Meet your thyroid, a hardworking gland at the front of your neck that's shaped a bit like a butterfly. Your thyroid gland makes hormones to regulate the way your body uses energy. These hormones affect some of your body's most important functions, including metabolism, temperature, heart rate, digestion, mood and blood pressure.
In other words, your thyroid helps keep your body functioning at its best. And problems with your thyroid can affect your daily life and health.
What can go wrong?
Thyroid disease is a broad term for many conditions that affect the thyroid. Some of the most common are:
Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. These disorders occur when the thyroid makes too much or too little of the hormones the body needs, respectively.
Graves' disease. This autoimmune disorder causes the thyroid to become enlarged and overproduce hormones.
Hashimoto's disease. With this inherited condition, the immune system mistakenly identifies thyroid cells as invaders. It produces antibodies that damage thyroid cells, which can lead to hypothyroidism.
Thyroid nodules. Most of these lumps in the thyroid are not cancer, but some can be. Some nodules cause the thyroid to make too much of its hormones.
Thyroid eye disease. Also called Graves' eye disease, this condition—caused by enlarged thyroid and hyperthyroidism—affects the muscles and other tissues around the eyes. Swelling in these tissues can cause the eyes to bulge outward so that a person appears to be staring.
Thyroid cancer. Different types of tumors can develop in the thyroid. The most common—papillary tumors—often grow slowly and are very treatable, especially when found early. Other, rarer types of thyroid cancer may spread more quickly and be more difficult to find and treat.
A thyroid problem can often be managed, if you know you have one. Treatment options may include medications, monitoring or sometimes surgery.
What are the common symptoms?
Some thyroid problems don't have noticeable symptoms and may only be found with routine blood tests. When signs and symptoms do occur, they can vary depending on the specific condition. But some of the most common warning signs include:
• Unexplained weight changes.
• Fatigue.
• Problems with memory, mood or concentration.
• Sleep problems.
• Irregular periods.
• A neck lump or swelling.
• Hair, nail or skin changes.
Sources: American Academy of Ophthalmology; American Association of Clinical Endocrinology; American Cancer Society; Endocrine Society