70 September 2013 www.womanthismonth.com Epidemiological studies estimate that over 200 million people have been diagnosed with an active thyroid disorder of which 80 per cent are middle-aged women. Have you got yourself checked yet? Though the thyroid gland can be host to a variety of diseases, the most commonly seen conditions in women are hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Now before I confuse you with more medical terminology, let’s start with the basics. The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped endocrine organ that is located on the anterior part of the neck and is one of the many glands that produce hormones into the body. The main ones produced by the thyroid are known as T3 and T4. These are responsible for a variety of bodily functions, mainly regulating the body’s metabolism. In simple words, this is the rate at which the body uses energy to regulate the normal functions of the body. And ladies, the bad news is that any alteration in the body’s metabolism, as seen with thyroid disorders, can affect your sleep, skin, hair, waistline and mood. What is hypothyroidism? Hypothyroidism (or an under active thyroid) is a condition wherein the thyroid is sluggish and doesn’t produce enough hormones to maintain bodily functions. It is most commonly due to an autoimmune condition known as Hashimoto’s disease. The term autoimmune means our body’s immune cells accidentally attack our own cells and in this case our thyroid. There isn’t a specific reason as to why this occurs but researchers suggest that genetics and recurrent viral infections can play a part Other causes include exposure to radiation, LIFESTYLE | wellbeing Is Your Thyroid the CULPRIT? by SUSMITHA S AROLI
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