Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a condition characterized by declining production of thyroid hormones. There are many diseases that in hypothyroidism. These disorders may directly or indirectly related to the thyroid. Since thyroid hormones affect growth, development, and many cellular processes, inadequate thyroid hormone has widespread consequences for the organism.
This article focuses specifically on hypothyroidism in adults.

What are thyroid hormones?
Thyroid hormones are produced in the thyroid gland. This gland is located at the bottom of the neck below the Adam's Apple. Gland wraps around the trachea (trachea) and has the shape of a butterfly - is made up of two wings (lobes), and from the middle part (isthmus).

The thyroid gland uses iodine (mostly of food in the diet, such as fish, bread and salt) to produce thyroid hormones. The two main thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), 99% and 1% of thyroid hormones in the blood, respectively. However, the more hormone with biological activity is T3. When the thyroid gland in the blood, a large number of T4 becomes T3 - the active hormones, metabolism in cells