Thyroid Function & Awareness

Medically Reviewed by Peggy Fritsch, DNP, BSN, MBA-Healthcare

As important as the thyroid gland is for the body’s important functions and processes, many people are unaware of how it works, and what happens when it is underactive or overactive. To join the efforts to spread awareness and education, this article will take a closer look at:

• What the thyroid gland is and what it is responsible for
• The basics of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism
• How to support thyroid health

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of the neck. As part of the larger endocrine system, the thyroid is responsible for producing thyroid hormones that are then distributed to tissues throughout the body.

The thyroid is actively involved in many essential bodily functions, which include but aren’t limited to:

• Metabolism
• Growth
• Regulating body temperature
• Supporting normal functioning of the heart, brain, muscles, and more

When the thyroid functions as it should, all of the areas listed above should also function normally. However, when the thyroid produces too little or too many thyroid hormones, certain conditions and diseases may be present.

You may have heard of conditions called hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism—but what are they and how do they differ?

Here’s a quick look at both conditions and how to differentiate one from the other.

Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones. As a result of hypothyroidism, several symptoms can take place in either the short- or long-term, which include:

• Sluggish metabolism and/or unintentional weight gain
• Fatigue
• Memory issues
• Constipation
• Cold body temperature
• Dry skin

As the American Thyroid Association shares, there are a number of potential causes that can lead to hypothyroidism. A few of them include:

• Autoimmune conditions (particularly Hashimoto’s disease)
• Surgical removal of the thyroid
• Damage to the pituitary gland
•  Iodine deficiency
• Congenital hypothyroidism (inherited at birth)

On the opposite end of the spectrum, hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland is overactive and produces too many thyroid hormones (specifically thyroxine/T4).

As the Mayo Clinic shares, people with hyperthyroidism often develop symptoms such as:

• Unintentional weight loss
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Anxiety and/or irritability
• Excessive sweating and sensitivity to heat
• Sleep problems
• Frequent bowel movements

But what causes hyperthyroidism? The Mayo Clinic continues to explain that hyperthyroidism can be caused by:

• Autoimmune conditions (particularly Graves’ disease)
• Hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules that overproduce T4
• Thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland)

While hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are typically lifelong conditions, symptoms often reduce with early detection and proper medical management.

If you present any of the symptoms for either condition listed above, be sure to contact your doctor with your concerns.

From there, they can discuss your symptoms, family history, and medical history in detail and check for thyroid imbalances by:

• Physically evaluating your thyroid gland for swelling
• Seeing if there are any heartbeat irregularities
• Ordering blood tests to check on thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and thyroxine/T4 levels

If your doctor discovers that you have hypothyroidism, the primary treatment is levothyroxine, a prescription medicine that provides synthetic T4 to restore your body’s levels of this important hormone.

However, if your blood tests show excess T4 and you’ve been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, the Mayo Clinic shares that possible treatment options include:

• Anti-thyroid medications like methimazole
• Radioactive iodine to shrink the thyroid gland
• Beta blockers (particularly if your heartbeat is irregular)
• Surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid gland

Whether or not you have a thyroid condition, you can still support thyroid health in a number of ways, including through nutrition.

As a 2020 report explains, you can use diet and nutrition as a means to support your thyroid by:

• Evaluating if you’re getting too much or too little iodine in your diet - remember to use salt that contains iodine
• Checking your intake of cruciferous vegetables (e.g., broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts) and soy products

Content contained on this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your health care provider before beginning any new fitness or dietary plan. References provided are for informational purposes only and do not constitute endorsement of any websites or other sources. Should you have any health-related questions, you should contact your health care provider.