The thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck, and is shaped like a butterfly. What are the functions of the thyroid gland? Find out the answer with us in this article.
The thyroid gland secretes a group of hormones that are important to the human body. The gland’s secretion of these hormones is regulated by the pituitary gland located in the brain. As we mentioned, the thyroid gland is located in the neck and usually we do not feel it when it is its normal size.
What are the functions of the thyroid gland? Find out the answer in the following article
Thyroid functions
The thyroid gland has an important role in the human body, due to the role of the hormones it secretes, which are triiodothyronine-T3 and thyroxine-T4, which is the active form of thyroid hormone, in addition to Calcitonin. These hormones help in performing The following thyroid gland functions:
1. Controlling metabolic processes
Thyroid hormones, especially thyroxine, play an important role in controlling metabolic processes in the body. The functions of the thyroid gland in the metabolism process are as follows:
The thyroid gland controls the amount of energy that cells consume from the food introduced to them.
The thyroid gland maintains a balanced basal metabolic rate, which represents the body''s energy consumption at rest.
The thyroid gland plays a role in the body''s ability to lose weight, due to its effect on the basal metabolic rate, and the rate of burning and producing energy in the body.
2. Effect on the heart and blood pressure
Thyroid hormones affect the strength and speed of the heartbeat, which in turn affects blood pressure as well. Thyroid hormones maintain a normal level of heart rate, and thyroid dysfunction leads to the following heart symptoms:
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The heart rate decreases, and the elasticity of the arteries decreases as a result of hypothyroidism.
Blood pressure rises, and cholesterol levels in the body can rise when thyroid hormones decrease.
Increased secretion of thyroid hormones causes acceleration and irregular heartbeat, and can lead to high blood pressure and angina.
3. Control body temperature
It has been shown that thyroid hormones affect the amount of dilation of blood vessels, and thus can control the amount of heat that leaves the body.
The functions of the thyroid gland affect body temperature as follows
Hypothyroidism causes a person to constantly feel very cold.
Hyperthyroidism causes a person to constantly feel very hot.
4. Other functions of the thyroid gland
The hormone calcitonin, which is secreted by the thyroid gland, helps regulate calcium levels in the blood. There are also a group of functions of the thyroid gland in the body, due to its effect on the metabolism process, as follows:
Thyroid hormones play an important role in the child''s growth and the completion of his brain development.
The thyroid gland helps improve concentration and stimulate the nervous response in the brain.
The thyroid gland helps regulate the body''s muscle contraction.
The thyroid gland controls the process of renewing and replacing dead cells in the body, due to its effect on the metabolism and energy production process.
Diseases affecting the thyroid gland
After we learned about the functions of the thyroid gland, we must go over some of the diseases that affect this gland. When the thyroid gland suffers from an imbalance, this leads to an imbalance in the secretion of thyroid hormones, which affects its various functions in the body. We mention to you some of the most famous of these. Diseases are as follows:
Hyperthyroidism.
Hypothyroidism.
Goiter.
Graves'' disease
Thyroiditis.
Thyroid cancer.
Symptoms of thyroid disease
After we learned about the functions of the thyroid gland, you may have been able to identify some of the symptoms associated with an imbalance in this gland, and it is worth noting that these symptoms can be similar to other conditions as well, so it is necessary to consult a specialist doctor to obtain the correct diagnosis of the condition, and among these are Symptoms are the following:
Irregular menstrual cycle.
Unexplained weight gain or loss.
Feeling of muscle weakness or tremors.
Feeling tense, nervous, and forgetful.
Change in sensation of heat, and intolerance to cold weather.
