The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland at the front of the neck — despite its size, it controls the metabolism rate of every cell in the body.
Thyroid Functions:
- Metabolism and energy: Regulates calorie-burning speed — directly affects weight and activity.
- Heart: Controls heart rate and contraction strength.
- Temperature: Regulates body temperature — overactivity causes heat, underactivity causes cold.
- Digestion: Affects gut motility — overactivity causes diarrhea, underactivity constipation.
- Brain: Essential for concentration and mood — deficiency causes depression and slow thinking.
- Muscles and bones: Affects muscle strength and bone density.
- Hair and skin: Deficiency causes dry skin and hair loss.
Hormones:
- T4 (Thyroxine): Main hormone — converts to T3 in tissues.
- T3 (Triiodothyronine): Active hormone — 5 times stronger than T4.
- TSH: Pituitary hormone that controls the thyroid.
At BEIT TARIQ Center, we test thyroid function as part of our comprehensive lab packages.