January is Thyroid Awareness Month. The main goal of this annual campaign is to encourage people to learn how to recognize symptoms and risk factors of thyroid disease and the need to seek treatment. According to the American Thyroid Association (ATA), an estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease, and up to 60 percent of those with thyroid disease are unaware of their condition. As the thyroid gland controls many important functions in the body, serious health problems can occur when it does not function properly. Spreading awareness about thyroid diseases is important to help people recognize the symptoms, risk factors, and the need to seek treatment. Though most thyroid diseases are life-long conditions, they can be treated and managed with follow-up, resulting in normal thyroid function.