Although it’s small and housed in a pretty inconspicuous spot in the body, I know first-hand what the mighty thyroid does for the body. My sister was diagnosed with a thyroid nodule during the summer of 2011 and had a complete thyroidectomy in September 2011. Before her thyroid issues, I had no idea what the thyroid even did, where it was, or how it functioned. Needless to say, I quickly became well-versed in the workings of the thyroid when I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis around the same time.
The thyroid is a gland I'd never really heard much about until a few years ago. In fact, a few short years ago, I probably couldn't have told you what it does, where it is or why we all have one.
What is Hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism, also called “underactive thyroid,” is a condition, more common with women and those over 50, in which the thyroid does not produce and release the appropriate amounts of thyroid hormones. This is typically caused by a condition called thyroiditis in which the thyroid gland’s cells are damaged due to inflammation. Many different things can cause that initial inflammation: