Thyroid disorder is a condition that affects the thyroid glands, which are a butterfly shaped gland that is situated in front of the neck. The thyroid gland helps in normal functioning of the body including cognition. There are different kinds of thyroid disorders. The thyroid produces the hormones that are required. T4, the primary hormone produced by the thyroid gland, moves through the bloodstream and to connective tissues where it is released from the gland and converted to T3, which is the hormone that stays active.

Functioning of the thyroid gland affects the brain too. If your thyroid levels are low, the hypothalamus in the brain produces thyrotropin, which in turn releases TSH. The TSH finally stimulates the thyroid gland and produces the T4.

What are the different types of thyroid disorders?
Hypothyroidism is a condition where the thyroid gland does not function at its optimum level. The thyroid gland will not produce enough thyroid hormone, and hence causes symptoms like weight gain, nausea, fatigue, less cognition, lesser thinking capability, lethargy, mood swings, lesser tolerance to winter or cold conditions, constipation, depression etc.

Hyperthyroidism is where the thyroid gland produces more thyroid hormone than what is required. This is an overactive thyroid gland and symptoms include puffy eyes, fast metabolism, excess hunger, fatigue, less tolerance to heat, excess sweating, hyperactivity, restlessness, irritability, faster heart rate, or a higher resting pulse. One symptom is goiter, where the thyroid gland is enlarged and it appears as a swelling on the neck. Coughing, swelling, throat tightness, breathing difficulty, higher resting pulse, weight gain, among others, are some additional symptoms.

The next disorder is thyroid nodule. Here, a lump develops on your thyroid gland, where the nodule could be a solid lump or filled with fluid. The thyroid gland is located on the larynx. If you are a singer and have not identified the nodule at an early stage, it could just stop your voice box from functioning.

Thyroid cancer is basically a tumor of your thyroid gland. Dead cells multiply and spread throughout the thyroid gland. Some people experience extreme pain while suffering from thyroid cancer.

Causes of thyroid disorder
Iodine deficiency could be one of the causes. When your immune system attacks your own body, leading to auto immune deficiency, it could cause hyperthyroidism conditions known as Grave’s disease, hypothyroidism, or Hashimoto’s disease.

The next cause could be the inflammation of the thyroid gland caused by a viral or bacterial infection. If there is even the slightest discomfort in the thyroid gland area or you feel your vocal chords are at stake, get it checked by a doctor for nodules, polyps, or lumps. This could either be benign or malignant. Some people are genetically procuring thyroid. This can be tough to manage.

Symptoms of thyroid disease
Nervousness, tremors, irritability, poor concentration, lesser cognition level, restlessness, mood swings, reduced blood flow during menstruation, higher resting pulse, sweating and palpitations, lesser tolerance to heat, irritable bowel issues, lumps on thyroid gland etc are all symptoms of thyroid disease. In the case of appetite, some experience a loss of appetite and some have extreme hunger. It is tough to identify this because stress might mask the pain and symptoms. But it is always recommended to do a blood checkup every 6 months.