Thyroid Functions
Facts About How The Thyroid Functions And Why
How well our thyroid functions greatly influences how well our bodies function and, to a large extent, determines our quality of life. The thyroid gland is something we don't give much thought about, unless of course there is an abnormality in its functioning. Located in the neck, just below the Adam's apple, the thyroid gland is not particularly large as organs go. Each of its two lobes measures roughly 2 inches deep by 1 1/2 inches wide. The gland is just under an inch thick. It's a relatively little guy performing a very large and important set of tasks. We're normally much more aware of, and concerned about, how our heart and lungs are functioning. There's nothing wrong with that of course, but the little butterfly shaped gland in our neck plays a very key role in our day to day well being.
Just what is the thyroid gland and why is it all that important? The thyroid is one of several endocrine glands in the body, which means that it produces secretions, in this case hormones. These hormones are carried by the bloodstream to all parts of the body where they perform several important functions. Some of these hormones create protein, essential in growth and in maintenance of our bodily organs. A normally functioning thyroid is essential to infants and children if they are to experience normal growth. Other hormones serve to regulate our metabolism, and still others regulate the levels of calcium in the bloodstream. These hormones work down at the cellular level, so it's apparent that if all is not well with the thyroid, many different indications that a problem exists will likely emerge.
The thyroid also acts as a pacemaker for our bodies, regulating our metabolism, the rate at which we burn energy, and consequently, the efficiency with which we burn energy. Two hormones produced by the thyroid, called T3 (triodothyronine) and T4 ( thyroxine), are critical for regulating metabolic activity as well as physical growth. Much of the T4 hormone is converted in to T3 hormone, the most
active of the two. Any deficiency or excess of these hormones has much to do with weight loss or weight gain. If these hormones are not being distributed at the proper levels our metabolic rate will change correspondingly.
Normal thyroid functions are heavily dependent upon an adequate intake of iodine, which is essential for production of the T4 hormone. In some parts of the world where there is an insufficient supply of iodine in the food chain, cases of swelling of the thyroid and other complications occur. Iodine supplements, even in the form of iodized salt, can alleviate this situation.
One reason that we pay so little attention to how our thyroid functions is that, if we have a well balanced diet, one that contains sufficient levels of iodine, it is rather unlikely that we will ever experience thyroid related problems. The little guy in our neck is quite a bit like the Timex watch or the Energizer bunny. It just keeps on ticking.