“What is the main function of thyroid hormone?”
I am a 19 year old female. I want to know what is the main function of thyroid hormone?
6 Answers
It helps with metabolic function of the body.
Think of it like the accelerator for your body. It regulates the basal metabolic rate of your body.
Thyroid hormones affect every cell and all the organs of the body. They:
Regulate the rate at which calories are burned, affecting weight loss or weight gain.
Can slow down or speed up the heartbeat.
Can raise or lower body temperature.
Influence the rate at which food moves through the digestive tract.
Control the way muscles contract.
Control the rate at which dying cells are replaced.
Regulate the rate at which calories are burned, affecting weight loss or weight gain.
Can slow down or speed up the heartbeat.
Can raise or lower body temperature.
Influence the rate at which food moves through the digestive tract.
Control the way muscles contract.
Control the rate at which dying cells are replaced.
it controls head to toe all the metabolism in your body, as hair growth, brain development, heart rate, blood pressure, sexual development, growth, temperature, etc
The thyroid gland is a small but a vital gland at the base of the neck, below the adams apple. It is responsible for energy production, metabolism, mood changes, growth and development by affecting protein synthesis, and bone growth. It also supports brain development and cardiovascular health. The thyroid hormones act on almost every cell of the body. They increase the basal metabolic rate of the body, increase heat generation and increase the body's sensitivity to adrenaline. They regulate protein, fat, and carbohydrate metabolism, so the cells can use them for energy production and heat generation. They are also useful in mineral and vitamin metabolism.
In children the the thyroid gland is at various sizes becuase children are going through a process of growth and development. In adults the thyroid gland measures about 4-6 cm . It weighs about 20 grams. If it gets larger, the thyroid gland, becomes a goiter. It may also develop a nodule or multiple nodules. The thyroid gland may be normal, under-active or over active.
The thyroid gland produces three major hormones namely thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and calcitonine. If your thyroid gland does not make these hormones especially T3 and T4 you may develop a codition called hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone) and when the thyroid makes excess of these hormones (over active thyroid) a codition called thyrotoxicosis or hyperthyroidism sets in. Calcitonin suppots bone health.
In hypothyroidism (under active thyroid) the person may experience the symptoms of sadness, weight gain, poor energy level, dry skin, constipation, hair loss and fatigue.
When the thyroid gland is over active, the person may experience, weight loss, fatigue, palpitations, heat intolerance, excessive sweating, irritability, frequent bowel movement and insomnia.
The thyroid function test is a necessary blood test in the evaluation of the status of the the thyroid gland, in the production of the thyroid hormones. This test will determine whether the thyroid gland is working well or not. Based on the thyroid function test, further work up may be performed to pin point the cause of thyroid disorder (low or high thyroid hormone). Further work up may include blood work for iodine and various antibodies or imaging studies such as Ultrasound or uptake and scan of the thyroid gland.
When thyroid gland is functioning abnormally, the cause should be evaluated and treated properly by and expert. When some one is on thyroid treatment especially hypothyroid ( under-active thyroid) one need to be aware that certain food can affect the function and absorption of thyroid hormone.
Good luck
In children the the thyroid gland is at various sizes becuase children are going through a process of growth and development. In adults the thyroid gland measures about 4-6 cm . It weighs about 20 grams. If it gets larger, the thyroid gland, becomes a goiter. It may also develop a nodule or multiple nodules. The thyroid gland may be normal, under-active or over active.
The thyroid gland produces three major hormones namely thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and calcitonine. If your thyroid gland does not make these hormones especially T3 and T4 you may develop a codition called hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone) and when the thyroid makes excess of these hormones (over active thyroid) a codition called thyrotoxicosis or hyperthyroidism sets in. Calcitonin suppots bone health.
In hypothyroidism (under active thyroid) the person may experience the symptoms of sadness, weight gain, poor energy level, dry skin, constipation, hair loss and fatigue.
When the thyroid gland is over active, the person may experience, weight loss, fatigue, palpitations, heat intolerance, excessive sweating, irritability, frequent bowel movement and insomnia.
The thyroid function test is a necessary blood test in the evaluation of the status of the the thyroid gland, in the production of the thyroid hormones. This test will determine whether the thyroid gland is working well or not. Based on the thyroid function test, further work up may be performed to pin point the cause of thyroid disorder (low or high thyroid hormone). Further work up may include blood work for iodine and various antibodies or imaging studies such as Ultrasound or uptake and scan of the thyroid gland.
When thyroid gland is functioning abnormally, the cause should be evaluated and treated properly by and expert. When some one is on thyroid treatment especially hypothyroid ( under-active thyroid) one need to be aware that certain food can affect the function and absorption of thyroid hormone.
Good luck
The thyroid is a very important organ of the body. It's function is to keep the furnace running. Without thyroid hormone (thyroxine) body organs slow down. This results in fatigue, fluid accumulation, swelling of the extremities that can be very painful & can ulcerate, very slow heart rate with poor blood circulation, dry scaly skin, very slow brain function with mental retardation, many other symptoms when all organs fail due to lack of stimulation by thyroxine. If you don't feed the furnace with more fuel, it will die and if you don't stoke your body furnace with thyroxine it also can cease to function. So don't let that happen. If you have hypothyroid please take your medicine and stay well.
