The thyroid, a small, butterfly-shaped gland in our throats, can wreak havoc on just about anyone. For older adults, thyroid problems are especially common, and they often complicate heart disease, accelerate osteoporosis, and cause a storm of other health issues. The way in which the thyroid gland interacts with the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus to produce, regulate, and circulate various hormones throughout the body is reminiscent of the complex communication between the telephone sw...