Millions of Americans have problems with their thyroid gland that can make them tired, gain weight and feel depressed.

Channel 4 Action Mews anchor Michelle Wright reported that there's a big change in how people are diagnosed and it means more of them might get the treatment they need to feel better.

"My joints hurt really bad. I'd bend down and they would hurt. I just associated this from having a new baby," Debbie Corigliano said. "I was always tired. I would cry. I, just, my heart would palpitate. I just didn't feel like myself."

Corigliano's doctor diagnosed her with hypothyroid, which is common, especially in women and especially after pregnancy.

"Hypothyroidism is much more common. In fact, women over the age of 50 -- about 20 percent of the women have hypothyroidism," said Dr. Wayne Evron, of West Penn Allegheny Health System.

The thyroid is a gland in the neck that produces hormones that are released into the bloodstream to regulate metabolism. New guidelines will mean more people will be diagnosed and get treated.

When your body senses it's low in thyroid, the pituitary gland in the brain raises the level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). That tells your thyroid to begin producing hormone, and your TSH level returns to normal.

Previous guidelines showed a normal TSH level was between 0.5 and 5.0, but some doctors say that meant millions of people who benefit from treatment were going undiagnosed.

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists has issued new guidelines. The new normal is between 0.3 and 3.0, which opens the door for many more patients to get help.

"Many people just have some brain fog. They don't feel well. They're tired," said Evron. "When you have hypertension, a slow heart rate, puffy face -- that's actually a later stage of the disease. Also, I should add depression is very common, and since depression is a very common disease, that's one of the earliest manifestations of hypothyroidism."

Corigliano has been on medication for 18 years and is doing well.

Doctors say there is a big difference in the brand-name drug Synthroid and the generic drugs, which, for some reason, are absorbed differently in the body and can vary by bottle from month to month, so doctors try to make sure patients stick to the brand name.

People who don't have a family history and don't have any symptoms after age 30 should get their blood work checked about every five years.

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