What is thyroid disorder? (Introduction)

What is thyroid disorder?

The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland at the front of the neck. It makes hormones that set the pace of the whole body - heart rate, energy use, weight, temperature, mood, digestion, periods and growth. A thyroid disorder means this gland is working too slowly or too fast, or has developed a structural problem like a swelling (goiter) or nodules.

The two main functional disorders:

• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid): too little hormone. The body slows down - weight gain, tiredness, feeling cold, constipation, dry skin, low mood, heavy periods. Very common, especially in women, and usually caused by autoimmune Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Treatment is a daily hormone tablet (levothyroxine), typically lifelong.
• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid): too much hormone. The body speeds up - weight loss, racing heart, tremor, sweating, anxiety, loose motions, disturbed sleep. The commonest cause is Graves' disease. Treatment may be antithyroid tablets, radioactive iodine or surgery.

The key facts people miss: thyroid disorders are diagnosed by a simple blood test (TSH, plus T3/T4) - not by guessing from weight or tiredness, which have many causes. They are treatable and, once controlled, people live completely normal lives. But the treatment must be taken exactly as prescribed - stopping levothyroxine because you "feel fine" brings the disease back, and untreated thyroid disease in pregnancy can harm the baby's brain development.

Remember: thyroid problems are common, blood-test diagnosed, and well controlled with regular treatment - test, don't guess.

Ayurvedic view (interpretive)

Ayurveda describes neck swellings (galaganda) and metabolic imbalance in traditional terms. This is interpretive; diagnosis is by blood test and treatment by hormone replacement or antithyroid medicine.