What Does Your Thyroid Do?

Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that produces hormones regulating nearly every organ.

Key Functions

• Metabolism: controls how fast you burn calories
• Heart rate: affects speed and contractility
• Body temperature: maintains warmth
• Brain development: critical in fetus and infant
• Growth: works with growth hormone
• Cholesterol: influences LDL processing

How It Works

• Produces T4 (80%) and T3 (20%)
• T4 converts to T3 in tissues
• T3 drives cellular metabolism
• Pituitary monitors levels and adjusts TSH

Signs of Thyroid Problems

• Underactive: fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, dry skin
• Overactive: anxiety, weight loss, rapid heart rate, heat intolerance