Why is the thyroid gland so important?

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck.  It is one of many glands in the endocrine system in the body that regulate the function, growth and development of virtually every cell, tissue and organ in the body.  Endocrine glands secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream.

If you imagine that your thyroid is a car engine that requires fuel so that a car can move, then it is easier to understand that the “fuel” that the thyroid uses is iodine.  The iodine that we get from our food is usually sufficient to keep the thyroid functioning properly.  The same way that a gas pedal controls how much acceleration the car gets, the pea-sized pituitary gland at the base of the brain controls how much acceleration the thyroid gland has.

The car engine produces energy, but you control how fast by pressing the accelerator. The thyroid gland operates the same way. It gets “acceleration” from the pituitary gland, located at the base of your brain. The pituitary gland, no larger than a pea, also is known as the “master gland.” This gland controls the thyroid functions and all of the other glands to make up the endocrine system.

Thyroid dysfunction can mean that thyroid is producing too much hormone or too little hormone.  If your thyroid gland isn’t functioning properly, neither will you.  Essentially, there are three conditions that can affect the performance of the thyroid gland.  Hypothyroidism is underactivity of the thyroid gland.  Hyperthyroidism is overactivity of the thyroid gland.  Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder that can force the thyroid gland to become underproductive; it is the most common thyroid disease in the United States, affecting approximately 14 million Americans.  The body’s immune system attacks itself, damaging thyroid cells and compromises their ability to make thyroid hormone.   Symptoms of  thyroid dysfunction are listed below.

Hyperthyroidism

• Fast heart rate, often more than 100 beats per minute
• Nervousness, anxiety or an irritable and quarrelsome feeling
• Trembling hands
• Weight loss, despite eating the same amount or even more than usual
• Intolerance of warm temperatures and increased likelihood to perspire
• Loss of scalp hair
• Rapid growth of fingernails and tendency of fingernails to separate from the nail bed
• Muscle weakness, especially of the upper arms and thighs
• Loose and frequent bowel movements
• Thin and delicate skin
• Change in menstrual pattern
• Increased likelihood for miscarriage
• Prominent “stare” of the eyes
• Protrusion of the eyes, with or without double vision (in patients with Graves’ disease)
• Irregular heart rhythm, especially in patients older than 60 years of age
• Accelerated loss of calcium from bones, which increases the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.

Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

• Pervasive fatigue
• Drowsiness
• Forgetfulness
• Difficulty with learning
• Dry, brittle hair and nails
• Dry, itchy skin
• Puffy face
• Constipation
• Sore muscles
• Weight gain and fluid retention
• Heavy and/or irregular menstrual flow
• Increased frequency of miscarriages
• Increased sensitivity to many medications

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and you think that you might have thyroid dysfunction, contact your doctor.