Every time you look at yourself in the mirror, an important piece of your well-being is looking right back at you. Your thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the lower front of your neck. It sits right above the collar bones and below your voice box. It regulates hormones that control the function of many of your body’s organs, including your heart, brain, liver, kidneys and skin. Making sure that your thyroid gland is healthy is important to your physical and mental well-being. Performing this simple neck check can help you identify any abnormalities visible to the human eye so that you can schedule a visit with your doctor.

All You Will Need

To get started, you just need a glass of water and a handheld mirror.

Take the Thyroid Neck Check

  1. Hold the mirror in your hand, focusing on the lower front area of your neck – above the collar bone and below the Adam’s apple.
  2. While looking at this area, tip your head back.
  3. Take a drink of water and swallow.
  4. As you swallow, look at your neck. Check for any bulges or protrusions in this area when you swallow. Don’t confuse the Adam’s apple with the thyroid gland! Your thyroid gland is closer to the collarbone.
  5. If you do see any bulges or protrusions, see your physician. you may have an enlarged thyroid gland or a nodule that should be checked to determine if further evaluation is needed.

Patients who have an enlarged thyroid gland may produce too much or too little thyroid hormone, called TSH – thyroid stimulating hormone. The best way to verify your thyroid health is to ask your doctor about a TSH test. This is a simple blood test that measures whether your thyroid gland is functioning normally.

If you are diagnosed with a thyroid condition, it is important to take your thyroid medication every day, as instructed by your doctor, and to refill your prescriptions on time. Your doctor may also want to periodically run a TSH test to keep an eye on your levels and ensure you are on the proper course of treatment.

For more information on thyroid cancer, check out our article here.