What are thyroids? And are they fatal? Also, can they be treated?

Question

What I need to know is, How does this illness effect your body? What causes Thyriods? Is it the wrong diet? Or maybe some blood problem. I must apoligze for being so ingnorant on this subject. Thanks. Carpenter7623

Answer 1

It is a gland in your neck that helps to maintain weight

Answer 2

The thyroid (from the Greek word for "shield", after its shape) is one of the larger endocrine glands in the body. It is a double-lobed structure located in the neck and produces hormones, principally thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), that regulate the rate of metabolism and affect the growth and rate of function of many other systems in the body. The hormone calcitonin is also produced and controls calcium blood levels. Iodine is necessary for the production of both hormones. Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) and hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) are the most common problems of the thyroid gland.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyroid

I see you placed this under Cancer. If you have been told you have Thyroid Cancer, here is information on that:

http://www.medicinenet.com/thyroid_cancer/article.htm

Answer 3

The thyroid is a gland in your body. You can have a thyroid that is overactive (hyperthyroidism) or underactive (hypothyroidism)

Both conditions are treatable with medication.

When the thyroid is not functioning properly it can cause a myriad of health problems including changes in weight, mood, condition of skin and hair, thinning of the bones and autoimmune disorders.

Here's a fairly easy to understand link that might be helpful: http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/thyroid/thyroid_gland.cfm