Do you have a thyroid issue?

An estimated one in 20* people in the UK have a thyroid problem, but many of us are unaware that we have an issue

- DR PHILIPPA KAYE

Heard of the thyroid gland, but not quite sure what it is, what it does, or even where it might be? You won’t be the only one – while it might be a lesser known part of the body, the thyroid does an important job. It’s involved in the production of the hormone thyroxine, which affects many functions in the body from metabolism, your heart and digestive system, bone health, muscle control and brain development. So having the correct balance of thyroxine is essential for good health.

Want to find your thyroid gland? It sits in the middle of your neck and is about 5cm long. It makes thyroxine due to the effect of another hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). As thyroxine has so many roles in the body, there are many different symptoms you could be experiencing if there’s either too much or too little being produced. Symptoms often come on slowly, over a period of months, as levels of the hormones change.

HYPOTHYROIDISM

This is widely known as an ‘underactive thyroid’ and is when there’s too little thyroxine being produced. It typically affects more females –approximately one in 50 women have hypothyroidism – and it also becomes more common with age.