Hey, guys, have that thyroid tested: more women than men develop thyroid problems. But it's still an important consideration for men as they watch their health.

The doctor called a few days after my annual physical.

"Ed, I need to see you. The numbers from your thyroid blood test were not good. I am going to put my nurse on the phone, and she will set up an appointment. Don't worry; if there is a problem, most of the time it is easily corrected."

Most of the time ...

There was a problem. After another blood test, it was determined that I had a form of hypothyroidism, which in my case was caused by an autoimmune, that is, self-attacking, disorder known as Hashimoto's disease. The doctor gave me a prescription for Synthroid, which I will have to take for the rest of my life, and my symptoms disappeared.

Because my thyroid problem was diagnosed early, my symptoms were subtle: tiredness, decreased appetite, higher cholesterol, and feeling cold more often than usual. I was fortunate in that my doctor also had hypothyroidism. And being more sensitive to thyroid problems in men, he had ordered the required blood test. This is often not the case.

Five out of six people with a thyroid condition, such as hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland) or hyperthyroidism (an overactive gland), are women. Still, of the roughly 15 million North Americans with a thyroid problem, about 3 million are men.

The thyroid gland is located in the lower part of your neck in front of your windpipe. It looks like a bird with its wings positioned forward. The thyroid gland produces two key hormones: thyroxine and triidothyronine. They are basic regulators for every cell and tissue in the body and are crucial for maintaining good health.

The thyroid gland takes its orders concerning hormone production from the pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the skull. Imagine the pituitary gland as the teacher and the thyroid gland as the student. When there is a thyroid problem, the teacher gives the proper instructions, but the student doesn't respond correctly.

Tiredness, depression, weight gain, constipation, high cholesterol, coarse dry skin and hair, loss of hair, poor memory and concentration, often feeling cold, voice changes, an unusually slow pulse, and an enlarged thyroid gland are all possible symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Heart palpitations, breast enlargement in men, impotence, behavioral and emotional changes, diarrhea, easy bruising, exhaustion, hair loss, muscle weakness (especially in the shoulders, hips, or thighs), weight loss, trembling hands, eye problems, skin changes (such as skin with a fine, silky texture, patches of pigmentation loss or tanning), often feeling hot, or an enlarged thyroid gland are all possible symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

Another common condition related to the thyroid gland is when cells in the thyroid mutate and reproduce, forming lumps or nodules--small aggregations of cells or a small swelling. One in 15 women and one in 60 men have them, and most are not cancerous. A doctor can detect nodules or lumps by feeling on or around the thyroid gland, and because they protrude from the skin, they are generally easy to discover. If the diagnosis is cancer, it is completely treatable 95 percent of the time.

In addition, the good news for men with the most common thyroid problem, hypothyroidism, is that it is effectively treated with medication; the bad news is that an untreated thyroid condition can have serious medical consequences, such as infertility, psychiatric disorders, paralysis, and even heart failure.

So why aren't more men having their thyroids checked? Most simply are unwilling to see a doctor. Also, because thyroid problems are more common in women and involve hormones, the average guy finds it difficult to come to grips with a thyroid condition. Nevertheless, it's important for men to care for thyroid problems early. To paraphrase a TV oil filter commercial, "Pay me a little now, or pay me a lot later."

When should a man have his thyroid tested? According to the Thyroid Foundation of America, if there is a family history of thyroid disease, he should request a thyroid hormone level test every five years starting at age 35, with annual testing for men starting at age 60. It's also important for men to tell their doctors of any thyroid symptoms.

So what's the bottom line for a man and his thyroid? Well, it's important to keep in mind that a real man takes care of his health for himself and his family. If a man has a family history of thyroid problems, notices any symptoms, or is getting up in years (thyroid problems are more common as people age), he should have his thyroid gland tested.

Edward A. Joseph writes on health topics from Yonkers, New York.