The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland situated in the front of the neck. Its main function is to produce two hormones - thyroxine and triiodothyronine - which are crucial to the control of various bodily functions. These include but are not limited to heart rate, skin, bowel activity, and muscle.
Should the thyroid malfunction, either by underactivity or overactivity, it could cause health problems that can affect your quality of life. Thyroid hormone (TH) imbalances are usually related to autoimmune disorders - when healthy cells and tissues in your body are mistakenly attacked by your own immune system.
Too little, too much?
When an underactive gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones to adequately meet the body's needs, the condition is referred to as hypothyroidism. Read more about hypothyroidism here.
Conversely, in hyperthyroidism; an overactive thyroid gland results in the excessive production of thyroid hormones. Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are the two most common thyroid disorders in women between the age of 20 and 50, who are also five times more likely than men to develop thyroid disorders.
