13 Thyroid Facts Everyone Should Know

Your thyroid controls your heart rate, your respiration, major organs, and your metabolism. That's why no one should take this little gland in your neck for granted. Here's what thyroid experts need you to know

Small package, big trouble

For such a small organ, the thyroid—that butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of your neck above your collarbone—wields a lot of power. It directly or indirectly controls virtually every function in the body. Here’s what you need to know.

Heart-Murmur
Shutterstock

What your thyroid does

The thyroid makes the hormones known as T4 and T3, which are used by all the cells of the body. “These hormones are essential for life,” says Terry Davies, MD, co-director of the Thyroid Center at Mount Sinai Union Square in New York. “When there is too much of them or too little then things can go seriously wrong.” Too much thyroid hormone, for example, can aggravate the heart, causing palpitations and anxiety. Too little can cause weight gain; and “because the brain is very thyroid dependent,” says Dr. Davies, too little thyroid hormone can also cause depression. Here are 14 misconceptions about depression.

Thyroid self-exam checkup. Young man touching his neck at home bathroom doing self-check of his thyroid gland looking at mirror for early signs of health problem.
Maridav/Shutterstock

Thyroid issues can affect your overall health

With great power comes great responsibility, and the thyroid is no exception. Unfortunately, there are many ways in which this gland can be thrown off, and there are a number of conditions that fall under the category of thyroid disease. The big ones are hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland), hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland), Hashimoto’s (an autoimmune disorder that attacks the thyroid, causing hypothyroidism), and Graves’ disease (an autoimmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism). “In addition, the thyroid may form growths or even thyroid cancer,” says Dr. Davies. There are five types of thyroid cancer to watch for: papillary, follicular, medullary, anaplastic, and lymphoma.

Doctor checking thyroid glands of senior woman
Dragon Images/Shutterstock

Getting your thyroid checked is easy to do

Whether as part of your annual physical or something you schedule because you’re concerned that something is off, bloodwork can reveal troubles with your thyroid. Initially, “an excellent and sensitive blood test called TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) can diagnose abnormal thyroid function very easily,” says Dr. Davies. “TSH is the messenger hormone from the brain to the thyroid gland telling it to work harder. When the thyroid fails, the message gets louder so TSH is increased. When the thyroid is overworking the brain does not need to send messages so TSH is low.” If your TSH test results are not normal, you will need at least one other blood test—T4, T3, or thyroid antibody tests—to help find the cause of the problem. Here’s what standard thyroid testing won’t tell you.

Lonely Asian woman is eating alone on bed in bright morning.
Rachata Teyparsit/Shutterstock

Thyroid conditions can arise at any age

A study published in the Journal of Clinical & Diagnostic Research found that there are a number of myths about thyroid disease. For instance: almost 40 percent of study participants thought obese people are more likely to get hypothyroidism; about 27 percent believed elderly people are more affected, and around 13 percent believed women get more affected with hypothyroidism. Only 9 percent were aware that hypothyroidism can affect all age groups. Here are 10 hidden health risks of a “normal” thyroid.

Female bare feet with weight scale, top view
Rostislav_Sedlacek/Shutterstock

Hyperthyroidism symptoms are varied

When your thyroid is producing too much thyroid hormone, it can result in hyperthyroidism. Christian Nasr, MD, medical director of the Thyroid Center at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, describes this as feeling like you’re going 100 miles per hour all the time. Hyperthyroid symptoms include anxiety, nervousness, irritability, increased sweating, difficulty sleeping, thinning of your skin, fine brittle hair, and muscle weakness.

Middle-aged businessman in the office thinking about business problems
d13/Shutterstock

Hypothyroidism affects energy levels and more

On the opposite end of the spectrum, hypothyroidism is when your thyroid is underactive. “Imagine moving slowly all the time,” says Dr. Nasr. Other symptoms include “feeling tired and sleepy, bloated and constipated, cold all the time, and experiencing hair and nail changes, mental slowness, and a slow heart rate.” Check out these 7 habits for a healthy thyroid.

13 Thyroid Facts Everyone Should Know
Prostock-studio/Shutterstock

Your quality of life can suffer

Without proper treatment, the most severe forms of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can be life-threatening, says Dr. Nasr. But even milder issues can interfere with your daily life. “People who have an underactive thyroid that is left untreated may lack energy and mental alertness,” he says, noting that this can be particularly problematic at work. “Women with either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism can experience infertility.” Watch out for these 13 thyroid symptoms.

Rx Bottle on written prescription with pills spread out in front of it.
Michael Drager/Shutterstock

Finding balance is key

If you’re diagnosed with hypothyroidism, your doctor will likely prescribe medicine to promote hormonal balance. “There is no other treatment needed for a low thyroid,” says Dr. Davies, adding that “no dietary changes make a difference. Some people do just fine with levothyroxine (T4), while a small number of people seem to do better with a mixture of T4 and T3.”

Woman in home clothes eating vegan Rice coconut porridge with figs, berries, nuts. Healthy breakfast ingredients. Clean eating, vegan food concept
Jukov studio/Shutterstock

You are what you eat

Despite all the hype, there is limited science to back up a so-called “thyroid diet,” says Dr. Davies. One study published in the Journal of Medical Nutrition and Nutraceuticals, suggests that micronutrients such as iodine, selenium, and zinc play an important role in thyroid health. But the researchers conclude that the best advice for patients is to consume a healthy balanced diet, and meet the daily iodine requirement. Learn why iodized salt is no longer a required part of a healthy diet.

Raw tuna steaks with sesame, black wooden surface, flat-lay view
Nickola_Che/Shutterstock

Selenium is essential to thyroid function

Selenium is key because the thyroid is the organ with the highest amount of selenium per gram of tissue. This micronutrient helps defend against disease, and it also supports the metabolism of thyroid hormones. Foods rich in selenium include Brazil nuts, yellowfin tuna, halibut, sardines, ham, canned shrimp, turkey, and liver. Find out if your thyroid levels need to be checked.

Doctor Wearing White Coat Reading Notes In Office
Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

Approaches to thyroid cancer are changing

Thyroid cancer diagnoses have tripled in the past three decades, though much of that dramatic rise may have to do with the increased use of thyroid ultrasound, which can detect small thyroid growths they may have been overlooked in the past. A study published in JAMA Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery found that new approaches are needed to avoid overtreating slow-to-develop tumors that would otherwise remain asymptomatic. Doctors are now trying less intensive treatments, meaning that not every patient will be told he or she needs to have the entire gland removed. Small tumors may receive a watch-and-wait approach, with monitoring to see if the tumor will become larger to determine if surgery is necessary. Read about 6 thyroid cancer symptoms you should never ignore.

Cell thyroid gland dog- abstract science. Biology nature structure: medical and biological tissue prepared microscope slide; educational material for the study and treatment of animals.
Digital Photo/Shutterstock

Thyroid cancer diagnoses appear to be surging

Approximately 52,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2019, making it the most rapidly increasing cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Why this particular cancer? More studies need to be done, but Dr. Nasr attributes much of the rise to the most common type, which is papillary cancer. “Most of the increase is due to finding small thyroid nodules incidentally on imaging,” he says. “However, approximately 30 percent of the increase is due to large tumors that require treatment.”

Psst! Read the story of this woman who beat thyroid cancer and carries the scar from surgery as a badge of honor.

13 Thyroid Facts Everyone Should Know
Goncharov_Artem/Shutterstock

Screening for thyroid nodules isn’t always recommended

We’re fortunate enough to live in a time with many different methods of imaging, like CT scans and ultrasound. But that’s where the risk of overdiagnosing lies, since, as Dr. Nasr has noted, doctors are finding more small nodules (growths). “Once a nodule is found, it needs to be addressed, which may require a biopsy,” he says. Read about 8 conditions caused by your thyroid.

Sources
Medically reviewed by Susan E. Spratt, MD, on April 10, 2020