Thyroid diseases affect millions of people in the United States. Most of them are women. A thyroid disease can make the body use energy more slowly or quickly than it should. A thyroid gland that is not active enough causes a condition called hypothyroidism, which is the more common form of thyroid disease. The condition can make a person gain weight, feel fatigued, and intolerant to cold temperatures.
When the thyroid becomes overactive, it makes more thyroid hormones than the body needs. That condition is hyperthyroidism. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include weight loss, elevated heart rate and intolerance to heat or hot temperatures.
Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism may be caused by other health problems. Treatment involves trying to reset the body's metabolism to a normal rate.
Related Topics
Graves' DiseaseHypothyroidism
Hyperthyroidism
Thyroid Cancer
Related Sites
Endocrine HealthNational Institutes of Health
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus
Reference:
Medline Plus: Health Topics (September 2008). Thyroid Diseases. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD. Web URL: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/thyroiddiseases.html. Accessed: October 16, 2008
