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Thyroid Diseases
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Endocrine System

Thyroid Diseases

The thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate essential body functions; when it produces too much or too little of these hormones, it can lead to various thyroid diseases.

Overview

Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck. It makes hormones that control the way the body uses energy. These hormones affect nearly every organ in your body and control many of your body's most important functions, including breathing, heart rate, weight, digestion, and moods.

Types of Thyroid Diseases

Thyroid diseases occur when the gland makes either too much or too little of these hormones. Common conditions include:

  • Goiter: An enlargement of the thyroid gland.
  • Hyperthyroidism: Occurs when your thyroid gland makes more thyroid hormones than your body needs.
  • Hypothyroidism: Occurs when your thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormones.
  • Thyroid cancer.
  • Thyroid nodules: Lumps in the thyroid gland.
  • Thyroiditis: Swelling of the thyroid.

Diagnosis and Treatment

To diagnose thyroid diseases, your health care provider may use a medical history, physical exam, and thyroid tests. In some cases, a biopsy may be performed.

Treatment depends on the specific problem, its severity, and your symptoms. Possible treatments may include medicines, radioiodine therapy, or thyroid surgery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most thyroid nodules are benign, but certain features warrant urgent medical evaluation. Red flags include a rapidly growing nodule, hoarseness that does not resolve, difficulty swallowing or breathing, and the presence of swollen lymph nodes in the neck. Additionally, nodules that are hard, fixed to surrounding tissues, or irregular in shape are more likely to be malignant. If you notice any of these changes, contact your healthcare provider immediately for a fine-needle aspiration biopsy.
No, you should not self-treat hypothyroidism with high-iodine foods. While iodine is necessary for hormone production, excess iodine can actually worsen hypothyroidism in people with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, which is the most common cause of low thyroid function. It can also trigger hyperthyroidism in susceptible individuals. Always consult your endocrinologist before making significant dietary changes or taking iodine supplements, as your specific condition dictates the safe amount of iodine you need.
No, a goiter is simply an enlargement of the thyroid gland and is not cancer. Goiters are commonly caused by iodine deficiency, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Graves' disease, or the presence of benign nodules. While a goiter can sometimes contain cancerous cells, the vast majority are benign. Diagnosis requires further testing, such as ultrasound and potentially a biopsy, to determine the underlying cause and rule out malignancy.
It typically takes four to six weeks to reach a stable therapeutic level of levothyroxine in your blood. You may not feel immediate relief from symptoms like fatigue or weight gain. Your doctor will usually recheck your TSH levels after six weeks to determine if the dosage needs adjustment. Consistency is key; take the medication on an empty stomach, at least 30 to 60 minutes before eating or taking other medications, to ensure proper absorption.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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