Swelling and lumps can occur within the thyroid gland. Such nodules can be harmless, but some can cause the production of hormones or even be cancerous.
In some cases, such as cancer, the thyroid is removed. You can live without your thyroid, but you need to take medicine daily to substitute the hormones produced by your thyroid gland. Iodine is most essential to maintain a healthy thyroid. Nonetheless, the daily and constant supply of this micronutrient is important. Too much iodine at once is counter-productive and causes your thyroid to produce less hormones.
The best way to get your daily dose of iodine is through eating healthy foods like seafood and dairy products. In addition, iodized salt is a good source and you can use it to season your food. Nowadays, iodine is added to salt to combat goitres caused by hypothyroidism. About Contact Events News.
Search Search. You and Your Hormones. Students Teachers Patients Browse. Human body. Home Glands Thyroid gland. Thyroid gland The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system and produces thyroid hormones, which are important for metabolic health. Where is my thyroid gland? However it happens, these antibodies affect the thyroid's ability to produce hormones. This rare, life-threatening condition is the result of long-term, undiagnosed hypothyroidism.
Its signs and symptoms include intense cold intolerance and drowsiness followed by profound lethargy and unconsciousness. A myxedema coma may be triggered by sedatives, infection or other stress on your body. If you have signs or symptoms of myxedema, you need immediate emergency medical treatment.
Birth defects. Babies born to women with untreated thyroid disease may have a higher risk of birth defects compared to babies born to healthy mothers.
These children are also more prone to serious intellectual and developmental problems. Infants with untreated hypothyroidism present at birth are at risk of serious problems with both physical and mental development. But if this condition is diagnosed within the first few months of life, the chances of normal development are excellent.
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Hypothyroidism underactive thyroid is a condition in which your thyroid gland doesn't produce enough of certain crucial hormones.
Thyroid gland Open pop-up dialog box Close. Thyroid gland Your thyroid gland is located at the base of your neck, just below the Adam's apple. More Information Hypothyroidism and joint pain?
Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. In hyperthyroidism , the thyroid gland is overactive. It produces too much of its hormone. Hyperthyroidism affects about 1 percent of women. Nodules on the thyroid — a condition called toxic nodular goiter or multinodular goiter — can also cause the gland to overproduce its hormones. A blood test measures levels of thyroid hormone thyroxine, or T4 and thyroid-stimulating hormone TSH in your blood.
The pituitary gland releases TSH to stimulate the thyroid to produce its hormones. High thyroxine and low TSH levels indicate that your thyroid gland is overactive.
Your doctor might also give you radioactive iodine by mouth or as an injection, and then measure how much of it your thyroid gland takes up. Your thyroid takes in iodine to produce its hormones. Taking in a lot of radioactive iodine is a sign that your thyroid is overactive. Treatments for hyperthyroidism destroy the thyroid gland or block it from producing its hormones. If you have radioactive iodine treatment or surgery that destroys your thyroid gland, you will develop hypothyroidism and need to take thyroid hormone daily.
Hypothyroidism is the opposite of hyperthyroidism. In the United States, it affects around 4. Most cases of hypothyroidism are mild. Your doctor will perform blood tests to measure your TSH and thyroid hormone levels. A high TSH level and low thyroxine level could mean that your thyroid is underactive. These levels could also indicate that your pituitary gland is releasing more TSH to try to stimulate the thyroid gland to make its hormone.
The main treatment for hypothyroidism is to take thyroid hormone pills. The disease can remain stable for years, and symptoms are often subtle. Symptoms include:. Testing the level of TSH is often the first step when screening for any type of thyroid disorder. Hormone-replacing medication is often used to raise thyroid hormone levels or lower TSH levels. It can also help relieve the symptoms of the disease.
The disease is usually detected at an early stage and remains stable for years because it progresses slowly. This can cause the gland to overproduce the hormone responsible for regulating metabolism. Other risk factors include stress, pregnancy, and smoking. These include:. The U. Visit The Symptom Checker. Food Poisoning. Acute Bronchitis. Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. Bursitis of the Hip. Abnormal Uterine Bleeding.
High Blood Pressure. Home Diseases and Conditions Hypothyroidism. Table of Contents. What is hypothyroidism? Read More by Dr. Tania Mathew. Symptoms of hypothyroidism. Common symptoms include: Fatigue. Unplanned weight gain. Muscle weakness. Muscle aches, cramps, tenderness, or stiffness. Increased sensitivity to cold. Pale, dry skin. Puffy face. Hoarse voice.
Joint pain, stiffness, or swelling. Changes in menstrual patterns, such as heavier flow. An enlarged thyroid gland called a goiter , which can appear as swelling at the base of the neck. Brittle hair and fingernails. Forgetfulness or confusion.
In addition, they could have: Slow growth. Slow mental development. Delayed permanent teeth. Delayed puberty. What causes hypothyroidism? Other common causes of hypothyroidism include: Certain medicines.
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