Smoking Effects On Thyroid

The thyroid controls how quickly the body burns energy, makes proteins, and how sensitive the body should be to other hormones.

Tobacco smoke contains chemicals such as cyanide that can affect the function of the thyroid. It can cause what is known as anti-thyroid behaviors such as inhibiting iodide uptake and hormone synthesis.

Studies show that smokers are more likely to have thyroid enlargement which can be a sign of a thyroid disorder, and smokers are twice as likely to develop Graves’ disease, a thyroid disorder that causes the bulging of the eyes, a thickening of the skin, and hyperthyroidism, causing increased speed of the body’s organs and intestines.