What is the thyroid gland? Let's learn exactly how it affects your body.

Do you sometimes feel very tired or lethargic for no reason? No matter how much you control your diet and exercise, do you feel like you're gaining weight? Or do you sometimes get angry at even the smallest things, feel very restless, and feel like your heart is beating fast? Although there are many reasons for these things, a problem with one of the smallest, but very important organs in our body can affect this. That is the thyroid gland .

What is the thyroid gland? Where is it located?

Simply put, the thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of our neck, just below the voice box . It is part of our endocrine system . This system produces chemicals called hormones that control various functions in our body.

Think of our body as a car. The thyroid gland is like the accelerator that controls the speed of the car's engine. It controls our body's metabolism , which is the rate at which the food we eat is converted into energy. If it is not working properly, the entire body can be out of balance .

What does the thyroid gland do to the body?

The thyroid gland releases two main types of hormones into our blood. We doctors call these T3 and T4 for short. These two hormones travel through the blood throughout the body and control many important things.

Let's see what that is?

• Heart rate: These hormones help determine how fast your heart should beat.
• Body weight: These hormones directly affect whether you gain or lose weight.
• Breathing : This even affects the depth of our breathing.
• Body temperature: These hormones also control the sensation of heat and cold in the body.
• Cholesterol levels : These are also essential for controlling cholesterol levels in the blood.
• Women's menstrual cycle: For women's menstrual cycles to occur properly and regularly, thyroid hormones must be present in the right amounts.
• Mood: These hormones also affect our ability to control emotions like happiness, anger, and sadness.

Also, there is another "big boss" in our brain called the pituitary gland that tells the thyroid gland how much hormone the body needs. It is he who supervises the work of the thyroid gland.

What happens when the thyroid gland malfunctions?

Sometimes the thyroid gland can have problems. It either starts producing too many hormones or it doesn't produce enough. Sometimes the gland can become swollen (enlarged), or it can develop small lumps (nodules).

These conditions are more common in women than in men. But this is nothing to be afraid of. If properly diagnosed and treated, it can be completely controlled.

Let's take a look at the most common thyroid problems.

Why do these situations occur?

Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are caused by a problem with the immune system . Simply put, our body's defenses (antibodies) mistakenly attack the thyroid gland. We call these conditions autoimmune diseases . Hashimoto's disease, which causes hypothyroidism, and Graves' disease, which causes hyperthyroidism, are two such conditions.

Iodine deficiency can also be a cause of goiter. However, since iodine is added to the salt we use in our country, that cause has been greatly reduced.

If I have these symptoms, what should I do?

This is the most important thing. If you think you have one or more of the symptoms we have discussed, please do not speculate or self-medicate based on hearsay. The best and only thing to do is to see your doctor .

When you see a doctor, they will ask you about your symptoms and examine your neck. Then, they will order a few simple blood tests to determine if you have a thyroid problem. These blood tests (like TSH and Free T4) can measure the exact levels of thyroid hormones in your body.