Thyroid: What is it?
A thyroid includes a small butterfly-shaped gland situated at the front of your neck just above the collar bone. This gland is part of the endocrine system. Also, it controls most of the body’s crucial functions through producing and secretion certain hormones. The thyroid gland’s main function includes controlling the metabolism rate. Metabolism simply involves the process in which the body transforms the food taken into energy since all the body cells require energy to function properly. Normally, you cannot see a healthy thyroid gland from the outside. Also, you cannot feel it even if you press your fingers against the front of your neck’s front. This means that if you notice an unusual lump around the neck’s front, you should seek medical attention immediately. Remember, when your thyroid fails to function properly, it can affect your entire body.
Hormones Produced by Thyroid Gland
Since the thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system, it makes and secretes hormones required in other body functions. Iodine found in food is critical to allow the thyroid gland to produce hormones. The hormones produce include:
Calcitonin: this includes the hormone that helps regulate the amount of calcium in your blood.
Reverse Triiodothyronine: also known as RT3, this hormone is produced in small amounts and usually reverses the effects of the T3 hormone.
Thyroxine: also known as T4, includes the primary hormone made and released by the thyroid gland. However, even though the thyroid makes most of the T4 hormone, it does not have much impact on metabolism. After being produced, T4 can be converted into T3.
Triiodothyronine: this hormone is also known as T3. While your gland produces lesser amounts of T3 than T4, the hormone has a greater influence on metabolism.
Functions of Thyroid Gland
Generally, the hormones produced by the thyroid gland impact almost each organ system in the body.
Digestive system: typically, the thyroid gland helps with the movement of food through your digestive system.
Cardiovascular System: thyroid gland helps regulate the cardiac output, which involves the amount of blood the heart pumps through your circulatory system. Also, it affects the vigor, strength, and heart rate of your heart’s contraction.
Reproductive System: thyroid gland significantly impacts your body’s reproductive system. Failure of your thyroid to work properly can result in fertility problems like irregular menstrual periods.
Nervous System: improper functioning of the thyroid gland can result in symptoms that affect the normal functioning of the nervous system. These symptoms include a sense of burning, pain, tingling, and numbness in the affected body parts. Additionally, hyperthyroidism can cause anxiety, while hypothyroidism can cause depression.
Interference with the nervous system could also cause problems with the brain’s development and mental activity.
Naturopathic Approaches to Support Health
While the dysfunctionality of the thyroid can distort normal body functioning, the good news is that you can always follow a naturopath for thyroid functioning. Some of the naturopathic approaches you can embrace include:
- Exercise regularly
- Go Gluten free
- Take probiotics
- Reduce and manage stress
- Eat a whole-food diet
- Get better sleep
- Utilize practitioner-guided detoxification
- Take herbs and other dietary supplements
In summary, the thyroid gland is an essential part that helps maintain normal body functions. Embracing a naturopath for the thyroid can help boost the thyroid gland, achieving a healthy life. While the thyroid gland is critical for proper body functioning, you can still live without it. However, you will be required to take hormone replacement medicine for the rest of your life. This way, you can be guaranteed to stay healthy while preventing the symptoms and side effects associated with a lack of thyroid absence. Thyroidectomy, which involves a thyroid removal surgery, is relatively common and can be used to treat various thyroid conditions.
