The thyroid is a small gland located in the neck that releases thyroid hormones. These hormones affect a wide range of organs in the body, and when the levels are too high or too low, it can cause many different problems and symptoms. While these symptoms are common to other medical issues as well, if you notice several of these signs, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor to discuss your concerns.
Lack of Energy
If your thyroid isn’t producing enough hormone, you may feel an extreme lack of energy. This exhaustion is seemingly never-ending, no matter how much sleep you get. If you feel like you need to crawl right back in bed after sleeping all night, your thyroid could be the problem.
Foggy Brain
When thyroid hormones are too high, you may feel like you just cannot concentrate. When the levels are low, you might start noticing an increase in your forgetfulness. Either issue causes you to feel as if your brain is on the fast track to old age, and regulation of these hormones can make a huge difference very quickly.
Changes in Appetite
Thyroid problems can also affect your appetite in a big way. You might notice that you are constantly hungry, even after eating a meal. However, even though you may be eating significantly more, you are not likely to gain any weight also due to the increase in hormones.
Anxiousness or Jitteriness
If you feel as if you are constantly wired and unable to relax, increased thyroid hormone could be the cause. When these levels are high, it results in your body being in a constant state of hyperactivity that is difficult to control. You might also discover that your laid-back attitude is gone as well, only to be replaced by serious anxiety – even when you feel as if you don’t have anything to be anxious about.
Constipation
If you have always been regular, but now experience severe constipation, it could be the result of too little thyroid hormone. Low levels result in the digestive system slowing down drastically, making it so that you just can’t go – even when you are miserable.
Changes in Menstruation
If your once predictable periods have changed, thyroid levels can be the culprit. If they are too low, you might notice that your periods are much heavier, occur more often, and that you have worse cramping. High levels result in the opposite, which can make your menstrual cycle completely unpredictable and much lighter than ever before.
Fluttering or Palpitations
When thyroid levels are out of whack, it can result in a fluttering sensation in your heart, which is often the result of one or two skipped beats. You might also notice that your heartbeats are faster or harder than usual, and you will be able to feel it in your pulse points.
Unexplained Pain
If you begin to notice strange pains in your hands, feet, legs, or arms that are not the result of trauma, your thyroid might be to blame. You may also feel sudden numbness or tingling sensations in these areas. If the problem isn’t addressed, the lack of thyroid hormone can actually cause damage to the nerves that run to your spinal cord and brain.
This article provides general information about some of the signs that may indicate that your thyroid is not working properly. If you notice any of these signs, you may have a thyroid disorder. While you may think that your symptoms are due to another medical issue, you need to check with your doctor. The sooner you address the problem, the sooner you will feel like your old healthy self again.
If you have questions or concerns about thyroid problems, contact your local doctor, who will arrange for you to see a thyroid surgeon.
