10 Signs You May Have a Thyroid Problem

10 Signs You May Have a Thyroid Problem

In the center of your neck, a butterfly-shaped gland is present that is called thyroid gland. Its function is to make the thyroid hormones.

It is important for the thyroid gland to stay healthy and active because it is said to be the master gland of metabolism which plays the key role in the functioning of many important organs that include brain, liver, kidneys, heart and skin.

Thyroid problems are common in people including hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, goiters, thyroid nodules, and thyroiditis and thyroid cancer. The most important of these are hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) and hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) that can cause hormonal disturbances by effecting other hormones in your body, emotional and physical changes in the body.

About 59 million Americans are believed to have thyroid problem, but most people don’t have awareness about this problem. According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, in most of the people, thyroid problem is undiagnosed. This is because many signs and symptoms are relatively common with other minor problems or even misdiagnosed, sometimes these problems are transferred from one person to another. You can consult your doctor for the treatment after recognizing the signs and symptoms of the problem.

So, here are the 10 signs of thyroid problem given below:

1. Feeling Fatigued

Tiredness, fatigue and exhaustion are the common signs of thyroid problem. Feeling no energy during the day time often linked with thyroid problems.

Sometimes, without taking a nap or short intervals from the workouts, a person with thyroid problem cannot be able to carry out daily activities. Even you can also feel the difference in your energy level as compare to the past.

While suffering with hyperthyroidism, you may not be able to sleep well during night, feeling exhausted all through the night. With hypothyroidism, you may sleep at night but still feel tired in the morning.

2. Sudden Change in Body Weight

If you are feeling sudden change in your body weight, even weight gain or weight loss can be the sign of thyroid disorder.  Even following the strict diet and rigorous exercise plan, indicate low levels of thyroid hormones or hypothyroidism.

If the thyroid produces more hormones than the body’s requirement, you may experience the sudden loss in weight. You should get your thyroid checked.

3. Depression and Anxiety

If you have symptoms of depression and anxiety, you may suffer with thyroid problems. This problem often does not respond to the medicines and therapies. They are the signs of underlying thyroid disorder – hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.

If the thyroid hormone production is reduced, it directly impacts on the level of serotonin, found in the brain. Due to this condition, a person may feel good, change in mood swings, mild depression, or may have panic attacks without any specific reason.

4. Menstrual Problems

Women with thyroid problems suffer from many menstrual problems; it causes early or delayed puberty and menstruation. Irregular periods, cramps or any kind of change in menstrual cycle include thyroid symptoms.

Heavy menstruation, more frequent, prolonged and painful periods are associated with the hypothyroidism. Shorter, lighter, infrequent or absent periods are related with hyperthyroidism. Infertility is also due to the undiagnosed thyroid conditions. You should immediately consult a good gynecologist after when you notice the change in your menstrual patterns.

5. Sudden Hair Loss

Hair loss is also linked with thyroid problems. Hair growth cycle may stop and cause hair loss than normal is due to the low thyroid hormone levels.

From the scalp and from the outside of your eyebrows and other body parts, you may notice the hair loss; your hair will become dry, coarse and brittle due to the hypothyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism also causes hair issues. You will notice thinning hair on the head and they will also become dry.

6. Feeling too Cold or Hot

Without any especial reason, if you feel too cold or too hot, it definitely indicates that you are suffering from thyroid problem.  Change in the thyroid hormone level can interrupt the ability to regulate the temperature of your body.

 Having cold hands and feet can be due to hypothyroidism. In hyperthyroidism, the excessive sweating and inability to bear the heat are included.

7. Hoarse Voice and Discomfort in the Neck

Due to thyroid problems, your voice would be change like hoarse voice, snoring and slight bulge or protrusion in the thyroid area.

As thyroid gland is located towards the front of your neck, there you may get discomfort which is a sign of thyroid problem.

Neck problems cause inflamed thyroid (thyroiditis) or a goiter in which the thyroid gland becomes swelled and enlarged. Goiter is a result of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.

8. Bowel-Related Problems

Digestive problems like constipation, diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may also include underlying thyroid problem. Thyroid hormones cause changes in bowel habits, interfering with the body’s ability to digest food and produce waste materials in your body.

Disturbance in constipation, even with adequate fiber intake, found to be related with hypothyroidism, diarrhea and IBS can be a sign of hyperthyroidism.

The change in your bathroom habits and you see no signs of improvement even after getting treated, you should check your thyroid in this case.

9. Excessive Skin Dryness

The hormones released by the thyroid gland are responsible for the skin texture so that any problem in the thyroid can cause skin problems.

With the low levels of thyroid hormones, the skin becomes dry and pale. Other symptoms include scaly, wrinkled skin, less sweating, discoloration of the skin, edema, brittle and thick nails. With the overactive thyroid hormone, the skin tends to become sweaty and itchy.

10. Muscle and Joint Pain

Unbearable aches and pains in the muscles and joints, weakness in the arms and legs, all of these are the reasons of undiagnosed thyroid problems like hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

Underactive thyroid can cause general muscle weakness and pain, including cramps and stiffness. It contributes to tendonitis in the arms and legs, carpal tunnel syndrome and tarsal tunnel syndrome.

On the other hand, hyperthyroidism also cause muscle and joint pain, feeling of fatigue and makes it difficult to climb stairs, holding the objects in your hands and reach your arms above your head.

If you have one or more of these signs and symptoms, you are definitely going through the thyroid problem. You can consult a qualified doctor to solve the case.

Resources
https://www.thyroid.org/weight-loss-and-thyroid/