Symptoms of an Unwell Thyroid
Last week, we introduced the small but mighty gland that is your thyroid. We covered some of the most common diseases that can affect it, so now we are going to focus on how to notice them.
The signs and symptoms overlap for most thyroid diseases, many of which are also comorbid (frequently occur together). Symptoms can be grouped into two categories: whether the disease is caused by an overactive or an underactive thyroid.
People with hyperthyroidism – or thyrotoxicosis – have an overactive thyroid, meaning they produce too much of certain hormones. People with hypothyroidism produce too little of those same hormones.
Some symptoms also apply to both under- and overactive thyroid disorders, whereas others are specific to one.
So, that’s how we’ve split them:
Some symptoms occur in people with both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
Symptoms of a generally dysfunctional thyroid are:
Goitre (swelling in the thyroid gland that causes the neck to appear swollen)
Tremors
Decreased libido and sexual dysfunction
Dry, itchy or red skin
Hair loss or thinning
Changes to the menstrual cycle
An overabundance of thyroid hormones causes bodily functions such as metabolism, mood regulation and digestion to go into overdrive. This might leave you feeling hyperactive and on edge.
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism are:
Unexplained weight loss
Increased appetite
Loose nails
Hives
Dry mouth and eyes
Diarrhoea and increased urination
Mood swings
Surplus energy
Anxiety
Insomnia
Sensitivity to heat
People with these symptoms might have a disorder such as Grave’s Disease or a Thyroid Nodule.
A deficiency in thyroid hormones does the opposite – causing bodily functions to slow down. This can cause you to feel lethargic and constantly cold.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism are:
Unexplained weight gain
Tingling or numb hands
Brittle bones
Bulging eyes
Sensitivity to cold
Developmental delays: late first period, stunted growth
Slow heart rate
Brittle bones and nails
People with any of the above symptoms might have a disease such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
Symptoms of a dysfunctional thyroid
The symptoms of thyroid-related illness are numerous and varied, so they almost always get misinterpreted as different problems at first. This is the main reason why it is so important to raise awareness for thyroid health and diseases.
If you think you or someone you know might have a problem with your thyroid, have a chat with your doctor and specifically ask them to take a look at your thyroid.
If they think more tests are needed, they will usually conduct a blood test and refer you to a thyroid specialist.
You might have noticed one major disease that we haven’t mentioned yet, and that is because it is a huge topic that deserves its own spotlight.
Next week, we will focus on Thyroid Cancer.
Felicity Thompson
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