Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, just above your collarbone. It is one of your endocrine glands, which make hormones. The thyroid helps set your metabolism - how your body gets energy from the foods you eat.
Millions of people in the U.S. have thyroid diseases. Most of them are women. If you have a thyroid disease, your body uses energy more slowly or quickly than it should. A thyroid gland that is not active enough, called hypothyroidism, is far more common. It can make you gain weight, feel fatigued and have difficulty dealing with cold temperatures. If your thyroid is too active, it makes more thyroid hormones than your body needs. That condition is hyperthyroidism. Too much thyroid hormone can make you lose weight, speed up your heart rate and make you very sensitive to heat.
There are many causes for both conditions. Treatment involves trying to reset your body's metabolism to a normal rate.
- Thyroid Disorders Overview(Hormone Foundation) - http://www.hormone.org/Thyroid/overview.cfm
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Thyroid Surgery
(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/thyroidsurgery/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/thyroidsurgeryspanish/htm/index.htm
- Thyroid Disorders(Hormone Foundation) - http://www.hormone.org/thyroid/
- Thyroid Facts(American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists) - http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZNIEIUKIE&sub_cat=0
- Needle Biopsy(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/needle-biopsy/MY00088/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
- T3 (Triiodothyronine): The Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/t3/test.html
- T4 (Thyroxine): The Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/t4/test.html
- Thyroid Antibodies(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/thyroid_antibodies/test.html
- Thyroid Function Tests(American Thyroid Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.thyroid.org/patients/brochures/FunctionTests_brochure.pdf
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Thyroid Scan and Uptake(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=thyroiduptake
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=thyroiduptake
- TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/tsh/test.html
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Ultrasound of the Thyroid Gland(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=us-thyroid
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=us-thyroid
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Radioactive Iodine (I-131) Therapy(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=radioiodine&bhcp=1
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=radioiodine
- Thyroid Hormone Treatment(American Thyroid Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.thyroid.org/patients/brochures/HormoneTreatment_brochure.pdf
- Thyroid Medications(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/consumer/features/thyroid010208.html
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Thyroid Surgery(American Thyroid Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.thyroid.org/patients/brochures/ThyroidSurgery.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://www.thyroid.org/patients/brochures/Spanish/cirugia_tiroides.pdf
- How to Take the Thyroid "Neck Check"(American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists) - Links to PDF - http://www.aace.com/public/awareness/tam/2006/pdfs/NeckCheckCard.pdf
- Simple Tips for Patients with Thyroid Disorders(American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists) - Links to PDF - http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZNUM2TKIE&sub_cat=0
- Goiter(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/goiter/DS00217/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
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Graves' Disease
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://www.endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/graves/
- Graves' Disease(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/graves-disease/DS00181/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Hashimoto's Disease(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/hashimotos-disease/DS00567/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Hashimoto's Thyroiditis(National Women's Health Information Center) - http://womenshealth.gov/faq/hashimoto.htm
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Hyperthyroidism(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://www.endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/Hyperthyroidism/
- Hyperthyroidism(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/hyperthyroidism/DS00344/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
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Hyperthyroidism: What It Is and How to Treat It(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/hormone/869.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/hormone/869.printerview.html
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Hypothyroidism(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://www.endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/Hypothyroidism/
- Hypothyroidism(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/hypothyroidism/DS00353/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Thyroid Nodules(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/thyroid-nodules/DS00491/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
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Thyroiditis(American Thyroid Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.thyroid.org/patients/brochures/Thyroiditis.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://www.thyroid.org/patients/brochures/Spanish/tiroiditis.pdf
- Hormonal Causes of Ovulatory Disorders(Resolve) - http://www.resolve.org/site/PageServer?pagename=lrn_wii_od
- Thyroid and Weight(American Thyroid Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.thyroid.org/patients/brochures/Thyroid_and_Weight.pdf
- Thyroid Eye Disease: Protruding, Irritated Eyes(American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery) - Links to PDF - http://www.asoprs.org/files/public/InfoThyroid.pdf
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Thyrotoxic Myopathy(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/thyrotoxic_myopathy/thyrotoxic_myopathy.htm
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What Is an Endocrinologist?(Hormone Foundation) - http://www.hormone.org/public/endocrinologist.cfm
Also available in Spanish http://www.hormone.org/Spanish/que_es_un_endocrinologo.cfm
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Thyroid Surgery(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/thyroidsurgery/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/thyroidsurgeryspanish/htm/index.htm
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Advances in Parotidectomy and Minimally Invasive Thyroidectomy Procedures(OR-Live) - Requires Flash Player - One hour program - 7/30/2008 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/nlm-flash/ens_2312/rnh.cfm?id=759
- Minimally Invasive Thyroidectomy(OR-Live) - Requires media player - One hour program - 6/15/2006 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=320
- Total Thyroidectomy(OR-Live) - Requires media player - One hour program - 8/10/2006 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=333
- Atlas of the Body: The Endocrine System(American Medical Association) - http://www.medem.com/MedLB/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZW5TZ46JC&sub_cat=514
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Endocrine System(Hormone Foundation) - http://www.hormone.org/endo101/
Also available in Spanish http://www.hormone.org/Spanish/sistema_endocrino/
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Goiter(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Goiter%22
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Graves Disease(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Graves+Disease%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Hyperthyroidism(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Hyperthyroidism%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Hypothyroidism(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Hypothyroidism%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Thyroid Diseases(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Thyroid+Diseases%22
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Genetics Home Reference: Congenital hypothyroidism(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=congenitalhypothyroidism
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Genetics Home Reference: Pendred syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=pendredsyndrome
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Choanal atresia associated with maternal hyperthyroidism treated with methimazole: a... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18698631&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: A classic sign of hypothyroidism: a video demonstration. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18695193&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Prediction of progression to overt hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism in female... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18695079&tool=MedlinePlus
- Thyroid Diseases -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(thyroid+diseases[majr]+OR+thyroid+nodule[majr]+NOT+thyroid+neoplasms[mh:noexp])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Thyroid Disease Definitions(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/growth/thyroid_definitions.html
- AACE Physician Finder(American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists) - http://www.aace.com/resources/memsearch.php
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Directory of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Organizations(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://www.endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/resources/organizations.htm
- Find a Thyroid Specialist(American Thyroid Association) - http://www.thyroid.org/patients/specialists.php
- Find an Endocrinologist(Hormone Foundation) - http://www.hormone.org/findanendo/
- American Thyroid Association - http://www.thyroid.org/
- Hormone Foundation - http://www.hormone.org/
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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/
- Childhood Head and Neck Irradiation(American Thyroid Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.thyroid.org/patients/brochures/Head_Neck_IrradiationFAQ.pdf
- Clinical Hypothyroidism(MAGIC Foundation) - http://www.magicfoundation.org/www/docs/114/thyroid_disorders.html
- Congenital Hypothyroidism(MAGIC Foundation) - http://www.magicfoundation.org/www/docs/114.125/congenital_hypothyroidism_hypothyroid.html
- Thyroid Disorders(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/glandshoromones/thyroid.html
- Thyroid Disease and Teens(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/growth/thyroid.html
- Postpartum Thyroiditis(American Thyroid Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.thyroid.org/patients/brochures/Postpartum_Thyroiditis_brochure.pdf
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Pregnancy and Thyroid Disease(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://www.endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/pregnancy/
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Thyroid Disease and Pregnancy(American Thyroid Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.thyroid.org/patients/brochures/Thyroid_Dis_Pregnancy_broch.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://www.thyroid.org/patients/brochures/Spanish/enfermedad_thyroid_embarazo.pdf
- Thyroid Disease in the Older Patient(American Thyroid Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.thyroid.org/patients/brochures/ThyroidDisorderOlder_broch.pdf
- Thyroid Cancer - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/thyroidcancer.html
- Ear, Nose and Throat - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/earnoseandthroat.html
- Endocrine System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/endocrinesystem.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Thyroid Diseases is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/
Thyroid Diseases - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/thyroiddiseases.html