What is the Thyroid Gland?
The thyroid is a small endocrine gland located just below your adam’s apple and is often described visually as a butterfly having two halves or lobes.
The thyroid release hormones that influence many bodily functions, such as physical growth and development, metabolism, puberty, organ function, fertility and body temperature. These functions depend on two hormones released from the thyroid gland: tri-iodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4).
The thyroid gland can produce too much of these hormones (hyperthyroidism) or not enough (hypothyroidism). These thyroid hormones play a vital role in the body, thereby influencing all organs. They also determine how fast or how slow the organs should work and when the body systems use energy.
Diagnosing a Thyroid Disorder
A blood sample is the best screening method for any thyroid disorder. A blood analysis will help determine the levels of T4 and T3 that exist in the blood and can provide a picture of how the thyroid is functioning.
If your doctor feels further tests are necessary, they may administer a radioactive iodine uptake test. The type of radioactive iodine used for the test will not harm the thyroid or pose any risk to you. After 24 hours, special equipment is then used to measure the amount of radioactivity over the thyroid gland.
Symptoms of a Thyroid Disorder
The most common symptoms of thyroid disorders are:
* An Underactive Thyroid – Hypothyroidism
The thyroid does not produce enough hormones and many symptoms of thyroid disorder in this case are related to a slow metabolism.
* An Overactive Thyroid – Hyperthyroidism
The thyroid becomes enlarged, produces too much hormone, and the body uses energy faster than it should.
Symptoms of the above disorders include:
* fatigue
* dry, coarse skin and hair
* hair loss
* hoarse voice
* forgetfulness
* mood swings
* trouble swallowing
* weight gain or weight loss
* intolerance to temperature
* irritability/nervousness
* sleep problems
* muscle weakness/tremors
* irregular menstrual periods
* vision problems or eye irritation
* infertility
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