What Is The Purpose Of The Thyroid?

What Is The Purpose Of the Thyroid?

The thyroid gland is about 2 inches long and is located in the front of your throat in front of the Adam's apple or larynx. The thyroid is in the shape of a butterfly. It has two side lobes that lie on either side of your windpipe. They are usually connected by a strip of thyroid tissue that is known as an isthmus. Some do not have an isthmus and simply have two separate lobes.

How Does Your Gland Work?

Your thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system in your body. This system is made up of several glands that produce, store, and release hormones into the bloodstream. They help the hormones reach the body's cells. The thyroid gland then uses the iodine from the foods you ingest to make hormones. Those two hormones are T3 (triiodothyronine and T4 (thyroxine).

T3 and T4 levels must be neither too high nor too low in your body. Two glands located in your brain - the hypothalamus and the pituitary glands communicate to maintain the T3 and T4 balance.

The hypothalamus gland produces TSH Releasing Hormone or TRH that signals the pituitary to tell your thyroid gland to create more or less of the T3 and T4 hormones. It does this by increasing or decreasing the release of thyroid-stimulating hormones (TSH).

When the T3 and T4 levels are low in the blood, the pituitary gland will release more TSH. This is to tell the thyroid to produce more thyroid hormones. When the T3 and T4 levels are too high, the pituitary gland releases less TSH to the thyroid gland to slow the production of these hormones.

What is Affected by the Thyroid?

Several parts of your body are affected by the thyroid. Most people do not realize the importance your thyroid has on your body and what an imbalance can do to your body.

These things and others are affected by your thyroid: ● breathing ● heart rate ● central and peripheral systems ● body weight ● muscle strength ● menstrual cycle ● body temperature ● cholesterol levels ● and more.

Why Do You Need a Thyroid Gland?

The hormones T3 and T4 travel in your bloodstream and reach almost every cell in your body.

The hormones also regulate the speed at which the cells and your metabolism work. An example is, T4 and T4 control your heart rate and how fast your intestines process food. So if your T3 and T4 levels are low, your heart rate may be slower than average, and you may be constipated or gain weight. If your T3 and T4 levels are high, this could make your heart rate rapid and cause you to have diarrhea or weight loss.

Symptoms of too much T3 and T4 ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Anxiety Irritability Nervousness Sweating Hand trembling Hair loss Missed menstrual cycles

Symptoms of too little T3 and T4 ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

trouble sleeping fatigue difficulty concentrating dry skin and hair depression frequent heavy periods joint and muscle pain

So while you may think your thyroid is small in size, it has a massive job in keeping your body balanced. If you are experiencing any issues with your thyroid, it is essential to discuss them with your health care provider and get them checked out as soon as possible.