The Role of Your Thyroid Gland in Your Hormone Health

The thyroid gland in your neck produces and releases hormones that regulate several vital functions, such as metabolism, energy levels, and mood. 

You might not think much about your thyroid gland until something goes wrong. When your thyroid isn’t working quite right, you can experience a wide (and diverse) set of symptoms from weight gain, growth of chin hairs in women, and depression.

Thyroid disorders are a chronic condition that affects over 20 million Americans. Unfortunately, an estimated 60% of them don’t even realize they have it. If you have concerns about your thyroid, Dr. N'Dama Bamba, MD, MPH, and the Dr. Bamba's Health and Medical Center team encourages you to visit our office in Glen Burnie, Maryland.

In the meantime, here’s how your thyroid works and why it’s essential for your mental and physical wellness.

What does your thyroid gland do?

Your thyroid is part of your endocrine system — a group of glands and organs that produce hormones. Your endocrine system includes other glands like your pituitary, adrenal, and ovaries or testes. 

Your thyroid gland produces four hormones:

Triiodothyronine (T3) 

T3 is your active thyroid hormone that helps control how your body uses energy. This can influence the speed of your metabolism, heart rate, and body temperature.

Thyroxine (T4)

Your thyroid makes more T4 than other hormones, but it’s inactive. However, your body can convert T4 to T3. In fact, 80% of the T3 in your blood is from converting T4 into T3. The remaining 20% is produced directly by your thyroid gland.

Reverse triiodothyronine

Reverse T3 is an inactive form of T3 that helps your body slow certain processes when needed. In other words, reverse T3 acts as a regulatory mechanism.

Calcitonin

Calcitonin’s main job is to lower the amount of calcium in your blood. Irregular calcitonin levels don’t impact you to the same severity as T3 and T4.

These hormones provide feedback to your pituitary gland, which adjusts the production of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). This feedback system helps to keep your hormones balanced and your thyroid functioning properly.

How to keep your thyroid healthy

Nutrients like iodine, selenium, and zinc are good for your thyroid. Fortunately, you can find these nutrients easily in foods like:

• Brazil nuts 
• Beef liver
• Fish like cod and haddock
• Seaweed
• Iodized salt
• Oyster
• Pumpkin seeds

Daily exercise and maintaining a healthy weight can also help support your thyroid. 

Signs of thyroid imbalance

When your thyroid gland isn’t functioning correctly, it can lead to hormonal imbalances. 

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism can develop if your thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormones. This can cause symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, dry hair and skin, and depression. Women may notice heavier menstrual cycles. 

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is the opposite of hypothyroidism and results from excessive hormone production. This can lead to rapid heart rate, weight loss, difficulty sleeping, sensitivity to heat, clammy skin, and anxiety. Women might have irregular or even absent periods.

When your thyroid is out of balance, it can impact other hormones, such as cortisol (stress hormone) and sex hormones. 

What to do if you experience concerning symptoms

Regular check-ups with Dr. Bamba and routine blood tests can help monitor your thyroid hormone levels and catch imbalances early. If issues arise, treatments like hormone replacement therapy or medications can help restore your thyroid balance and improve your symptoms. So, don’t brush off any concerns.

Dr. Bamba takes your health history and reviews your symptoms during your exam. Share all of your symptoms with Dr. Bamba — even if they seem unrelated. Thyroid imbalances can impact many parts of your body, from your mental health to your weight. It can even affect how you perceive temperatures, such as always feeling cold or hot.

Thanks to our on-site lab in Glen Burnie, Maryland, Dr. Bamba can check your hormone levels to confirm if your thyroid is too active or underactive. Once your lab results return, Dr. Bamba can recommend the proper medication to balance your hormones.

To schedule an appointment online, click here or give us a call at 443-493-7760.