Common Thyroid Symptoms To Look Out For

Studies by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases reveal that hypothyroidism affects around 4.6% of people in The USA. However, most people experience only mild symptoms. The thyroid produces hormones responsible for growth, coordinating energy, and development throughout the body, but problems can occur when the thyroid level increases or decreases. 

Hypothyroidism 

When the body does not generate enough hormones from the thyroid gland, it lacks energy and weight gain.

Hyperthyroidism 

When the body produces too many hormones from the thyroid gland, it results in a detrimental increase in energy and loss of weight.

To avoid such issues, it becomes crucial to get awareness about the symptoms of thyroid. Here are some early warning signs of the thyroid problem.

What Are Early Warning Signs Of Thyroid Problems?

Fatigue 

One of the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism is tiredness. People with hypothyroidism feel too exhausted, making them unable to go about their day as usual. 

Regardless of how much the person sleeps, they always feel fatigued.

Weight Gain Or Loss 

Early symptoms of thyroid problems are weight loss or gain. If you are rapidly gaining weight, this can be a possible indicator of low thyroid function.

Alternatively, if you experience rapid weight loss without explanation, it is essential to seek medical advice to ensure the changes are not a sign of trouble.

Sore Joints And Muscles 

Muscle aches without any apparent causes can sometimes be associated with abnormal thyroid problems. Hyperthyroidism can affect a person’s joints and muscles in numerous ways, like swelling of joints, weakness, tenderness, and stiffness in muscles and joints.

Mood And Memory Changes 

It is usual for people with hyperthyroidism to experience anxiety, which often leads to getting angry without any apparent reason. 

Untreated hyperthyroidism leads to anxiety, apathy, depression, less concentration and attention, impaired memory function, and slower thinking and speech.

Feeling Cold 

Low blood circulation results in feeling cold; hence people with low levels of thyroid hormones may experience cold all the time. So even on a warm summer day, a feeling of coldness may persist.

However, anemia and circulation problems can also cause a feeling of coldness in the body.

Constipation 

When you have thyroid, digestion in the body slows down, causing constipation. At the same time, hyperactive thyroid symptoms include loose stool more frequently.

If your digestive habits have changed in a few weeks, do ensure to get a checkup done.

High Cholesterol 

Hormones in the thyroid help remove excess cholesterol from the body via the liver. However, if the hormone secretion is less, the liver struggles to function, increasing blood cholesterol.

Researchers suggest that approximately 13% of patients having cholesterol also suffer from underactive thyroid.

Hair Loss

Thyroid hormones are essential for the health and growth of hair follicles. Hyperthyroidism can lead to hair loss from the scalp, legs, eyebrows, and other body parts. 

Patients who have thyroid can also develop alopecia, an autoimmune condition leading to hair falling in patches. 

Dry Skin, Weak Nails, And Hair 

Dry skin is most commonly a symptom of hyperthyroidism. When the thyroid doesn’t act as quickly as it should, the hormone secretion level decreases, thus drying the skin.

When the thyroid becomes too active, it causes overproduction of hormones, adding more moisture to skin pores; hence oiliness in the skin increases due to the secretion of excess hormones from thyroid glands.

Sleep Issues 

If you keep waking up all through the night and find it difficult to sleep, this may cause hyperthyroidism. If you nap excessively during your waking hours, there is a high possibility of hypothyroidism.

Menstrual Changes 

People who have underactive thyroid may experience irregular menstrual periods. In addition, as hormonal changes link to sexual function, your doctor must address them if your period becomes painful, unstable, and heavier.

Goiter 

Swelling at the base of the neck indicates enlargement of the thyroid gland, referred to as a goiter. If you have a goiter, you may also see hoarseness, cough, and breathing and swallowing problems.

Many thyroid problems like deficiency of iodine and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis can cause goiter.

How Is Thyroid Problem Cured? 

• Medication 

There are many medicines and drugs available on the market to treat hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Most of them can be taken via pills, while some may be injectable in the body.

• Surgery 

In case of severe damage done to the body by the thyroid, surgery is the last resort. Most of the time, hyperthyroidism is dealt with by doing surgery. 

Conclusion 

The warnings, as mentioned earlier, will help you detect the symptoms of thyroid. If you have these symptoms, do call your doctor for a checkup appointment. Early detection of health issues will help you cure the mild symptoms quickly without going through surgery. Therefore it’s better to check now than to regret it later.