Dec 13, 2015
Maybe 59 million Americans have problem with the thyroid. Most of them are not aware of the problem. The thyroid is located on the neck and it is main gland that controls the metabolism. If the thyroid stops to work it will have a bad influence over your health, including your weight, energy level and depression.
If the thyroid problems are not discovered in time it may lead to obesity, depression, anxiety, hair loss, infertility, heart disease and many other health problems. You may not have all of the symptoms but these are the most common signs that you may have thyroid problem.
1. Pain in the muscles and the joints, problems with the carpal tunnel/tendonitis
If you have aches in the muscles and in the joints, if you experience weakness in your arms and if you sometimes have carpal tunnel in the hands, plantars fasciitis in your feet or even tarsal tunnels in the legs you may be having problems with the thyroid.
2. Pain in the neck
If you feel like you neck is swollen or you experience discomfort with the neckties or visibly large thyroid it means that you maybe have a goiter. That is the term for enlarged thyroid and it is sign for a thyroid disease.
3. Changes in your hair or skin
Hair loss and many skin problems are connected with thyroid problems. If you suffer from hypothyroidism your hair may become coarse, dry, and brittle and may easily fall off. Concerning the skin it will be dry, scaly and thick. In case of hypothyroidism people often experience unusual loss of the hair that is on the end of the eyebrow and in case of hyperthyroidism the skin becomes very thin and fragile.
4. Constipation
If you experience constipation for a longer period of time or if you have sever constipation it can mean that you are suffering from hypothyroidism, while hyperthyroidism is connected with irritable bowel and diarrhea.
5. Menstrual cramps or problems with fertility
If your periods are more frequent or heavier it may be sign for hypothyroidism. On the other hand hyperthyroidism is connected with infrequent, shorter or ever lighter periods. Problems with fertility are often connected with thyroid conditions that are not diagnosed.
6. Family
The problems with the thyroid may be hereditary and if someone from your family had it you may have it as well.
7. Cholesterol
The low cholesterol sometimes is connected with hyperthyroidism and the high cholesterol, that it is not regulated with diet or exercise sometimes is connected with hypothyroidism.
8. Anxiety or depression
Both of them are connected with problems with the thyroid. The panic attacks or anxiety are symptoms of hyperthyroidism while depression with hypothyroidism. If a person who suffers from depression does not respond to medication it may be a sign of problems with the thyroid.
9. Changes in the weight
If you are trying to lose weight and you eat healthy foods, exercise regularly but you still do not have any changes in your weight it may be a sign of hypothyroidism. If you are attending a group for losing weight but you are the only person that do not lose weight it maybe mean that you have thyroid problem. If you cannot decide what causes your unplanned weight gaining or losing you might suffer from hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
10. Fatigue
If you sleep 8 to 10 hours and you are still feeling tired and you cannot function the entire day without napping you may have problems with the thyroid. The opposite of this, staying up all night and having insomnia is connected with hyperthyroidism.
