{"id":839,"date":"2017-06-21T11:55:53","date_gmt":"2017-06-21T11:55:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=839"},"modified":"2021-03-11T20:30:07","modified_gmt":"2021-03-11T20:30:07","slug":"16-signs-thyroid-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/16-signs-thyroid-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"16 Signs You Have a Thyroid Problem"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Your thyroid gland is an endocrine gland located in your neck. This gland plays a crucial role in the body by producing the hormones T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine). These hormones, in turn, are responsible for helping to regulate the metabolism, thereby allowing us to get more energy from food and to burn fat at the correct rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Actually though, thyroid hormones do a lot more than this and also play critical roles in breathing, heart rate, menstrual cycles, cholesterol levels, muscle strength and much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, thyroid problems are relatively common and can cause a range of unwanted symptoms related to these functions. An \u2018overactive\u2019 thyroid (hyperthyroidism) for instance can produce too much T3 and T4, thereby ramping the metabolism up and causing anxiety, weight loss, hair loss, sweating and more. Conversely, an \u2018underactive\u2019 thyroid can result in trouble sleeping, fatigue, depression, weight gain, heavy periods and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news is that while thyroid problems can\u2019t be cured, they can be effectively managed. With the right balance of T3 and T4, a doctor can help their patient to achieve a normal weight and live with relatively normal energy levels. For these reasons, it is very important to ensure that you see a doctor as soon as possible in order to identify whether you may, in fact, have a thyroid problem and to begin treatment. In this post, we will examine some of the most common symptoms and help you to ascertain whether thyroid issues are to blame in your specific case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.  Weight Gain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism<\/a> is weight gain. As the body produces less of the necessary thyroid glands to stimulate the metabolism, it then goes into a kind of \u2018slow motion\u2019, burning less fat for fuel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The result is that you might experience weight gain, even as you try and shed pounds. Now, of course, this can be a symptom of many different issues and it would be premature to instantly assume that thyroid issues were the cause. However, if you notice this in conjunction with other issues on this list, you should consider speaking to a doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>2.  Weight Loss<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Conversely, producing too much of the hormones <\/a>T3 and T4 can result in the opposite symptom and cause the body to burn through food more quickly. This can result in rapid weight loss, which might sound like a good thing but can actually be undesirable in many cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again, this might be a symptom of other issues \u2013 it can even be a common side effect of medications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it is worth considering as a possibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The key thing to look for when trying to spot thyroid issues and really any health problem is change. If you previously found it hard to lose weight and it is now falling off, you might consider this a cause for concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3.  Acne<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Thyroid issues can cause a range of different side effects that you might not initially think could be related. For example, an underactive thyroid can result in too little thyroid-binding globulin. This means that there will then be too much thyroid hormone for the cells, in turn resulting in receptor sites shutting off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is often seen in conjunction with elevated testosterone levels. That might sound like a good thing but it can actually result in mood swings and acne<\/a> \u2013 both of which are very unpleasant and things that most of us expect to grow out of when we leave puberty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4.  Hyperactivity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Too much T3 and T4 will burn weight by accelerating the metabolism as mentioned. But remember, weight loss occurs when the body burns calories for energy and as such, you can also expect to experience increased energy levels and possibly hyperactivity<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This could be associated with bipolar depression (mania) or ADHD but if it occurs alongside trembling and weight loss, then you may want to look into whether a thyroid issue is responsible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Go to see your doctor and get tested!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>5.  Carpal Tunnel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Carpal tunnel<\/a> is a condition that causes the hands to seize up and to become painful. It can be felt as pain, ache or numbness in the hands, fingers or wrists. This is not seemingly a direct symptom of hypothyroidism but instead appears to be linked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice that you have carpal tunnel and you also exhibit several of these other symptoms, then again this increases the likelihood that your thyroids are responsible and you should go and get tested by your doctor. Despite a lot of research surrounding this topic, surveys suggest that many doctors still aren\u2019t aware of this link.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why it\u2019s sometimes necessary to play Sherlock Holmes with your own symptoms!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>6.  Neck Swelling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Remember, the thyroids are located in the neck and thus you can sometimes actually see a very visible cue that something is wrong by looking to this area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice that there is swelling<\/a> in the neck then this could even suggest thyroid cancer or nodules \u2013 both of which can cause thyroid issues as you might expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swelling in the neck can also be a symptom of many other things however so once again, don\u2019t isolate any of these symptoms but rather look at them together and step back to see the entire picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>7.  Heart Rate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Thyroid hormones have an impact on nearly every single organ in the body \u2013 nice to know when you\u2019re suffering from a thyroid imbalance!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among other things then, this can result in heartrate<\/a> fluctuations as the heartrate becomes either faster or slower. If you notice that your heart rate is slower than usual, then this could point to hypothyroidism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, if your heart rate has sped up, this might be due to hyperthyroidism. Either way, wearing a health tracker can be a useful way to gain insight into this aspect of your physiology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>8.  Mood Swings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Remember that hypothyroidism can cause you to produce excess testosterone which can bring with it many of the symptoms you remember from your teenage years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among these are mood swings<\/a> which can then be exacerbated by low energy levels, which in turn can leave you feeling sluggish, tired, depressed and generally \u2018down\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, those with hyperthyroidism might find that it also causes them to become restless and irritable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>9.  Insomnia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While it can be frustrating to have so much nervous energy during your waking hours, it becomes even more of a problem once you go to bed. If you find your heartrate is up and you have a lot of nervous energy, then this may be a sign of hyperthyroidism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note that this can also lead to a panic attack, which happens when you hyperventilate<\/a> due to anxiety \u2013 especially during the night. This can result in a sense of pressure on the chest and a need to get up and move around. However, there are of course also other causes of panic attacks and insomnia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note as well that hypothyroidism might cause hot flushes and other symptoms that similarly make it hard to get to sleep!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>10.  Hair Loss<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hypothyroidism causes hair loss for a number of reasons. This can cause damage to the skin which causes the hair to fall out and can also prevent the hair from being properly nourished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Testosterone<\/a> levels, when they go up, can also result in the hair falling out among men and women that have sensitive hair follicles \u2013 this is what causes male pattern baldness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hyperthyroidism also seems to produce hair loss as a symptom, so generally, it\u2019s important to be on the look-out for this symptom. The good news is that hair will usually return once thyroid treatment with T3 and T4 begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11.  Hair Gain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While hair might fall from your head, it can also sprout in all the places you don\u2019t want it too. A particularly unfortunate side effect for women is that it is likely to cause the appearance of facial hair and to thicken pubic hair found around the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This combined with acne, sebum production, and hair loss<\/a> means that you might find it hard to be confident in your looks when suffering from the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>12.  Temperature Fluctuations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Both hypo and hyperthyroidism<\/a> can lead to fluctuations in body temperature. Those with hypothyroidism are most likely to feel cold as their body isn\u2019t burning energy to create heat. Conversely, those with hyperthyroidism may have the opposite effect and feel very hot a lot of the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why some people appear to \u2018run hot\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Something to note here is that while hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism both might cause very noticeable differences, all of us vary in terms of the speed of our metabolism. Some people seem a little hotter at night and others a little colder. Some people find it easier to lose weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a spectrum rather than a binary and that\u2019s why there is much more to weight loss than just \u2018eating fewer calories\u2019. It is never so simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>13.  Brittle Nails<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As the body burns less energy and the heart rate slows down, it can also fail to provide certain parts of the body with the blood<\/a> and nutrients they need \u2013 for example, the nails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can cause the nails to become brittle and to break easily in those with hypothyroidism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>14.  Heavy Periods<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Those who experience hypothyroidism may also suffer from very heavy and unpleasant periods, which in some cases may be debilitating. It is important to be careful here though, as this can once again be a sign of several other conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In particular polycystic ovaries<\/a><\/a> can cause symptoms of increased testosterone, low energy, weight gain and heavy periods and this makes the two very easy to confuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those with hyperthyroidism can also experience irregular menstrual periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>15.  Vision Problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism may result in vision problems. In fact, there is a specific condition called thyroid eye disease (TED) which is a condition where the eye muscles and fatty tissue behind the eyes become strained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This causes the eyes to become pushed forward, resulting in them appearing to bulge and this can impair vision and cause double vision among other symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is an autoimmune system and is caused by the body attacking the back of the eye. It affects about a quarter of people with Grave\u2019s disease<\/a>, though there are other vision problems linked with thyroid issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>16.  Anemia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Relatively recent research now also points to a connection between anemia and hypothyroidism. Anemia <\/a>describes low iron, which can cause the skin to become pale and cause individuals to feel low energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can be easy to miss as the lowered energy is stacked on top of the low energy that comes from the lowered thyroid hormones. It may be triggered by heavy, irregular periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is easy to treat fortunately with an iron supplement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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