The signs of thyroid dysfunction

Thyroid disorders are very common nowadays. Thyroid hormone is responsible for growth and metabolism in the body and problems occur when the levels are too high or too low. Thyroid dysfunction can impact the entire body and is needed to be treated by a healthcare provider. The thyroid can be caused by a variety of ways and can be passed down through families as well.

Signs of thyroid dysfunction:
Major symptoms of thyroid are similar to other medical conditions and are therefore difficult to know if they are related to thyroid dysfunction or something else. Symptoms are also categorized into 2 types:

Signs relating to the ones having too much thyroid hormones are-

• Losing weight- This can occur even when your appetite and food intake stay the same or increase
• Feeling anxiety and experiencing perspiration – Thyroid hormone receives signals from the brain and coordinates with cells to change their functions, as per what is going on in your body. Too much production of hormones makes a person feel nervous which causes them sweat.
• Irregular periods or stopping the menstrual cycles- Thyroid hormone interacts with other hormones and are the ones that control the menstrual cycle. The abnormal levels of it can disrupt their signals that directly affect the ovaries and uterus leading to menstrual problems.
• Eye bulging and other vision problems- In this, the muscles of the eye become inflamed and eyelids are red and swollen.
• Feeling sensitivity towards heat- a person may struggle to keep warm and there is excessive production of sweat when there is a high level of hormones.

Signs relating to the ones of an underactive thyroid include:

• Gaining weight rigorously- This happens when there is less production of the hormone as the metabolism keeps switching modes. As a result, instead of burning calories for growth the basal metabolic rate decreases which result in storage of energy as fat leading to weight gain even if the consumption of calorie is less
• Facing frequent and heavy menstrual periods- Thyroid hormone interacts with other hormones and are the ones that control the menstrual cycle. The abnormal levels of it can disrupt their signals that directly affect the ovaries and uterus leading to heavy and frequent menstrual periods.
• Fatigue and feeling tired all the time- This is a very common and initial symptom and makes a person feel worn out. This happens as the thyroid hormone influences the energy balance and the person feels exhausted and sluggish.
• Muscle and joint pains leading to weakness- Low thyroid hormone levels tend to flip the metabolic switch as a result of which the body breaks down body tissues like muscle for energy. This leads to a decrease in muscle strength leading to weakness.
• Intolerance to cold temperatures- This is another symptom that is caused in relation to calories. As energy is a byproduct of burning calories in cases of hypothyroidism, your basal metabolic rate decreases, reducing the amount of heat you generate. This slows down the body’s normal heat production making a person intolerant to cold temperatures.

Over to you:
Thyroid dysfunction is a common disorder and can also result in problems with your hair, skin, muscles, memory, or mood. If you are having several of these symptoms that are worsening or severe, see your doctor and get tested. A simple treatment could greatly improve the quality of life.