Your thyroid is an important endocrine gland that makes and releases certain hormones. Your thyroid's main job is to control your metabolism — how your body uses energy. Sometimes, your thyroid doesn’t work properly. These conditions are common and treatable.
What Is Thyroid Disease?
Your thyroid produces thyroid hormone, which controls many activities in your body, including how fast you burn calories and how fast your heart beats. Diseases of the thyroid cause it to make either too much or too little of the hormone. Depending on how much or how little hormone your thyroid makes, you may often feel restless or tired, or you may lose or gain weight. Women are more likely than men to have thyroid diseases, especially right after pregnancy and after menopause.
Treatment for Thyroid Disease
Thyroid hormone is used in two situations:
to replace the function of a thyroid gland that is underactive or has been surgically removed (“replacement therapy“) and
to prevent further growth of thyroid tissue (“suppression therapy“). Suppression therapy is used primarily in patients with thyroid cancer to prevent recurrence or progression of their cancer.
What Problems Can Thyroid Cause?
Problems with the thyroid include a variety of disorders that can result in the gland producing too little thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) or too much (hyperthyroidism). Thyroid disorders can affect heart rate, mood, energy level, metabolism, bone health, pregnancy and many other functions.
Thyroid Disease Quick Facts:
Although anyone can develop hypothyroidism, you're at an increased risk if you:
Are a woman.
Have a family history of thyroid disease.
Have an autoimmune disease, such as type 1 diabetes or celiac disease.
Have received treatment for hyperthyroidism.
Received radiation to your neck or upper chest.
Have had thyroid surgery.