How Thyroid Affects Everything

The thyroid gland is one of the most important organs in the body, responsible for producing hormones that help control metabolism and other bodily functions. Several conditions may develop if the thyroid has too much or too little of these hormones that can directly affect different processes throughout your body, including brain development, menstrual cycles and nervous system function.

What Is the Thyroid Gland?

The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ located in the lower front of the neck, just above the collarbone. It is one of the body's endocrine glands, which makes hormones secreted into every tissue in the body through the blood. Thyroid hormones play a crucial role in regulating your weight, body temperature, muscle strength and even your mood.

Thyroid disease is a general term that refers to abnormalities or changes in thyroid hormone production. Some of the most common thyroid conditions include:

  • Goiter - enlargement of the thyroid gland
  • Hyperthyroidism - overproduction of thyroid hormones
  • Hypothyroidism - underproduction of thyroid hormones
  • Thyroid nodules - lumps in the thyroid gland
  • Thyroiditis - swelling of the thyroid
  • Thyroid cancer

Common symptoms of thyroid disease may include some of the following:

Goiter Hypothyroid Hyperthyroid Thyroid Nodules Thyroiditis Thyroid Cancer
Swelling in the neck Feeling cold when other people do not Weight loss MAY have a bump either side of windpipe Not obvious – may be detected via blood test Nodule
Not always obvious Constipation Eating more Not always obvious   Hoarse voice
  Muscle weakness Rapid or irregular heartbeat     Not always obvious
  Weight gain, even though you are not eating more food Nervous or anxious      
  Joint or muscle pain Irritable      
  Feeling sad or depressed Trouble sleeping      
  Fatigue Trembling in your hands and fingers      
  Pale, dry skin Increased sweating      
  Dry, thinning hair Feeling hot when other people do not      
  Slow heart rate Muscle weakness      
  Less sweating than usual Diarrhea or more bowel movements than normal      
  Puffy face Fewer and lighter menstrual periods than normal      
  Hoarse voice Changes in your eyes that can include bulging, redness or irritation      
  Heavier menstrual bleeding        

Goiter

  • Swelling in the neck
  • Not always obvious

Hypothyroid

  • Feeling cold when other people do not
  • Constipation
  • Muscle weakness
  • Weight gain, even though you are not eating more food
  • Joint or muscle pain
  • Feeling sad or depressed
  • Fatigue
  • Pale, dry skin
  • Dry, thinning hair
  • Slow heart rate
  • Less sweating than usual
  • Puffy face
  • Hoarse voice
  • Heavier menstrual bleeding

Hyperthyroid

  • Weight loss
  • Eating more
  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat
  • Nervous or anxious
  • Irritable
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Trembling in your hands and fingers
  • Increased sweating
  • Feeling hot when other people do not
  • Muscle weakness
  • Diarrhea or more bowel movements than normal
  • Fewer and lighter menstrual periods than normal
  • Changes in your eyes that can include bulging, redness or irritation

Thyroid Nodules

  • MAY have a bump either side of windpipe
  • Not always obvious

Thyroiditis

  • Not obvious – may be detected via blood test

Thyroid Cancer

  • Nodule
  • Hoarse voice
  • Not always obvious

 

Your doctor may ask you about your medical history and conduct a physical examination, thyroid tests and imaging tests to help diagnose thyroid diseases. Thyroid tests include the following:

Blood tests

  • TSH tests - changes in the TSH level in the blood can serve as an early warning system when thyroid hormones in the body become too high or too low. An elevated TSH means the thyroid gland is not making enough thyroid hormone, while a low TSH level indicates that the thyroid is producing too much thyroid hormone
  • T4 tests - measuring free T4 (FT4) and TSH levels more accurately reflect how the thyroid gland functions. T4 is the main form of thyroid hormone circulating in the blood
  • T3 tests – diagnostic test to determine the severity of hyperthyroidism. However, T3 testing is rarely helpful in checking for hypothyroidism since it is the last test to become abnormal. A person can have severe hypothyroidism with a high TSH and low FT4 or free T4 index (FTI) but have normal T3

Thyroid antibody tests

  • Help diagnose the cause of thyroid problems by measuring the levels of thyroid antibodies, such as lymphocytes in the blood

Nonblood tests

  • Radioactive iodine uptake - measures how the thyroid gland takes up much radioactive iodine in a particular time to determine whether the gland is functioning correctly and find the cause of hyperthyroidism

Though you may not prevent thyroid disease, getting treatment early on can help prevent its complications. Treatment may include biopsy, medicine, radioiodine therapy or thyroid surgery. If you think you have a thyroid disorder, consult with an endocrinologist right away. Please do not delay care.

Sources:
American Thyroid Association
MedlinePlus
U.S. Health and Human Services, Office of Women’s Health

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