Dr. Lara Paraskos, Endocrinologist with Baptist Health South Florida, explains endocrinology is the branch of medicine that deals with hormones in the body. She says the thyroid is a gland in the base of the neck and it regulates how fast or how slow things go in the body.

She points out the thyroid regulates heart rate, how fast your hair comes in, how fast your skin turns over, how fast your intestines move, your body temperature regulation. It also regulates breathing, body weight, muscle strength, and cholesterol levels.