You and Your Thyroid: What You Need to Know

January is Thyroid Health Awareness Month.

What Do You Know About Your Thyroid? - When’s the last time you thought about your thyroid? Yeah, same here, probably never, which is problematic given how important they are to our overall health.As we celebrate Thyroid Health Month in January, read more about thyroid health, its significance and signs that something may be wrong. —Kellee Terrell(Photo: Image Source/Corbis)

1 / 12

What Do You Know About Your Thyroid? - When’s the last time you thought about your thyroid? Yeah, same here, probably never, which is problematic given how important they are to our overall health.As we celebrate Thyroid Health Month in January, read more about thyroid health, its significance and signs that something may be wrong. —Kellee Terrell(Photo: Image Source/Corbis)

What Is a Thyroid? - A thyroid is the largest gland in our body that lives in our necks right around the Adam’s apple. This butterfly-shaped gland makes thyroid hormones that help regulate your metabolism and help the rest of your organs work better.   (Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

2 / 12

What Is a Thyroid? - A thyroid is the largest gland in our body that lives in our necks right around the Adam’s apple. This butterfly-shaped gland makes thyroid hormones that help regulate your metabolism and help the rest of your organs work better.   (Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Photo By Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Say N-O, No - During menstruation, not only is it a good idea to limit your consumption of alcohol, you should also rethink your morning caffeinated coffee, fatty foods and carbonated drinks. They all cause bloating and water retention. (Photo: JGI/Jamie Grill/Blend Images/Corbis)

3 / 12

What Is Metabolism and Why Is It Important? - Metabolism is the process of your body converting what you eat and drink into energy. During this process, calories in food and beverages are combined with oxygen to release the energy your body and organs need to function. When this is out of whack, people can have treatable, but some serious health issues.  (Photo: JGI/Jamie Grill/Blend Images/Corbis)

When Your Thyroid Is Underactive - Sometimes your thyroid doesn’t create enough hormones, which is called hypothyroidism. Symptons include tiredness, constipation, weight gain, slow heart rate and dry skin to name a few. Also, this can cause infertility and miscarriage in some women.  (Photo: JGI/Jamie Grill/Blend Images/Corbis)

4 / 12

When Your Thyroid Is Underactive - Sometimes your thyroid doesn’t create enough hormones, which is called hypothyroidism. Symptons include tiredness, constipation, weight gain, slow heart rate and dry skin to name a few. Also, this can cause infertility and miscarriage in some women.  (Photo: JGI/Jamie Grill/Blend Images/Corbis)

When Your Thyroid Is Overactive - Sometimes your thyroid can create too many hormones, which is called hyperthyroidism. Symptoms include irritability, issues concentrating, fast heart rate, diarrhea, trouble sleeping and weight loss. It is also behind certain diseases such as Graves’ disease, which is what Missy Elliott suffers from. (Photo: IAN HOOTON/Science Photo Library/Corbis)

5 / 12

When Your Thyroid Is Overactive - Sometimes your thyroid can create too many hormones, which is called hyperthyroidism. Symptoms include irritability, issues concentrating, fast heart rate, diarrhea, trouble sleeping and weight loss. It is also behind certain diseases such as Graves’ disease, which is what Missy Elliott suffers from. (Photo: IAN HOOTON/Science Photo Library/Corbis)

ADVERTISEMENT
Lumps and Bumps in Your Thyroid - It’s possible to find some lumps and swelling in you thyroid, which can be nodules. Sometimes nodules can affect how much hormone is being made, and in some cases a nodule can be cancerous. Also, if your thyroid is enlarged that is called a goiter. (Photo: Getty Images/Science Photo Library RF)

6 / 12

Lumps and Bumps in Your Thyroid - It’s possible to find some lumps and swelling in you thyroid, which can be nodules. Sometimes nodules can affect how much hormone is being made, and in some cases a nodule can be cancerous. Also, if your thyroid is enlarged that is called a goiter. (Photo: Getty Images/Science Photo Library RF)

Thyroid Cancer - In some instances, swelling in the thyroid is cancer. According to the NIH, treatment depends on the type of cancer you have and how far the cancer has spread. Doctors might use a combination of the following to treat: Surgery, radioactive iodine, hormone treatment, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or targeted therapy.(Photo: Getty Images/Universal Images Group)

7 / 12

Thyroid Cancer - In some instances, swelling in the thyroid is cancer. According to the NIH, treatment depends on the type of cancer you have and how far the cancer has spread. Doctors might use a combination of the following to treat: Surgery, radioactive iodine, hormone treatment, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or targeted therapy.(Photo: Getty Images/Universal Images Group)

Risk Factors for Thyroid Disease  - Women, people over 50, those who have a family history, smokers, and those who are iodine deficient have undergone certain treatments like beta-blockers and chemotherapy, stress and some radiation treatment to name a few. (Photo: Jose Luis Pelaez, Inc./Blend Images/Corbis)

8 / 12

Risk Factors for Thyroid Disease  - Women, people over 50, those who have a family history, smokers, and those who are iodine deficient have undergone certain treatments like beta-blockers and chemotherapy, stress and some radiation treatment to name a few. (Photo: Jose Luis Pelaez, Inc./Blend Images/Corbis)

African-Americans and Thyroid Disease - African-Americans are no strangers to thyroid issues. Blacks are more likely to develop Graves' disease than whites. And while we are less likely to develop thyroid cancer, we are twice as likely to die from it compared to white folks. (Photo: Hero Images/Digital Vision/Ocean/Corbis)

9 / 12

African-Americans and Thyroid Disease - African-Americans are no strangers to thyroid issues. Blacks are more likely to develop Graves' disease than whites. And while we are less likely to develop thyroid cancer, we are twice as likely to die from it compared to white folks. (Photo: Hero Images/Digital Vision/Ocean/Corbis)

Cervical Cancer Is Not a Game for Black Women - Of the 2,000 Black women diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, a whopping 40 percent of us will die from the disease. This is due to a range of factors, including poor access to health care, high rates of HPV infections and being diagnosed with cancer way too late for treatment to be as effective as it could be.  (Photo: JGI/Tom Grill/Blend Images/Corbis)

10 / 12

Testing Is Key - Nearly 25 million Americans have a thyroid issue and almost half are not diagnosed for it. This is why testing is key. Talk to your health care practitioner about thyroid disease and any symptoms you may be experiencing. From there, talk about testing options, which includes blood tests and other screenings.  (Photo: JGI/Tom Grill/Blend Images/Corbis)

ADVERTISEMENT
160668963

11 / 12

Taking Care of Your Thyroid - You have to take care of your thyroid, and one easy way to do that is with through nutrition and healthy foods that are rich in iodine, selenium, and zinc, such as dark meat chicken, cashews, pumpkin seeds, almonds, oysters and yogurt to name a few. (Photo: GettyImages)

Treating Thyroid Issues - There are plenty of ways to address thyroid issues from numerous medications to natural methods, such as eating a healthier diet, stress reduction and supplements and herbs.(Photo: Big Cheese Photo/Corbis)

12 / 12

Treating Thyroid Issues - There are plenty of ways to address thyroid issues from numerous medications to natural methods, such as eating a healthier diet, stress reduction and supplements and herbs.(Photo: Big Cheese Photo/Corbis)