# thyroid problems **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 31, 2003, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thyroid-problems/221892 "2003-12-31T04:28:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thyroid-problems/221892/1 "2003-12-31T04:28:28Z")
What is hypo and hyper thyroidism? I’ve always had a goiter and wondered. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thyroid-problems/221892/2 "2003-12-31T05:12:06Z")
[Here’s](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/thyroiddiseases.html) a good place to find out more (look especially around 2/3 down the page for the links on hyper- and hypothyroidism). A _goitre_ refers to an enlarged thyroid gland. Such a gland may have normal function, may be underactive (hypo), or overactive (hyper). Sometimes, a goitre may have developed because of a tumour in the gland. Anyone with a goitre should probably see a specialist (endocrinology or internal medicine) at least once. Check out the link(s) above. If you still have questions, just post’em. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thyroid-problems/221892/3 "2003-12-31T05:25:30Z")
[Here is another link](http://www.mythyroid.com) to my friend/colleague’s excellent site on thyroid disease. It has sections on hyper and hypothyroidism, as well as on “thyroid enlargement” (goitre).