Bathinda, January 29 - Dr Sushil Kotru, senior endocrinologist at Max Hospital Bathinda said thyroid hormone affects every part of the body system. It affects everything from breathing, heart rate and body temperature to digestion and muscle contraction, and if the thyroid is damaged, almost every cell in the body is affected.

Dr Cotru said hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland is overactive, or produces too much thyroid hormone. Its common symptoms include increased heart rate, weight loss, severe anxiety, thyroid enlargement and increased appetite, tremors in hands and fingers, sweating and menstrual changes. Conversely, hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland is underactive, or does not produce adequate levels of thyroid hormone. Common symptoms include fatigue, difficulty concentrating, sensitivity to cold, headaches, joint pain, dry skin, constipation, menstrual irregularities and anxiety, he said.

He said that the symptoms of thyroid disease are subtle and develop slowly. In addition, symptoms are nonspecific and affect the entire body rather than a specific part of the body, which is why thyroid disease often goes undiagnosed.