Question

What are the effects of hypoactivity of thyroid gland??

Answer 1

Thyroid gland:

1. Thyroid gland is a bi-lobed butterfly shaped gland located at the base of the neck.
2. It secretes thyroxine hormone which plays a major role in regulating the metabolism of the body.
3. Hypoactivity of thyroid gland results in under-production/less production of the thyroxine hormone which causes:
   1. Cretinism in children. Children show retarded physical and mental growth.
   2. Myxoedema (sluggish metabolism and swelling on face, hands and body) and simple goitre (enlargement of thyroid gland that appears as swelling in the neck) in adults.
   3. General symptoms of hypothyroidism includes fatigue, weight gain, constipation etc.