Alaska's Western Arctic Caribou herd forms aggregations or groups that can stretch for miles. The herd is on a three-year census schedule. The Department attempted a census during July 2002 but high wind, snow and fog forced a one-year delay. Weather almost prevented the 2003 attempt as well.
Finally, thyroid cancer may also be detected as a cause of an enlarged thyroid gland. It is quite clear that enlargement of the thyroid or the presence of nodules within the thyroid is common, particularly as revealed when sensitive imaging techniques such as ultrasound are used.
The most common type of hypothyroidism is that caused by primary thyroid gland failure. Basic causes of primary hypothyroidism are autoimmune, silent, postablative, goitrous, athyreotic and nonautoimmune (e.g., Riedel's), and subacute thyroiditis. Chronic autoimmune lymphocytic thyroiditis (Hashimoto's disease) is the most common cause of thyroid gland dysfunction. Replacement of lacking thyroid hormones reduces high blood pressure (BP) and total cardiovascular risk. Similar effects have also been described in subclinical hypothyroidism.