Unlike organs such as the lungs and heart, the thyroid is an organ you normally do not notice. You cannot see, feel or hear your thyroid. But the thyroid is vital because it regulates the body's metabolism through production of the hormones T3 (triiodothyronine) and thyroxine (T4).

If you want to test whether your thyroid is underactive, which is the most common thyroid disorder, you can test yourself at home with a blood test and get the result immediately.

With thyroid disease, the body may therefore fail to extract energy from food as it should, which can lead to a range of complications, some of which can be serious.

Thyroid - location in the body

Because the thyroid is such an inconspicuous organ, many people do not even know where it is located. It is at the front of the neck, just below the larynx and directly in front of the windpipe. The thyroid resembles a butterfly in shape. It has two lobes connected by a transverse section - isthmus. The lobes are located on either side of the windpipe and together form a butterfly shape. The two "wings" are joined by a narrow strip of tissue. The thyroid produces hormones, and it is important that the gland produces the correct amount of each hormone; otherwise an imbalance can occur. This is the type of imbalance our test can detect. See image/illustration.

Different thyroid disorders

Many people suffer from thyroid disorders. These are mainly caused by the thyroid being underactive, overactive or enlarged. Some are treated with medication, while others may be treated most effectively with surgery.

Below we describe the most common thyroid disorders.

Goiter

With goiter, the thyroid becomes enlarged and this appears as swelling in the neck. Goiter is significantly more common in women than men, and four out of five people affected are women. Goiter is actually an umbrella term for several thyroid disorders, the most common of which include:

• Graves' disease. In this condition, the thyroid produces too much thyroxine and the thyroid gland becomes enlarged. Graves' disease is usually caused by an overactive thyroid.
• Nodular goiter. As the name suggests, small nodules form in the thyroid. They may be caused by benign cysts (non-cancerous fluid-filled sacs) or malignant tumors (cancer), although the latter are uncommon.
• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). In hyperthyroidism, the thyroid produces too much thyroid hormone. The condition used to be potentially fatal, but with modern medicines mortality from hyperthyroidism has fallen dramatically.
•  Hypothyroidism. In this condition, the thyroid produces too little of the hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine. The result is a low metabolic rate, and you may feel tired, cold and gain weight. The condition often creates a feeling that the body is running at "low speed".

Inflammatory thyroid disorders

Inflammation can disrupt the hormone balance and cause the thyroid to produce either too much or too little thyroid hormone. Inflammation can also cause an enlarged thyroid. Other forms can make the thyroid tender and firm. There are several types of thyroid inflammation, and they affect women more often than men.

They are mainly caused by viruses, although bacteria can also cause thyroid inflammation. Symptoms vary, but pain, discomfort in the neck and fatigue are common.

Chronic thyroid inflammation

This is the most common form of thyroid inflammation. The condition is long-lasting and can be difficult to treat, but is generally not life-threatening. In chronic thyroid inflammation, antibodies are formed in the blood against the body's own thyroid cells. The immune system reacts by attacking the thyroid cells.

The condition usually causes the thyroid to increase in size, although it can also shrink. A distinction is then made between Hashimoto's thyroiditis (enlargement) and atrophic autoimmune thyroiditis (shrinkage). Treatment mainly consists of thyroid hormone replacement. Corticosteroid tablets can reduce inflammation.

Subacute thyroiditis

The second most common form of thyroid inflammation is subacute thyroiditis. The course is not acute, but develops moderately and gradually. The condition is sometimes also called de Quervain's thyroiditis.

The condition is mainly caused by viruses and initially causes the thyroid to release too much hormone. After a while, the course may reverse and the thyroid instead produces too little hormone. The thyroid can also increase and decrease in size during the course of the illness.

Other forms of thyroid inflammation

Although uncommon, thyroid inflammation can also be caused by a bacterial infection. Inflammation may also occur after radiation treatment to the neck or treatment with radioactive iodine.

Diagnosis and treatment

A thyroid test can provide a useful indication of thyroid function. If your thyroid is enlarged, you should seek medical care. If the thyroid begins to feel larger, lumpy or more uneven, you should contact a physician. During the examination, the physician determines what type of goiter is present and provides appropriate treatment.

If the physician suspects thyroid cancer, a fine-needle sample of thyroid cells may be taken. The cells are then examined under a microscope to determine whether cancer is present and to guide further investigation and treatment.

Common questions about thyroid problems

Symptoms of thyroid problems caused by an underactive thyroid

• Hypothyroidism mean that the thyroid produces too little thyroid hormone. The body slows down and the metabolic rate becomes low. The most common cause of hypothyroidism is the body's own immune system attacking the thyroid and causing inflammation that destroys gland tissue. There are other causes as well, such as disease of the thyroid or pituitary gland, iodine deficiency, or previous surgery or treatment for goiter.
  
  Symptoms of hypothyroidism may include:
  -fatigue and reduced energy
  -feeling cold
  -depression
  -difficulty concentrating
  -weight gain and difficulty losing weight
  -constipation
  -dry skin and hair
  -poorer memory
  -facial swelling
  -deeper voice
  -bradycardia (abnormally slow heart rate)
  -pale skin
  -headache
  -loss of libido

Symptoms of thyroid problems caused by an overactive thyroid

• With hyperthyroidism the thyroid produces too much thyroid hormone. This causes the body to run at a higher rate and increases metabolism. Hyperthyroidism can be caused by an abnormal immune response that produces antibodies against the thyroid and increases hormone production. It can also be associated with Graves' disease, toxic nodular goiter or toxic diffuse goiter.
  
  Symptoms of hyperthyroidism may include:
  -sweating
  -feeling hot
  -fatigue
  -irritability
  -menstrual disturbances in women
  -palpitations and increased heart rate
  -weight loss
  -shaking and tremors
  -sleep difficulties
  -faster intestinal transit and needing to use the toilet more often