A vast number of people suffer from some type of thyroid problem. What’s alarming is that a vast number of them don’t know they have it.

It’s typical for people to believe that some thyroid symptoms such as lack of sleep and chronic fatigue are “daily stress.”

These symptoms are easy to ignore, but the consequences of delaying diagnosis and treatment can be severe. Over time, untreated thyroid problems can create health complications ranging from heart problems and a high risk for osteoporosis.

Symptoms of thyroid problems differ based on the cause. An overactive thyroid can cause diarrhea, weight loss, and heat sensitivity. On the contrary, an underactive thyroid can make you gain weight, become constipated, and experience cold sensitivity.

What is a Thyroid?

The thyroid gland is a fundamental part of the endocrine system. This butterfly-shaped organ, located at the bottom part of your neck and wrapped around the trachea, controls vital hormones that affect several bodily functions.

Additionally, these hormones also affect how well your body works mentally and physically. For instance, if you aren’t feeling good for no reason, your body might be displaying symptoms of a thyroid problem. This hormone plays a vital role in your body, regulating:

• Metabolism
• Heart rate
• Body temperature
• Energy levels
• Weight
• And more

You will have thyroid problems if your thyroid is generating too much hormone (hyperthyroidism) or if it isn’t generating enough hormone (hypothyroidism).

Causes of Thyroid Problems

Thyroid problems usually result from a lack of physical activity. Other risk factors include:

• A family history of thyroid disease, Graves’ disease, or Hashimoto’s disease
• Pregnancy
• Taking medications with high levels of iodine or lithium
• Treatments such as thyroid surgery and radiation
• Noncancerous lumps

Stressful lifestyle changes, such as a stillbirth or the loss of a loved one, could also cause thyroid problems. Routine thyroid screening could help you discover any thyroid problems early, manage any symptoms, and stop a current condition from becoming worse.

Warning Signs

Your body is an intricate system with many performance levels. Over time, numerous factors can develop and disrupt the harmony of your body. Particularly, your systems can become overactive or underactive to make up for these factors. Here are some key warning signs to look out for that could be symptoms of a thyroid issue:

• Mood problems (usually depression or anxiety)
• Unexplained weight loss or gain
• Chronic fatigue
• Neck swelling
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Dry skin
• Hair thinning or loss

The good news is thyroid conditions are treatable with surgical and non-surgical treatments.

Symptoms of Thyroid Problems

Changes in Appetite

Your thyroid is one factor affecting appetite and if your thyroid is producing too much hormone, it can heighten your appetite. Though too much thyroid hormone is usually linked with weight loss, your weight could increase due to an increased appetite.

However, appetite-related symptoms aren’t the same for everyone. For instance, older adults (55+) might experience a loss in appetite instead of a heightened one.

Constipation

An underactive thyroid could cause constipation. When something disturbs the production of thyroid hormone, that could cause your digestive system to function slowly.

Weight Loss

Too much thyroid hormone typically causes weight loss. The reason is that your metabolism is functioning at an elevated rate when your thyroid is overactive. The seriousness of weight loss correlates to the seriousness of hyperthyroidism. If your thyroid is just a little overactive, you probably won’t have a huge amount of weight loss as you would if it were very overactive.

Lump in Your Throat

A lump in your throat or a change in your voice can indicate a thyroid problem. A lump that grows in the thyroid gland is referred to as a thyroid nodule. Numerous thyroid nodules are noncancerous, but some could be cancerous.

Chronic Fatigue

Too much thyroid hormone could make it hard for you to fall asleep at night, leading to chronic fatigue. Hypothyroidism’s deficiency of thyroxine can rob your body of all its energy. Moreover, these conditions will probably make you have muscle weakness which causes your body to feel drained and tired.

Missed Menstrual Cycles

For females, thyroid problems could affect their menstrual cycle and fertility. This is particularly true with hypothyroidism since not enough thyroxine could make it hard for your body to release eggs which are necessary for ovulation, hindering a woman’s complete fertility. Women with hypothyroidism could also be at a greater risk for issues during pregnancy such as a miscarriage and preeclampsia. Women who generate too much thyroxine could experience missed periods.

Cold Intolerance

How your thyroid gland works affects how you perceive temperature. One of the symptoms of not producing enough thyroid hormone is a problem tolerating the cold. When an underactive thyroid decreases body systems, your cells could have less energy to burn. Less energy means less heat.

Heat Sensitivity

On the contrary, an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) pushes energy-producing cells into overdrive. Therefore, people with hyperthyroidism could have difficulty tolerating heat.

Difficulty Sleeping

Sleep disorders associated with thyroid symptoms are:

• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Insomnia
• Restless legs syndrome

A thyroid disorder that’s not remedied could worsen these sleep issues.

Change in Your Appearance

Be aware of changes in your appearance such as:

• Swelling in your joints
• Dry, weak, brittle hair that is breaking off easily
• Puffy face
• Swelling at the base of your neck
• Red, itchy, irritated skin

You could simply be dismissing these changes as normal skin and hair problems. However, if you’ve observed changes in your skin’s appearance at the same time as experiencing one or more of the other issues mentioned here, it could be time to have your thyroid tested.

When To Contact a Medical Professional

Early warning signs of thyroid problems must be taken seriously. If you feel a lump or anything suspect, contact a thyroid specialist and schedule an examination. Thyroid symptoms can cause other health problems, so it’s important to seek treatment for any type of thyroid illness. For instance, hypothyroidism may cause high cholesterol.

Testing and Treatment

The good news is that many thyroid problems are simple to diagnose with a standard blood test that evaluates your level of thyroid hormone. Treatments are usually quite uncomplicated as well. Hypothyroidism is typically treated with an affordable synthetic thyroid hormone that’s ingested orally and is usually very well accepted.

Hyperthyroidism treatments are more wide-ranging but could include one year of treatment with an oral medication or a one-time dose of radioactive iodine (after which some people will develop hypothyroidism and must take synthetic thyroid hormone).

Preventative Measures

Avoid Cruciferous Vegetables

Eating a well-balanced diet is excellent for sustaining complete health and wellness, but it isn’t a substitute for medical treatments if you have a thyroid disorder. For hypothyroidism (not enough thyroid hormone), you could be prescribed a synthetic hormone (levothyroxine) to aid in maintaining normal thyroid hormone levels in the blood. For hyperthyroidism (producing too much thyroid hormone), the treatment is contingent on the cause of the problem. Thyroid-reducing medicines may help, but surgical intervention is sometimes necessary.

If you are experiencing hypothyroidism, avoid consuming large quantities of cruciferous veggies including:

• Kale
• Broccoli
• Spinach
• Brussel sprouts
• Cabbage

Cruciferous vegetables may reduce thyroid hormone synthesis. Soy could also badly affect how your body absorbs thyroid medicine.

Avoid Caffeine and Iodine-Rich Foods

You should also avoid large amounts of caffeine and iodine-rich foods. Too much caffeine could exacerbate hypothyroid symptoms like insomnia, heart palpitations, and stress. Excessive amounts of iodine-rich food could cause the thyroid gland to generate more hormones than the body requires.

Medical professionals have also found a link between hypothyroidism and celiac disease. If you’re diagnosed with hypothyroidism and celiac disease, not eating anything with gluten could help reduce inflammation and increase the absorption of thyroid medication.

Avoid Phthalates and Perfluorinated Chemicals

Having a balanced diet and reducing stress could help lessen chronic fatigue symptoms and enhance mental health. Decreasing exposure to such toxins as phthalates (found in fatty meats, cooking oils, fast food, and high-fat dairy), tobacco, and perfluorinated chemicals (found in processed meats, candy, and chips) may also better your thyroid health. You could also improve your thyroid function, bone strength, and immune system by taking supplements like vitamin D, selenium, and probiotics.

The Bottom Line

Your thyroid might be a small gland, but this small gland plays a big part in the way your body performs. If you’re having any symptoms, speak with a thyroid specialist in Denver to find out if you need to get your thyroid tested.

We Can Help

Catching a thyroid problem early may help reduce your chances of having an overactive thyroid. Moreover, it could also help you to discover and treat more severe conditions early on like thyroid cancer. If you feel you may be suffering symptoms related to thyroid conditions or see a change in the appearance of your thyroid, schedule an appointment with us today.