Thyroid disorders affect the thyroid gland, a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that produces hormones essential for regulating your metabolism. Here's a summary of common thyroid disorders:   Key Thyroid Disorders:Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid):The thyroid doesn't produce enough thyroid hormones.Symptoms: Fatigue, weight gain, constipation, dry skin, feeling cold, depression.   Common cause: Hashimoto's thyroiditis (an autoimmune disease).      Hyperthyroidism (Overactive Thyroid):The thyroid produces too much thyroid hormone.   Symptoms: Weight loss, rapid heartbeat, anxiety, irritability, tremors, sweating, difficulty sleeping.   Common cause: Graves' disease (an autoimmune disease).      Thyroid Nodules:Lumps that develop within the thyroid gland.   Most are benign, but some can be cancerous.   Goiter:Enlargement of the thyroid gland.   Can be caused by various factors, including iodine deficiency or thyroid disorders.   Thyroid Cancer:Cancer that develops in the thyroid gland.   Diagnosis:Blood tests (to measure thyroid hormone levels)   Physical examinationUltrasound   Thyroid scan   Biopsy (for nodules)