Do You Have an Under-Active Thyroid? By Donna Gates, Body Ecology What Role Does The Thyroid Play? The thyroid gland is a small butterfly shaped gland that sits just below the thyroid cartilage. The hormones secreted by the thyroid help to regulate heart rate, maintain healthy skin, and play a crucial part in regulating your metabolism. The thyroid also works to: Lift your energy Regulate your core temperature and warm your body Activate your immune system It can also tell the body to slow down. Sometimes the thyroid slows down so much that it becomes underactive. This is what is known as hypothyroidism. When this happens, the thyroid gland does not do its job, and the whole body suffers as a result. As common as hypothyroidism is, the detection and treatment of it are getting a second look by doctors. What Symptoms Does An Underactive Thyroid Produce? When the gland is sluggish (hypothyroidism), your body will give you some fairly obvious signs. Some commo