Common Symptoms Of Thyroid Disorders You Need To Know

Thyroid function 101

The thyroid is located just beneath the cartilage often referred to as the Adam’s apple, in the front of your throat. Right and left lobes, found on each side of your trachea or windpipe, are joined by a thin strip of thyroid tissues called the isthmus. A healthy thyroid gland, one that is normal in size and shape, does not bulge out of your throat area. It should not be enlarged or readily palpable when touched, nor should it be obviously visible. On the other hand, depending on the particular disease, a thyroid problem can cause the gland to swell, leading to what is commonly called a goiter. But gland size, while one of the more obvious signs of thyroid trouble, is not the only indicator that your butterfly-shaped organ may have broken its wings. Some symptoms —for instance, tiredness, weight loss or gain, anxiety, coarse or dry skin—can be subtle and non-specific; as such, these are often easily confused with other conditions and even sometimes misdiagnosed.

In general, disorders affecting the gland are either due to an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) or an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). But both situations can (and do) wreak havoc on your body’s ability to operate as the synergistic, multi-cellular organism it is designed to be.