VAIL Vail Vitality Center's popular Lunch & Learn series continues Wednesday with a lecture from Dr. Heidi Archer on The Importance of the Thyroid Gland.

The thyroid gland is a two-inch long gland in the neck that has an important job: producing the thyroid hormones that regulate the body's metabolic function (the body's use of energy).

All of the hormones in your body work together, so levels of one hormone affect all of your other hormones, including thyroid hormone levels, Archer said. At Vail Vitality Center we can test your current hormone levels for any imbalances and help you bring your hormones back into harmony.

A sluggish thyroid, or hypothyroidism, is the most common type of thyroid imbalance. It occurs when the thyroid gland is under-active and may cause symptoms including:

General fatigue waking up exhausted no matter how much sleep you get.

Hair loss.

Weight gain (both fluid and fat) despite working out more and eating less.

Puffiness in the face and/or swelling of the ankles.

Low body temperature ice cold hands or feet.

Digestive problems (constipation, irritable bowel).

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Lunch & Learn session Wednesday