Understanding the Common Symptoms of Thyroid Dysfunction

Your thyroid is a small gland in your neck that produces hormones that regulate your metabolism. Your body can experience problems when your thyroid produces too little or too much hormone.

Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism): Your thyroid Denver produces too many hormones, speeding up your metabolic processes. This can be caused by Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Graves’s disease, or a nodule.

Weight Gain

A visibly enlarged thyroid (goiter) is one of the main signs that something could be wrong with your thyroid. The enlargement can be caused by hyperthyroidism, or it may occur due to nodules or thyroid cancer.

An underactive thyroid gland produces fewer hormones. These hormones regulate your body’s metabolism. This slowed process can make you feel cold and cause weight gain.

Cold Intolerance

The hypothalamus is a part of the brain that acts as your body’s thermostat and sends messages to your thyroid gland to help regulate heat. The thyroid creates hormones that affect the metabolism, how the body spreads warmth through blood flow, and how it uses stored body fat.

Cold intolerance is often a sign of thyroid dysfunction. This is particularly true if it occurs with conditions affecting the circulatory system, the thyroid, and other hormones.

Excessive Sweating

The thyroid produces hormones that help control blood pressure, body temperature, and metabolism. However, the gland can produce too much or too little of these hormones, leading to hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.

One of the most common symptoms is excessive sweating. It can occur anywhere on the body and is usually caused by an underlying health condition, such as thyroid problems.

Headaches

The thyroid gland produces hormones that keep your body’s organs working like they should. But sometimes, the gland goes awry.

Symptoms can include fatigue, brain fog, and weight gain. A swollen thyroid gland called a goiter can also develop, especially in people who don’t have enough iodine. Goiters are typically caused by autoimmune diseases such as Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Tests can help diagnose thyroid problems, including MRI and CT scans that can detect brain tumors or cysts, head injury, or bleeding in the brain (called a hemorrhage). Ultrasounds can identify thyroid nodules, lumps, or cancer.

Decreased Energy

Everyone occasionally feels physically exhausted from a long day or a vigorous workout. However, persistent fatigue could be an indicator of a thyroid disorder.

A healthy thyroid helps regulate metabolism and a balanced energy level. It increases cell oxygen consumption, facilitates ATP production, and maintains body temperature.

If you’re feeling exhausted even after a full night of sleep, it’s time to see your doctor.

Dry Skin

Skin changes linked to thyroid function include dry, coarse, or flaky skin. This is a result of the reduced production of hormones, which affects the skin’s ability to stay healthy and hydrated.

You can check for an enlarged thyroid by tilting your neck forward and swallowing to look at the throat area. Swelling in the neck, called a goiter, is also a sign of thyroid disease.

Hair Loss

Hair loss is a common symptom of thyroid disorders, especially hypothyroidism. It can be caused by iodine deficiency and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, affecting your thyroid hormone levels.

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck that makes hormones to control your body’s functions. It’s important to have a functioning thyroid because it helps keep your metabolism healthy and your heart rate stable.

Decreased Memory

Memory problems can be a symptom of thyroid dysfunction, but other conditions may also cause them. A severe head injury can damage the brain and nervous system, leading to memory loss.

Remember, where you put your keys or phone is normal. But, if you frequently forget things and have difficulty following directions or remembering names and places, you should be tested for a thyroid condition.

Dry Eyes

A dry thyroid gland may result in a goiter (a thyroid swelling). The thyroid needs adequate levels of iodine to produce hormones. People with low iodine levels can develop thyroid disorders, such as Graves disease or nodules on the thyroid that produce too many hormones.

A thyroid disorder can cause a rare but life-threatening condition called myxedema coma, which requires immediate medical treatment.