00:00What happens if you have an underactive thyroid gland?
00:07Let's first check out what a thyroid gland looks like.
00:10It's shaped like a butterfly and has two lobes.
00:16Along with storing iodine, it also produces hormones like thyroxine.
00:21Thyroid hormones help control many processes in your body,
00:25including growth in children, metabolism, and regulating heat conservation and heat loss in your cells.
00:32Thyroid hormones can dilate the blood vessels, affect your blood pressure, and even make your heart beat faster.
00:40They help prevent bone loss called osteoporosis.
00:44Thyroid hormones also play an important role in kidney, gut, and liver function.
00:50So the thyroid gland is a hard worker, and thyroid disease can cause all sorts of problems.
00:58An underactive thyroid is generally caused by an infection.
01:02Iodine deficiency can also weaken the thyroid.
01:08As a result, it doesn't produce enough thyroid hormones.
01:12Their production is regulated by a hormone produced by the pituitary gland in the brain.
01:18If the thyroid gland is weakened, the pituitary gland tries to signal it to maintain normal thyroid hormone levels.
01:25But that only works to a point, and eventually the pituitary gland can no longer compensate.
01:35A blood test can show whether you have an underactive thyroid gland.
01:44Certain medications can help treat an underactive thyroid, but they have to be taken every day.
01:52To protect your thyroid gland, it's a good idea to make sure you have enough iodine in your diet.
01:58Iodized salt can help, and so can dairy products, as well as seafood such as salmon.
02:06If you start gaining weight, even though you're not eating more than usual,
02:11if you're constantly tired and feel cold easily, your thyroid gland might be to blame.
02:18It might not be producing enough of those crucial hormones.
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