The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped, endocrine gland located in front of one’s neck. It is responsible for the production of two hormones that are secreted into the blood:
- Thyroxine (T4) (primary hormone)
- Triiodothyronine (T3) (active hormone)
The thyroid gland uses iodine to produce these hormones. The production of Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3) is necessary for all the cells in a human body to work in a normal manner. The thyroid gland also has many other roles, such as regulating metabolic processes, etc. Thyroid disorder is a condition that affects the thyroid gland. These disorders can either affect the structure or the function of the gland.
Since the thyroid gland is controlled by the brain, pituitary gland, and hypothalamus, issues in any of these can also cause several problems.
Some of the thyroid disorders are:
- Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
- Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
- Goiter
- Thyroid nodules
- Thyroid cancer