What does the thyroid gland do?

The thyroid gland is a critical organ in your body that regulates metabolism. In this video, endocrinologist Jack Merendino, MD, discusses how the thyroid works and what can happen when it doesn't work properly.

Transcript

00:00

And if your thyroid is properly regulated, then your metabolism is what it should be. If your thyroid is making too much hormone,

00:07

then you will have an overactive metabolism. You'll tend to feel hot when other people are comfortable. [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:22

The thyroid is a critically important organ for your body. It's situated in your neck, right below your Adam's Apple.

00:30

In fact, anatomically, the Adam's Apple is called the thyroid cartilage. It's a kind of a butterfly shaped gland.

00:38

It's about 3 inches wide and about 2 inches tall on the wings. And the center connecting portion is small.

00:46

The thyroid gland makes and releases thyroid hormone into the bloodstream. Thyroid hormone is one of the major regulators of metabolism.

00:55

And if your thyroid is properly regulated, then your metabolism is what it should be. If your thyroid is making too much hormone,

01:02

then you will have an overactive metabolism. You'll tend to feel hot when other people are comfortable. You'll have a heart rate that's fast.

01:10

You may be jittery or tremulous. If your thyroid is not working adequately, then you'll have an underactive metabolism.

01:17

You'll tend to feel cold. You'll have dry skin and dry hair. You may be gaining weight when you never had