Causes and Risk Factors of Thyroid Disease
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the front of the neck. Its primary function is to produce the hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). These hormones travel through the body and help regulate metabolism. They also aid in brain development, digestive function, muscle control, and balancing mood.
When the thyroid produces either too much or too little of these hormones, it causes the gland to work improperly, leading to disorders such as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, the two most common types of thyroid disease.
Common Causes
In the case of hyperthyroidism, the thyroid is overproducing thyroid hormones. This can happen due to inflammation in the thyroid, called thyroiditis, which causes the thyroid to create excess hormones.1
Hyperthyroidism can also be caused by nodules that are known as toxic adenomas, which develop on the gland and start secreting hormones in addition to the hormones produced by the thyroid. In rare cases, hyperthyroidism can be caused by a pituitary gland dysfunction or cancerous growth on the thyroid that can disrupt the hormonal balance and production of T3 and T4.