The thyroid gland is shaped like a butterfly and located in the front of the neck below Adam's apple. It is an endocrine gland (which secretes its products directly into the blood) that makes a hormone called thyroid hormone, which is involved in regulating your body’s metabolism, growth, and development.
The thyroid gland controls your metabolism with a few specific hormones, namely T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine). Thyroid disease is when your thyroid gland makes either too much or too little of these essential hormones.
Let us look into the signs that can indicate that you have issues with your thyroid gland.
10 Signs You May Have a Thyroid Problem
1. Fatigue
The thyroid regulates your energy levels through the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis that helps in regulating the physiological energy demands of your body.
When the production of thyroid hormone is running low, you might be a little more tired than usual, or extremely fatigued.
2. Weight Gain or Weight Loss
The most common symptom of low levels of thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) is weight gain as the thyroid hormone helps in regulating your metabolism. When your thyroid gland is underactive, your metabolism slows down, making it more difficult for you to burn calories and lose weight.
Hyperthyroidism (increased levels of thyroid hormone) is associated with a high basal metabolic weight. This means that your body burns more energy while it is at rest, so unintended weight loss is its common symptom.
3. Mood Swings, Anxiety, or Depression
Thyroid disease can affect your mood, primarily causing anxiety or depression.
The severity of mood changes depends on the severity of your thyroid disorder.
4. Menstrual Issues
The thyroid gland controls the regularity of menstrual cycles, as well as your fertility in general. Menstrual issues associated with hypothyroidism may include a period that is very heavy or irregular.
The imbalance in thyroid hormones can also cause amenorrhoea (no periods for several months or longer).
5. Muscle Pain
According to research, 79% of people with low levels of thyroid hormone show symptoms of myopathy (a condition that leads to muscle cramps, muscle weakness, and fatigue).
6. Cold Hands And Feet or Excessive Sweating
Cold hands and feet may be due to poor circulation, which is generally seen in hypothyroidism. This symptom may seem random, but research has shown that 40% of people with low-thyroid hormones feel more sensitive towards cold.
In the case of hyperthyroidism, your thyroid gland is overactive and your body’s processes speed up. This acceleration can bring about excessive sweating and intolerance to heat.
7. Dry Skin And Excessive Hair loss
You may experience dry, scaly skin generally on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet as the thyroid hormone helps regulate epidermal (skin) balance.
Also, the thyroid hormone is essential for the development and maintenance of the hair follicle, and low levels can lead to hair thinning or hair loss.
8. Constipation or Diarrhoea
Hypothyroidism can cause reduced gut motility, meaning food takes longer to travel through the digestive tract, leading to constipation.
Also, hyperthyroidism can cause mild-to-moderate diarrhoea with frequent bowel movements in 25% of the cases.
9. Decreased or Increased Heart Rate
Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can impact cardiovascular health in many different ways.
When the thyroid hormone levels are low, the heart rate slows down. Further, the presence of excessive thyroid hormones can lead to an increased heart rate.
10. Neck Swelling, Snoring, or Hoarse Voice
These are the classic symptoms of thyroid nodules. Thyroid nodules are the abnormal growth of thyroid cells that form a lump within the thyroid gland.
Though most thyroid nodules are benign (non-cancerous), a small proportion of thyroid nodules do contain thyroid cancer.
Now that you have seen the signs, let’s have a quick look at the diagnosis and treatment for thyroid problems.
How Do You Diagnose Thyroid Problems?
It can be difficult to diagnose a thyroid disorder, as you may experience similar symptoms when you are pregnant or ageing. Some of the tests used to confirm the diagnosis of thyroid problems include:
- Physical Exam: This is one of the quickest and the easiest ways to detect growths or enlargement of the thyroid gland.
- Blood Test: It is generally done to detect whether you have hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.
Imaging Test: This is done in case of neck swellings. In many situations, taking a look at the thyroid itself can answer a lot of questions. Your doctor may suggest an imaging test called a thyroid scan for the detection and evaluation of thyroid nodules.
How to Treat Thyroid Problems?
The main aim of treatment is to get your thyroid levels back within the normal range. This can be done in a variety of ways depending on your thyroid condition and the treatment plan suggested by your doctor.
Early detection will help you manage your thyroid problem better and have a good prognosis. If you notice any of the above signs and symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.
Disclaimer: This article is written by the Practitioner for informational and educational purposes only. The content presented on this page should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. Please "DO NOT SELF-MEDICATE" and seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns. Practo will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.