The thyroid is in the shape of a butterfly, located in your neck, wrapped around the windpipe. The thyroid gland is the major producer of hormones like triiodothyronine and thyroxin. These hormones allow oxygen to get into cells. These hormones influence most of the metabolic activity throughout our bodies. The thyroid has the only cells that are capable of absorbing iodine. Once the thyroid releases the cells they help convert oxygen and calories into energy. Thyroid disease occurs when there is to many or not enough hormones being generated from the thyroid. To many hormones results in hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism occurs when not enough hormones are being made. Most thyroidal problems can be treated when properly diagnosed from a doctor.
The cause of hyperthyroidism occurs because too many hormones are being released from the thyroid gland. Hyperthyroidism develops in more than one way: in Graves' disease there is too many hormones being released and is then activated by an autoimmune disorder. This results with the body attacking the thyroid gland itself that is overflowing with hormones. This causes a reaction in your body that makes your heart beat faster, your blood pressure to get higher, and an excessive amount of weight loss because your body is working in overdrive. Another way is toxic adenomas, which develops in the thyroid gland and secretes the thyroid hormones, altering the balance in the body. In addition, subacute thyroiditis may occur where inflammation of the gland leaks an excessive amount of hormones. In addition, hyperthyroidism can result from the pituitary gland malfunctioning or from cancerous growth in the gland. Hyperthyroidism simply boils down to having an excessive amount of hormones in your body. .
Hypothyroidism occurs because of the underproduction of thyroid hormones. The lack of these hormones causes a lack of energy. One cause is Hamimoto's thyroiditis, which attacks the thyroid gland itself for an unknown reason.