals also may uncover certain factors, such as an unhealthy weight or skin issues like moles, that could be risk factors for cancer or initial warning signs that the disease is present.

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) announced today her office will be holding traveling office hours in all 99 counties across Iowa at different times in the coming weeks to provide constituents assistance with casework.