The thyroid is small but powerful and plays an essential role in maintaining our physical and mental wellbeing. This butterfly-shaped gland located below the Adam’s apple secretes and releases hormones that travel to all the cells and organs — and therefore impacts processes like breathing, heart rate, digestion, mood and body temperature.
The two hormones produced by the thyroid are thyroxine, also known as T4, and triiodothyronine, or T3. When the thyroid isn’t working properly, it can wreak serious negative health effects. Up to roughly 30 million Americans are affected by some form of thyroid disease — yet more than half of cases are undiagnosed.
A low supply of important thyroid hormones causes a condition called hypothyroid, while too much causes hyperthyroid. Both are sometimes considered a form of autoimmune disease. In fact, autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) affects between 2 to 5 percent of the world's Western population. This condition ...
