An essential endocrine gland that produces and secretes several hormones is your thyroid. The primary function of the thyroid is to regulate your metabolism, or how your body consumes energy. Your thyroid may malfunction sometimes. These ailments are widespread and curable.
The Thyroid Gland
Your thyroid is a tiny, butterfly-shaped gland covered by skin at the front of your neck. It is a component of your endocrine system and regulates several crucial bodily processes by creating and releasing (secreting) certain hormones. The primary function of the thyroid is to control your metabolic rate, which is the pace at which your body converts food into energy. Your body’s cells all need power to operate.
Your whole body may be affected if your thyroid isn’t functioning correctly.
The Endocrine System: What Is It?
A network of glands that produce and exude (release) hormones makes up your endocrine system.
An organ that produces hormones, digestive fluids, sweat, or tears is called a gland. Hormones are directly released into the circulation by endocrine glands.
Hormones communicate with your organs, skin, muscles, and other tissues via blood to coordinate various bodily activities. These messages instruct your body on what to do and when.
Your endocrine system is made up of the glands and organs listed below:
- Hypothalamus
- Pituitary lobe
- Thyroid
- Thyroid glands
- Endocrine glands
- Pineal body
- Pancreas
- Ovaries
- Testes
FUNCTION
How Does My Thyroid Function?
Your thyroid produces and secretes hormones since it is an endocrine gland. The following hormones are produced and released by your thyroid:
The primary hormone produced and released by your thyroid is thyroxine (T4). Your thyroid primarily produces this hormone, yet it has little impact on your metabolism. Once your thyroid has released T4 into your circulation, it may then undergo a process known as deiodination to change to T3.
Your thyroid produces triiodothyronine (T3) in more minor levels than T4 but has a considerably more significant impact on metabolism.
Reverse triiodothyronine (RT3) is a hormone that your thyroid produces in tiny quantities and counteracts the effects of T3.
Calcitonin aids in controlling blood calcium levels.
Your thyroid gland requires iodine, an element in the diet (most often, iodized table salt) and water to produce thyroid hormones. Iodine is captured by your thyroid gland, which turns it into thyroid hormones. The amount of hormones your thyroid produces and releases might change if you have an iodine deficiency or excess.
Your thyroid hormones impact the following body processes:
- Your body’s metabolism, or how it burns energy.
- Heartbeat
- Breathing
- Digestion
- Internal body temperature
- Brain development
- Mental activities
- Maintenance of the skin and bones
- Fertility
What Additional Glands And Organs Are Involved In The Thyroid’s Function?
Your endocrine system is a complex web of hormones and glands. Many glands and hormones depend on other glands and hormones to tell them to begin producing their products. Additionally, certain hormones can inhibit others.
A sophisticated mechanism in your body manages the amount of thyroid hormones. Thyroid-releasing hormone (TRH), which is secret by the hypothalamus (a region of the brain lying underneath it), then prompts the pituitary gland to release thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). If your body has enough iodine, TSH stimulates thyroid follicular cells to release thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).
Almost every organ system in your body is impact by the thyroid gland and its hormones, including:
- Circulatory system: Your thyroid controls your heart rate, cardiac output (the volume of blood your heart pumps via your circulatory system), and contractility (the force and vigor of your heart’s contraction).
- Neurological system: Thyroid problems may result in symptoms that impact your neural system, such as tingling, soreness, or a burning sensation in the body regions that are affected. In addition, both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism may lead to sadness and anxiety.
- Gastrointestinal system: Your gastrointestinal tract’s ability to transport food through it (gastrointestinal motility) is influence by your thyroid.
- Reproductive system: Insufficient thyroid function may result in irregular menstrual cycles and problems with fertility.
Is It Possible To Survive Without A Thyroid?
You can indeed survive without a thyroid. However, to maintain your health and avoid specific side effects and symptoms, you must take hormone replacement therapy for the rest of your life. A thyroidectomy, sometimes called thyroid removal surgery, is a frequent procedure to treat several thyroid disorders.
DISEASES AND CONDITIONS
What Diseases And Circumstances Impact The Thyroid?
Thyroid illness comes in a variety of forms. An estimate 20 million individuals in the United States are thought to have some thyroid dysfunction, making thyroid illness relatively prevalent. Compare to males and persons designate male at birth (AMAB), women and people assign female at birth (AFAB) are around five to eight times more likely to be diagnose with a thyroid problem.
The following four conditions might negatively impact your thyroid:
- Hypothyroidism (Underactive thyroid)
- Hyperthyroidism (Overactive thyroid)
- Thyroid enlargement, or goitre
- Thyroid tumours
Hypothyroidism
When your thyroid does not generate and release enough thyroid hormones, hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) results. A part of your metabolism slows down as a result of this. About 10 million individuals in the US suffer from this rather prevalent illness. It can be cure.
Some of the causes of hypothyroidism are:
- Autoimmune illness Hashimoto’s disease
- Thyroiditis (thyroid infection)
- Iodine shortage
- A thyroid gland that isn’t working correctly (when the thyroid isn’t operating properly from birth)
- Drug overuse in the treatment of hyperthyroidism.
- Thyroid gland extraction
Hyperthyroidism
When your thyroid creates and releases more thyroid hormones than your body requires, this condition is known as hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). Some components of your metabolism speed up as a result. In the United States, 1 in 100 adults over 12 have hyperthyroidism. It can be cured.
Among the causes of hyperthyroidism are:
- The autoimmune disorder is known as Graves’ disease.
- Thyroid nodules
- Thyroiditis (thyroid infection)
- Thyroid inflammation after childbirth is known as postpartum thyroiditis
- Excessive blood iodine levels brought on by your diet or medications
- Hypothyroidism being overtreat with medicine
- A pituitary gland benign (noncancerous) tumor
Goitre
Your thyroid gland will grow if you have a goitre. Goitres are prevalent in the United States, affecting around 5% of the population.
Various factors may induce goitres, depending on the kind.
Simple Goitres
Simple goitres form when your thyroid gland cannot produce enough hormones to fulfill your body’s demands. Your thyroid gland attempts to compensate for the deficiency by expanding.
These goitres develop in people who do not consume enough iodine in their diets (iodine is require to produce thyroid hormone). People residing in the United States and many other nations, where iodine is add to table salt, often need endemic goitres.
Sporadic Goitres
In most situations, there is no recognised reason for these goitres. Some drugs, including lithium, have the potential sometimes to produce goitres.
Thyrotoxic Cancer
Cancer that starts in the thyroid tissues is refer to as thyroid cancer. According to the latest statistics, thyroid cancer affects over 53,000 individuals in the US each year. The majority of thyroid malignancies respond well to treatment.
Based on the kind of cells from which the cancer develops, thyroid cancer is categorize. Types of thyroid carcinoma include:
Papillary: Papillary thyroid cancer accounts for up to 80% of all cases.
Follicular: Up to 15% of thyroid cancer diagnoses are follicular thyroid cancers.
2% of thyroid cancer patients are medullary instances. It often results from a gene mutation.
Anaplastic instances make up around 2% of thyroid cancer cases.