Your thyroid is a butterfly shaped glad that uses the iodine in your diet to create important hormones. These hormones help control your metabolism and many other functions. Millions of Americans suffer from thyroid related conditions with many going untreated.

Your thyroid can be under active, known as hypothyroid, or over active, known as hyperthyroid or Graves Disease. Both types can be treated with a synthetic hormone to help regulate your TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) levels. In some cases of hyperthyroidism radioactive iodine will be used to kill the cells so that when they stop functioning the symptoms will go away.

The only way to know if you have a thyroid condition is to visit your doctor. They can perform a simple blood test to determine if you have the right amount of thyroid hormones. After the diagnosis treatment can be determined depending on the severity of your condition.

December 2007
Sources: Health Day, http://www.thyroid.org/

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