NEW YORK, June 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hashimoto's Awareness, a not-for-profit organization that drives education, advocacy, and research to support sufferers of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis), has announced its 2016 Healing Hashimoto's Summit will take place free and online on June 13-20.
This comprehensive online event brings together thyroid experts, doctors and wellness professionals, nutrition specialists, and prominent figures in the Hashimoto's community to educate people about the disorder and give sufferers the tools they need to manage and ultimately heal the disease.
"A huge part of our mission involves inspiring people to live a symptom-free life," said Hashimoto's Awareness Co-Founder Fabienne Heymans, who was driven to help others by her own struggle with the disease. "To do that you need an understanding of the disease, you need an approach that can help you cope with everything involved with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and you need support as you make all the changes that can promote healing. The goal of our 2016 Summit is to connect people with a community that can provide that knowledge and support."
Featured presenters include world renowned researcher and clinician Dr. Datis Kharrazian, Dr. David Perlmutter (author of New York Times bestseller Brain Maker), Dr. Izabella Wentz (an expert in clinical pharmacology and lifestyle interventions), along with notable individuals building awareness of Hashimoto's thyroiditis and its treatments like Dana Trentini (better known as Hypothyroid Mom).
Though 22 million people have been diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease, many people coping with the disease have only limited support – and often go without an official diagnosis for years.
"We call Hashimoto's thyroiditis a 'common yet uncommonly diagnosed' disorder because even though an estimated 7-8% of the population is hypothyroid and an estimated 90% of that is caused by Hashimoto's, poor testing plus a lack of awareness mean millions of people don't get the diagnosis that would allow them to start seeking treatment," said Pearl Thomas, who cofounded Hashimoto's Awareness in 2014 with Fabienne Heymans.
Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a progressive autoimmune disease that causes primary hypothyroidism – it was the first disease to be recognized as an autoimmune disease. The most common symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, pale or puffy face, feeling cold, joint and muscle pain, constipation, dry and thinning hair, heavy menstrual flow or irregular periods, depression, panic disorder, a slowed heart rate, and problems getting pregnant and staying pregnant.
The select group of 2016 Healing Hashimoto's Summit sponsors includes Cyrex Laboratories, Dr. K. News, and Thrive Market.
To register for the 2016 Healing Hashimoto's Summit, visit http://healinghashimotossummit.com.
About Hashimoto's Awareness
Hashimoto's Awareness is committed to connecting people with proper testing for early diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis), inspiring them to lead a symptom-free life, and empowering them on their journey to remission through education, advocacy, and advancing research. Cofounders Pearl Thomas and Fabienne Heymans each know what it's like to struggle with undiagnosed Hashimoto's thyroiditis. For more information, visit http://www.hashimotosawareness.org.