The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland situated in the front of the neck just below the Adam’s apple. The thyroid has two lobes that wrap around the trachea, or windpipe, and the whole gland weighs a little under an ounce. It is part of the body’s endocrine system, a group of organs and tissues that produce, store, and secrete hormones​—chemical messengers—​directly into the bloodstream.

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     Thyroid impairment may be the result of a poor diet, physical or mental stress, genetic defects, infections or disease (usually autoimmune disease), or side effects of medications prescribed for different illnesses. 

     

     Thyroid disorders can develop gradually and imperceptibly, so one may have it for years and not know it. As with most illnesses, the outcome may be better if the diagnosis is made early.