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Is Your Thyroid Out of Whack? 12 Not-So-Subtle Signs of Thyroid Disease

In America, about 20 million people have some form of thyroid disease. 

Thyroid diseases are actually very common, but they can be tricky to notice because their symptoms mimic the symptoms of other diseases as well. 

Is your thyroid out of whack? Find out 12 warning signs of thyroid disease to watch out for here!

1. Fatigue

If you’ve been feeling overly tired, you may want to ask yourself, “Is my thyroid out of whack?”

If you have problems sleeping and constantly feel like you have no energy, you may have problems with your thyroid. It can be difficult to notice though because a lack of energy could also come from so many other problems as well.

However, if you have hypothyroidism, for example, that means your thyroid isn’t producing enough hormones. This could leave you feeling tired and groggy in the morning, even if you had a full, restful eight hours of sleep.

When your muscles don’t have enough of that hormone telling them that it’s time to wake up, this will leave you with the groggy feeling. 

Keep track of your sleep to see if you notice a pattern of feeling tired and having no energy even after sleeping the whole night. 

2. Appetite Changes

Another thing to keep an eye out for on your hypothyroidism checklist is to monitor your appetite. 

If you have hypothyroidism, food may taste and smell differently. You may also not want to eat as much as you used to.

On the other hand though, if you have hyperthyroidism you may end up eating too much. That’s because your thyroid makes too many hormones which stimulate your appetite. 

3. Weight Loss or Gain

If you have noticed that you are unexpectedly losing or gaining weight, this may also be a sign that your thyroid isn’t functioning the way it’s supposed to. 

If you are gaining weight, this may mean that your thyroid isn’t producing enough hormones. If your thyroid isn’t producing enough, you may notice you’ve started to lose weight.

If you haven’t started or stopped a new diet or exercise routine, you may want to head to the doctor.  

4. Mood Swings

Mood swings are also common with thyroid problems. 

Thyroid diseases can make people feel like they have less energy, but they can also cause depression and anxiety. Keep a calendar of your moods and see if they change suddenly with no cause.

5. Temperature Changes

People who constantly feel really hot or cold with no reason also have thyroid problems a lot of the time. 

Some people may feel too hot or cold despite the temperature around them. 

6. It Runs in the Family

If your family has a history of thyroid diseases, there is a good chance that you may have it as well.

If you have started noticing these symptoms and know people in your family who have also had problems with it, it may be time to see a doctor. 

7. Your Throat is Swelling

Your thyroid is located in your neck, so if you’ve started noticing that your neck is swelling, this could be an indicator that something is wrong.

If you’re unsure about it, you can go to your doctor. They will normally feel your neck to see if it feels enlarged, and they may even order an ultrasound to check. 

8. Dry Skin

Dry skin is also common, especially in hypothyroidism. 

If your thyroid isn’t functioning properly, your metabolism can be slowed down, which can affect your skin reproducing. It can also reduce how much you sweat, which will dry out your skin.

9. Changes in Your Period

If you are a woman, your thyroid also controls how light and heavy your periods are. It can also control the frequency as well.

When you go to the doctor, they may send you for blood tests to check your TH levels. This is important to do because if you have frequent, heavy periods, your iron levels could drop. 

10. Sore Muscles

If you just worked out and your muscles are sore, you’re probably fine.

But if your muscles are sore for no reason, you may want to see a doctor. If your thyroid isn’t producing enough hormones, this could, in the long run, damage the nerves in your muscles. 

It could cause pain or even numbness eventually. 

11. Losing Your Hair

Everyone sheds hair every now and then, but if you start to notice clumps of it falling out in the shower, it’s not a good sign.

Like skin growth we talked about earlier, the thyroid hormone affects how fast your hair grows as well. 

In some patients, they may not even just lose the hair on their head. They may start to notice hair loss all over their body.  

12. High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is also a sign that something isn’t right with your thyroid. 

People who have a thyroid disorder also have a higher risk of having hypertension later on in their life. 

Some experts think that this happens because when there is a lower level of the thyroid hormone, it can cause the heart to beat slower. This will affect how strong the blood vessels are, and in the long term, it can be more stress on your arteries and veins. 

Is Your Thyroid out of Whack? Ask Your Doctor

If you think you have any of these symptoms, you should consider making an appointment with your doctor to ask, “Is my thyroid out of whack?”

They will likely do a blood test and ask you about your symptoms.

Thyroid cancer is also common, so make sure you make an appointment today to make sure everything is okay.