An Overview Of Your Thyroid And How It Works

Your thyroid gland is a small butterfly shaped gland that weighs less then an ounce located in front of the neck.

It is made up of two halves called lobes, which lie along the windpipe and are joined together by a narrow band of thyroid tissue known as the isthmus.

In Utero

While in the womb your thyroid gland originates in the back of the tongue, but it normally migrates to the front of the neck before birth. When your thyroid fails to migrate properly it usually ends up high in the neck or even the back of the tongue and is called lingual thyroid, this is very rare.

Another thing that can happen is your thyroid can migrate too far and end up in the chest, this too is very rare.

The Function Of The Thyroid

The function of the thyroid gland is to take iodine and convert it into thyroid hormones known as thyroxine also called T4 and triiodothyronine also called T3. Thyroid cells are the only cells in the body that absorb iodine; they combine iodine and the amino acid tyrosine to make T3 and T4. Then T3 and T4 are released into the blood stream and are transported throughout the body where they control metabolism.

Every cell in the body depends on thyroid hormones for the regulation of the metabolism. Normal thyroid glands produce about 80% T4 and about 20% T3, but T3 has about four times the hormone strength as T4.

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone

The thyroid is controlled by the pituitary gland, and when the T3 and T4 levels drop too low, the pituitary gland produces Thyroid Stimulating Hormone also known as TSH.

The TSH stimulates the thyroid to produce more hormones. With TSH the thyroid will make and secrete T3 and T4 which raises their blood levels. The pituitary gland senses this and responds by decreasing TSH production.

The Hypothalamus

The pituitary gland is regulated by the hypothalamus which is part of the brain. The hypothalamus produces TSH Releasing Hormone also known as TRH, which tells the pituitary gland to stimulate the thyroid and release TSH.

A Simple Way To Understand How Your Thyroid Works

Imagine the thyroid gland as a furnace, pituitary gland as the thermostat and thyroid hormones are like heat. When the heat gets back to the thermostat, it turns the thermostat off. As the room cools (the thyroid hormone levels drop), the thermostat turns back on (TSH increases) and the furnace produces more heat (thyroid hormones).

Then imagine the hypothalamus as the person who regulates the thermostat since it tells the pituitary gland at what level the thyroid should be set.

Hypothyroidism

When the body lacks thyroid hormones it results in a condition called hypothyroidism. Over five million Americans have this condition which results in:

Fatigue
Weakness
Weight gain or increased difficulty losing weight
Coarse, dry hair
Dry, rough pale skin
Hair loss
Cold intolerance (can't tolerate the cold like those around you)
Muscle cramps and frequent muscle aches
Constipation
Depression
Irritability
Memory loss
Abnormal menstrual cycles
Decreased libido

Since the body is expecting a certain amount of thyroid hormone, the pituitary gland will make additional TSH in an attempt to make they thyroid produce more hormone.

Naturally Stimulate Your Thyroid - Thyax

Progressive Health manufactures an all natural vitamin supplement called Thyax, it is designed to adjust the metabolic and nutritional alterations caused by hypothyroidism.

Thyax can be used to reset the balance of nutrients utilized by the thyroid gland. By providing your body with specific vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that support the thyroid, you regain a balance of the many thyroid-related chemical reactions which take place in the body on a daily basis.

To learn more about Thyax and other information on hypothyroidism, click here.