10 Tell-Tale Signs That You Might Have Hypothyroidism
If you’re constantly sleepy and can’t lose
weight, then it’s possible you have hypothyroidism, a condition that
affects millions of people around the world. In the human body, the
thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck that
secretes two very important hormones – thyroxine and thyroid stimulating
hormone. When hypothyroidism is present in an individual, levels of
thyroxine are normal to low, whereas levels of thyroid stimulating
hormone are elevated.
In turn, these hormone imbalances cause the
pituitary gland to work harder than it normally should, as it tries to
bring hormone levels back into balance. Thyroxine and
thyroid-stimulating hormones are highly important because they regulate
energy, body temperature, food digestion, and many major organs, such as
the heart, brain liver, kidneys and skin.
In addition to sleepiness and the inability to lose weight, other
symptoms of hypothyroidism include feeling foggy and sluggish. It is an
incredibly prevalent condition, with about 10 million people in the USA
alone being afflicted by it.
Hypothyroidism can be caused by a number of things, such as genetic
predisposition to an autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
It can be diagnosed by a simple blood test, and can often be fixed with
the right prescription. Here are 10 signs that you might have
hypothyroidism:
1. Constant tiredness
While there are many causes for tiredness
and fatigue, the symptoms are strongly linked to hypothyroidism. If
hypothyroidism is the cause of these symptoms, they can be countered by
exercising and increasing physical activity.
2. Weight Gain
If you’ve gained quite a bit of weight recently, but you’re at a loss as
to why, then the cause might be hypothyroidism. The condition causes
metabolic function to slow down. Even if you happen to be dieting and
exercising regularly, you will not be able to lose any extra pounds,
because your body accumulates water and salt when your thyroid is
sluggish.
3. Forgetfulness
Cognitive function takes a hit when your thyroid isn’t working properly.
Hormone imbalances as a result of this malfunctioning, can cause
forgetfulness and poor memory. Seeing as this hormone deficiency or
imbalance slows everything down, your neurological function could be
affected after some time.
4. High Cholesterol Levels
Although it isn’t typical for a doctor to
look for thyroid problems during a check-up, they’re likely to measure
cholesterol levels. If they are elevated, they could also point to a
thyroid problem. This is because hypothyroidism can reduce clearance of
cholesterol particles in the body. If you’re looking to lower these
levels, a good food to try is overnight oats.
5. Little Interest in Love Making
Having little to no interest in love making can also point to a thyroid
disorder. This is because of the relationship between thyroid function
and adrenal glands, which are the organs that control the responsible
hormones, like testosterone. In a nutshell, low levels of thyroid
hormones can also result in low levels of needed hormones.
6. Feeling Gloomy or Depressed
One of the more debilitating side-effects of hypothyroidism is feeling
down in the dumps or depressed. While depression can, of course, be
related to other things, it can be a sign of hypothyroidism, especially
when it is experienced in conjunction with one or more of the other
symptoms that are mentioned in this list.
7. Dry Skin
If you’ve desperately been trying to add moisture to your skin seemingly
to no avail, it could also be a sign of a thyroid problem. Changes in
texture and appearance could be as a result of low thyroid function. You
should especially be concerned if your dry skin is compounded with
brittle nails, poor wound healing and hair loss. Make it a priority to
see a doctor if you’re experiencing these things in combination.
8. Constipation
8. Constipation
Being unable to go can be caused by an
under-active thyroid. Seeing as the thyroid gland regulates metabolism,
under activity can slow down digestive tract action. This can also
weaken the contraction of the muscles that line the digestive tract.
This causes your stools to move through your intestine far too slowly.
Eating fiber-rich foods can help with constipation, but if symptoms
persist, then it’s time to head to your doctor.
9. Sore Muscles
If you exercise regularly, then it’s normal to experience muscle
fatigue, however if the fatigue feels constant, it could be linked to a
thyroid problem. The hormones that regulate metabolism can affect how
your muscles feel if they are at low levels. To counter these symptoms,
do low-impact exercises like elliptical stepping or swimming. Also,
consider increasing the amount of fish in your diet.
10. Feeling Cold
Wearing many different layers in the middle of summer obviously isn’t
normal, and if you’re doing so, you might be suffering from
hypothyroidism. The thyroid gland regulates body temperature, and its
function is affected if it is producing too little thyroid hormone. Body
temperature tends to decrease as a result of this, because less energy
is being burned by downstream cell targets. Less energy together with a
slow metabolism means less heat.
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