Thyroid disease

Is a general term for a medical condition, where your thyroid doesn’t make the right hormones to keep the body functioning normally.  In hyperthyroidism (overactive) the body makes too much thyroid hormone, with the body using too much energy causing tiredness, loss of weight and faster heartbeat.

Hypothyroidism (underactive) is when the body produces too little thyroid hormone.  This also causes tiredness, weight gain and the inability to tolerate low temperatures.

Myxoedema is a word used to describe complications in thyroid disease, which can include weakness or lethargy, confusion or non-responsiveness, feeling cold,  low body temperature, swelling of the body, especially the face, tongue, and lower leg,  and difficulty in breathing.