I
have often been asked if I had hypothyroidism by well meaning friends of mine. That's because I seem to have the symptoms (i.e. dry skin, slow metabolism, somewhat depressed). But to be honest, I didn’t know anything about it until Merck Inc. invited me
to Unmasking your Thyroid Blogger’s Event held last September 21 at the Yakan
Function room of Holiday Inn Makati. During the said talk, Dr.
Nemencio Nicodemus Jr., President of the Philippine Society of Endocrinology,
Diabetes and Metabolism, Professor at the UP College of Medicine and Ateneo
School of Medicine and Public Health gave us an informative talk. He also made sure that bloggers who were present clearly understood the difference between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. He was able to enlighten my thoughts on the different conditions concerning our thyroid glands. He talked about each symptoms and what we can do about it. So now, if you will allow me, I'd like to share what I have learned with you.
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| Dr. Nemesio Nicodemus Jr., President Philippine Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism |
So what is the importance of our thyroid glands? And when do you say that you have hypothyrodism and hyperthyrodism? Based on my own understanding of Dr. Nicodemus' lecture, The
thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ located in the base of your neck. It
releases hormones that control metabolism—the way your body uses energy. The
thyroid's hormones regulate vital body functions, including: Breathing, Heart rate, Central and peripheral nervous systems, body weight, muscle strength, menstrual cycles, body temperature, as well as our cholesterol levels. The thyroid gland is about 2-inches long and lies in front of our throat.
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How the Thyroid Gland Works
