The thyroid is a little gland that is situated close to the front of the neck, around the trachea. It looks like a butterfly with a smaller centre and two broad wings that wrap around the side of throat. A number of vital body functions are controlled by hormones produced by thyroid.

Types of Thyroids:

Hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid) and hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid) are the two most common types of thyroid diseases. Although the indications and symptoms of the two conditions are distinct, there may be some overlap.

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include nervousness, having trouble sleeping, weight loss, anxiety, experiencing irritability, enlarged thyroid gland, muscle weakness and tremors, feeling sensitive to heat, irregular menstrual periods, vision problems or eye irritation.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism includes, weight gain, feeling fatigued, frequent and heavy menstrual periods, experiencing forgetfulness, dry and coarse hair, intolerance to cold temperatures.

Tips to maintain a healthy thyroid:

• Maintain a diet free of processed foods and sugar. Inflammation brought on by too much sugar can lead to inflammation, which can make the signs of a hypothyroidism worse.
• Consume less cruciferous veggies. Broccoli and cabbage are two examples of vegetables that can affect thyroid hormone synthesis.
• Look for methods to lessen your tension. Stress has been linked to thyroid hormone resistance, according to research.
• Perform three to five workouts every week. Gaining muscle mass can increase your metabolism, prevent weight gain, and make you feel more energetic.
• Keep a normal body weight. Your body will need more thyroid hormone as your body weight increases

When to get thyroid checked:

• You see a bulge in your thyroid gland or have a swollen neck.
• Despite maintaining a consistent diet and exercise routine, your weight changes significantly.
• Your anxiety or depression moods are erratic.
• Your fatigue persists despite your sleeping habits.
• You start having irregular menstrual cycles.
• Your heart starts to race or tremble.
• You have problems with heat or cold tolerance.
• You observe changes in your skin or hair thinning.
• You have a family history.