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Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck, just below your Adam's apple. Although it weighs less than an ounce, the thyroid gland has an enormous effect on your health. All aspects of your metabolism, from the rate at which your heart beats to how quickly you burn calories, are regulated by thyroid hormones.
As long as your thyroid releases the proper amounts of these hormones, your system functions normally. But sometimes your thyroid doesn't produce enough hormones, upsetting the balance of chemical reactions in your body. This condition is known as hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid disease.
Women, especially those older than 40, are more likely to have an underactive thyroid than men are. By age 60, as many as 17 percent of American women may have hypothyroidism. The condition seldom causes symptoms in the early stages, but over time, untreated hypothyroidism can cause a number of heath problems.
The good news is that thyroid function tests have improved considerably in recent years, and early diagnosis is easier. In addition, treatment with synthetic thyroid hormone is usually simple and effective once the proper dosage is established. Natural treatment options also exist.
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