Thyroid disease is a fact of life for 20 million Americans and more than half of those people remain undiagnosed.

Thyroid disease is very common. It’s caused when the butter-fly-shaped thyroid gland, located in the neck, is not functioning properly, says Dr. Carmel Fratianni, associate professor of endocrinology at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield. She explains one of the thyroid disorders.

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Other thyroid disorders include an enlargement of the thyroid, called a goiter, and other growths in the neck which can be benign or cancerous. Hyperthyroidism is another disease in which the thyroid produces too much hormone, causing anxiety, loss of weight and an irregular heartbeat. Dr. Fratianni explains the treatment for hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid.

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Dr. Fratianni advises people who have symptoms for thyroid disorders to see their primary care physician or endocrinologist for evaluation and possible treatment.