12 Signs Your Thyroid Isn't Working Right ::
1. You're exhausted
Feeling tired and having no energy are issues associated
with lots of conditions, but they're strongly linked with
hypothyroidism, the disorder that's the result of too little
thyroid hormone. If you're still tired in the morning or all
day after a full night's sleep, that's a clue that your
thyroid may be underactive. Too little thyroid hormone
coursing through your bloodstream and cells means your
muscles aren't getting that get-going signal. “Fatigue is the
number one symptom I see,” says Miller. “It’s the kind of
fatigue where you’re still tired in the morning after a full
night’s sleep—that’s a clue that you’re not simply sleep
deprived; your thyroid may be underactive.”
2. Your appetite or taste buds are altered
An increased appetite can be a sign of hyperthyroidism
when too much thyroid hormone may have you feeling
hungry all of the time. The only upside is that the "hyper"
part of the disorder typically offsets the caloric impact of
an increased appetite so the end result isn't weight gain.
3. You're feeling down
Feeling unusually depressed or sad can also be a
symptom of hypothyroidism. Why? It's thought that the
production of too little thyroid hormone can have an
impact on levels of "feel good" serotonin in the brain.
With an underactive thyroid turning other body systems
down to "low," it's not surprising that your mood might
sink there, too.
4. You feel jittery and anxious
Anxiety and "feeling wired" are associated with
hyperthyroidism, when the thyroid gland is making too
much thyroid hormone. Flooded with consistent "all
systems go" messages, your metabolism and whole body
may spin into overdrive. If you feel like you just can't
relax, your thyroid may be "hyper."
5. Your skin is dry
Skin that's dry and itchy can be a symptom of
hypothyroidism. The change in skin texture and
appearance is probably due to slowed metabolism
(caused by too little thyroid hormone production), which
can reduce sweating. Skin without enough moisture can
quickly become dry and flaky. Likewise, nails can become
brittle and may develop ridges.
6. You've gained weight
Going up a few dress sizes can be caused by so many
things that it's unlikely your doctor will look at weight
gain alone as a potential thyroid disorder symptom.
However, weight gain is one of the top reasons women
show up in Miller’s office for a thyroid checkup. “They’ll
tell me that they aren’t eating any more than usual, but
they’re gaining weight,” she says. “They are exercising, but
they are getting nowhere. They can’t lose it.” It’s almost
always due to an underactive thyroid, she says.
7. You have high cholesterol
High levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol
that haven't responded to diet, exercise, or medication
have been linked to hypothyroidism. Elevated levels of the
"bad" cholesterol can be caused by an underactive
thyroid and are cause for concern. Untreated
hypothyroidism can lead to heart problems, including an
enlarged heart and heart failure.
8. Your brain feels fuzzy
Sure, it could be caused by sleep deprivation or aging,
but cognitive functioning can take a hit when your
thyroid is out of whack. Too much thyroid hormone
(hyperthyroidism) can cause difficulty concentrating and
too little (hypothyroidism) may cause forgetfulness and
general brain fog. “When we treat patients for
hypothyroidism, they are often surprised at how fast their
brain fog goes away and how much sharper they feel,”
Miller says. “Many women think it’s just something that
comes along with menopause when it really is a sign of a
thyroid problem.”
9. You're feeling all fluttery
That fluttery feeling you're having may be heart
palpitations. It can feel like your heart is actually
fluttering or skipping a beat or two, or beating too hard
or too quickly. You may notice these feelings in your
chest or at pulse points in your throat or neck. Heart
flutters or palpitations can be a sign of too many thyroid
hormones flooding your system (hyperthyroidism).
10. You have painful extremities or muscles
Sometimes you stub a toe or work out too hard—that
kind of pain can be explained away. But if you have
mysterious or sudden tingling or numbness—or actual
pain—in your arms, legs, feet, or hands, that could be a
sign of hypothyroidism. Over time, producing too little
thyroid hormone can damage the nerves that send signals
from your brain and spinal cord throughout your body.
The result is those "unexplained" tingles and twinges.
11. You have high blood pressure
Elevated blood pressure can be a symptom of a thyroid
disorder. Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism have
been fingered as culprits. By some estimates, people with
hypothyroidism have two to three times the risk of
developing hypertension. One theory is that low amounts
of thyroid hormone can slow heart beat, which can affect
pumping strength and blood vessel wall flexibility. Both
may cause a rise in blood pressure.
12. You're hoarse or your neck feels funny
A change in your voice or a lump in your throat could be
a sign of a thyroid disorder. One way to check is to take a
good look at your neck to see if you can detect any signs
of thyroid swelling.
1. You're exhausted
Feeling tired and having no energy are issues associated
with lots of conditions, but they're strongly linked with
hypothyroidism, the disorder that's the result of too little
thyroid hormone. If you're still tired in the morning or all
day after a full night's sleep, that's a clue that your
thyroid may be underactive. Too little thyroid hormone
coursing through your bloodstream and cells means your
muscles aren't getting that get-going signal. “Fatigue is the
number one symptom I see,” says Miller. “It’s the kind of
fatigue where you’re still tired in the morning after a full
night’s sleep—that’s a clue that you’re not simply sleep
deprived; your thyroid may be underactive.”
2. Your appetite or taste buds are altered
An increased appetite can be a sign of hyperthyroidism
when too much thyroid hormone may have you feeling
hungry all of the time. The only upside is that the "hyper"
part of the disorder typically offsets the caloric impact of
an increased appetite so the end result isn't weight gain.
3. You're feeling down
Feeling unusually depressed or sad can also be a
symptom of hypothyroidism. Why? It's thought that the
production of too little thyroid hormone can have an
impact on levels of "feel good" serotonin in the brain.
With an underactive thyroid turning other body systems
down to "low," it's not surprising that your mood might
sink there, too.
4. You feel jittery and anxious
Anxiety and "feeling wired" are associated with
hyperthyroidism, when the thyroid gland is making too
much thyroid hormone. Flooded with consistent "all
systems go" messages, your metabolism and whole body
may spin into overdrive. If you feel like you just can't
relax, your thyroid may be "hyper."
5. Your skin is dry
Skin that's dry and itchy can be a symptom of
hypothyroidism. The change in skin texture and
appearance is probably due to slowed metabolism
(caused by too little thyroid hormone production), which
can reduce sweating. Skin without enough moisture can
quickly become dry and flaky. Likewise, nails can become
brittle and may develop ridges.
6. You've gained weight
Going up a few dress sizes can be caused by so many
things that it's unlikely your doctor will look at weight
gain alone as a potential thyroid disorder symptom.
However, weight gain is one of the top reasons women
show up in Miller’s office for a thyroid checkup. “They’ll
tell me that they aren’t eating any more than usual, but
they’re gaining weight,” she says. “They are exercising, but
they are getting nowhere. They can’t lose it.” It’s almost
always due to an underactive thyroid, she says.
7. You have high cholesterol
High levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol
that haven't responded to diet, exercise, or medication
have been linked to hypothyroidism. Elevated levels of the
"bad" cholesterol can be caused by an underactive
thyroid and are cause for concern. Untreated
hypothyroidism can lead to heart problems, including an
enlarged heart and heart failure.
8. Your brain feels fuzzy
Sure, it could be caused by sleep deprivation or aging,
but cognitive functioning can take a hit when your
thyroid is out of whack. Too much thyroid hormone
(hyperthyroidism) can cause difficulty concentrating and
too little (hypothyroidism) may cause forgetfulness and
general brain fog. “When we treat patients for
hypothyroidism, they are often surprised at how fast their
brain fog goes away and how much sharper they feel,”
Miller says. “Many women think it’s just something that
comes along with menopause when it really is a sign of a
thyroid problem.”
9. You're feeling all fluttery
That fluttery feeling you're having may be heart
palpitations. It can feel like your heart is actually
fluttering or skipping a beat or two, or beating too hard
or too quickly. You may notice these feelings in your
chest or at pulse points in your throat or neck. Heart
flutters or palpitations can be a sign of too many thyroid
hormones flooding your system (hyperthyroidism).
10. You have painful extremities or muscles
Sometimes you stub a toe or work out too hard—that
kind of pain can be explained away. But if you have
mysterious or sudden tingling or numbness—or actual
pain—in your arms, legs, feet, or hands, that could be a
sign of hypothyroidism. Over time, producing too little
thyroid hormone can damage the nerves that send signals
from your brain and spinal cord throughout your body.
The result is those "unexplained" tingles and twinges.
11. You have high blood pressure
Elevated blood pressure can be a symptom of a thyroid
disorder. Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism have
been fingered as culprits. By some estimates, people with
hypothyroidism have two to three times the risk of
developing hypertension. One theory is that low amounts
of thyroid hormone can slow heart beat, which can affect
pumping strength and blood vessel wall flexibility. Both
may cause a rise in blood pressure.
12. You're hoarse or your neck feels funny
A change in your voice or a lump in your throat could be
a sign of a thyroid disorder. One way to check is to take a
good look at your neck to see if you can detect any signs
of thyroid swelling.
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