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Your thyroid is a gland located at the base of your neck, just below your Adam's apple.
It's shaped like a butterfly. Each wing, or lobe, of your thyroid lies on either side of
your windpipe.
Your thyroid gland makes, stores and releases thyroid hormones into your blood. Thyroid
hormones (also called T3 and T4) regulate the body's metabolism and organ functions. These
hormones affect your heart rate, cholesterol level, body weight, energy level, muscle
strength, memory and many other conditions.
If your thyroid doesn't produce enough hormones, your body slows down. This is called an
underactive thyroid gland or hypothyroidism.
But your body can also produce more thyroid hormones than your body needs, speeding your
body up. This condition is called an overactive thyroid gland or
hyperthyroidism
The amount of thyroid hormone made by your thyroid gland is adjusted by a gland in the
brain called the pituitary. Another part of your brain, the hypothalamus, helps the
pituitary.
- The hypothalamus sends information to the pituitary gland.
- The pituitary in turn controls the functioning of the thyroid gland.
Find out more about balancing your thyroid hormones.
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