Thyroid is a most common disease among women and if not treated in time it can lead to severe health problems. It is very important to be aware of this friendly as well as deadly gland in our body.

1.What is the thyroid

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland just below the Adam's apple. This gland plays a very important role in controlling the body's metabolism, that is, how the body functions. It does this by producing thyroid hormones (T4 and T3), chemicals that travel through the blood to every part of the body. Thyroid hormones tell the body how fast to work and use energy. The thyroid gland works like an air conditioner. If there are enough thyroid hormones in the blood, the gland stops making the hormones (just as an air conditioner cycles off when there is enough cool air in a house). When the body needs more thyroid hormones, the gland starts producing again. The pituitary gland works like a thermostat, telling the thyroid when to start and stop. The pituitary sends thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) to the thyroid to tell the gland what to do. The thyroid gland might produce too much hormone (hyperthyroidism), making the body use energy faster than it should, or too little hormone (hypothyroidism), making the body use energy slower than it should. The gland may also become inflamed (thyroiditis) or enlarged (goiter), or develop one or more lumps (nodules).

2. What is hyperthyroidism?

Hyperthyroidism makes the body speed up. It occurs when there is too much thyroid hormone in the blood ("hyper" means "too much"). Hyperthyroidism is nearly 10 times more frequent in women than in men. The most common form of hyperthyroidism, Graves' disease, is caused by problems with the immune system and tends to run in families.

Following are the symptoms of Hyperthyroidism

Fast heart rate
Nervousness
Increased perspiration
Muscle weakness
Trembling hands
Weight loss
Hair loss
Skin changes
Increased frequency of bowel movements
Decreased menstrual flow and less frequent menstrual flow
Goiter
Eyes that seem to be popping out of their sockets.

The symptoms of hyperthyroidism rarely occur all at once. However, if you have more than one of these symptoms, and they continue for some time, you should see your doctor.

3. What is hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism causes the body to slow down. It occurs when there is too little thyroid hormone in the blood ("hypo" means "not enough"). Hypothyroidism affects more than 5 million people, many of whom don't know they have the disease. Women are more likely than men to have hypothyroidism. Also, one out of every 4,000 infants is born with the condition. If the problem is not corrected, the child will become mentally and physically retarded. Therefore, all newborns should be tested for the disease.

Following are the symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Feeling slow or tired
Feeling cold
Drowsy during the day, even after sleeping all night
Slow heart rate
Poor memory
Difficulty concentrating
Muscle cramps
Weight gain
Husky voice
Thinning hair
Dry and coarse skin
Feeling depressed
Heavy menstrual flow
Milky discharge from the breasts
Infertility
Goiter

Many of the symptoms of hypothyroidism can occur normally with aging, so if you have one or two of them, there is probably no reason to worry. However, if you are concerned about any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor.

4. What is thyroiditis?

Thyroiditis is an inflammation of the thyroid gland and the most common cause of hypothyroidism. When patients with thyroiditis have any symptoms, they are usually the symptoms of hypothyroidism. It is also common to have an enlarged thyroid that may shrink over time. The type of thyroiditis seen most often is Hashimoto's thyroiditis, a painless disease of the immune system that runs in families. Hashimoto's thyroiditis affects about 5% of the adult population, increasing particularly in women as they age. Another form of thyroiditis affects women of childbearing age. Postpartum thyroiditis occurs in 5%-9% of women soon after giving birth and is usually a temporary condition.
Viral and bacterial infections can also cause thyroiditis.

5. What is a goiter?

A goiter is an abnormal swelling in the neck caused by an enlarged thyroid gland. It can become quite large. The problem occurs in at least 5% of the population. Worldwide, the most common cause of a goiter is lack of iodine, a chemical that the thyroid uses to produce its hormones. About 100 million people don't get enough iodine in their diets, but adding iodine to salt can solve the problem.
Even with the right amount of iodine, the thyroid gland can swell, creating a goiter. This can occur in any type of thyroid disease, including hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroiditi