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Millions of people around the world have a thyroid disease, such as an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter), non-cancerous or cancerous thyroid nodules, or an overactive thyroid gland. Some thyroid conditions may be treated with medicines, but others are best treated with surgery.
The thyroid gland is in the lower part of the front of the neck, just in front of your windpipe. It is shaped like a butterfly, with a “lobe” on each side joined by a thin strip of tissue. The nerves that control your vocal cords are just behind the thyroid.
You cannot usually see or feel the thyroid gland. But if it becomes enlarged, it causes a swelling in the neck called a goiter. Other thyroid conditions may not cause a visible goiter.
The thyroid produces important hormones called thyroxine and T3. These hormones control your metabolism — in other words, how your body gets energy from the foods you eat. If your thyroid is not working well, your body uses energy more slowly or quickly than it should.
If your thyroid is not active enough, it is called hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism can make you gain weight, feel tired, and struggle with cold temperatures. If your thyroid is too active (hyperthyroidism), you will have more thyroid hormones than your body needs. Hyperthyroidism causes you to lose weight, speeds up your heart rate, and makes you very sensitive to heat.
A goiter can be caused by several conditions. These include:
Thyroid nodules (small lumps in the thyroid) may be caused by:
An overactive thyroid (hyperthyroid) may result from Grave’s disease or thyroid nodules.
The two main causes of an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) are autoimmunity (where the thyroid cells are destroyed by white blood cells which attack the thyroid) and as a side-effect of treatment for thyroid disease. Other rare causes include inherited thyroid deficiency, a complication of viral infection, or a side-effect of certain drugs.
If your thyroid is producing too much hormone, you will likely experience some or all of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism (also called thyrotoxicosis):
There are some factors that can increase your risk of developing a thyroid disease. Some of these are:
To diagnose a thyroid problem, your doctor will need to examine you. Your doctor will pay special attention to your thyroid gland and other areas of your body where thyroid problems may be reflected, such as your skin, nails, hair, heart, weight, and body temperature. In addition, blood tests will be performed to measure the levels of thyroid hormones. You may also need to have thyroid imaging tests so your doctor can “see” your thyroid. Lastly, if you have a lump on your thyroid, a thin needle may be inserted directly into the lump to remove some cells that will be checked for cancer.
Information on this site should not be used as a substitute for talking with your doctor. Always talk with your doctor about diagnosis and treatment information.