What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism?

The thyroid gland, located in the neck area, is the body's gas pedal. It regulates the body's metabolic speed. If the thyroid gland produces insufficient amounts of thyroid hormones, the metabolism decreases and the person gains weight. Other symptoms of hypothyroidism include intolerance to cold, fatigue, achiness, confusion and constipation.
The current blood testing misses the majority of people who need thyroid hormone treatment. Many physicians don’t know that the testing is unreliable, and continue to treat the tests instead of the person. Holistic physicians know how to treat taking both your symptoms and labs into account. Anyone with even 2 of the above symptoms should consider a trial of natural prescription thyroid (e.g., Armour Thyroid or a mix of T3 and T4 thyroid hormone).

You are more likely to develop thyroid problems as you age. Women are more likely than men to have thyroid problems. The thyroid gland is located at the base of your neck in front of your trachea (or windpipe). It has two sides and is shaped like a butterfly. It regulates metabolism and can be involved in certain forms of reversible dementia.

If there is not enough thyroid hormone in the bloodstream, the body's metabolism slows down. This is called hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). Symptoms of hypothyroidism include weight gain, hair thinning, weakness, and mental confusion. In most cases, hypothyroidism is treated with medication that contains the thyroid hormone.

If there is too much thyroid hormone, your metabolism speeds up. This is called hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include tachycardia (fast and sometimes irregular heartbeat), protruding eyes and other eye changes, nervousness, and anxiety. Treatment for hyperthyroidism lowers the amount of thyroid hormone and relieves your symptoms.

The symptoms of thyroid problems are sometimes mistaken as signs of the menopause transition. Also, the changing estrogen level due to menopause or hormone treatment can complicate the measurement of thyroid hormone level, making the diagnosis of thyroid problems more difficult. If you have symptoms of the thyroid disease, learn more about the condition from your health care provider and other sources, and consider getting tested.

The symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

• Fatigue or lack of energy
• Dry, coarse skin
• Dry, coarse hair
• Sensitivity to cold temperatures
• Heavy and/or irregular periods
• Puffy tissues
• Unexplained weight gain
• Depression
• Muscle cramps, muscle pain and tenderness
• Slower than normal heart rate
• Constipation
• Infertility
• Mental lethargy
• Goiter (swelling of the thyroid, located just below the Adam's apple)
• Decreased libido

Together, a cluster of the above symptoms could be reason to speak with your doctor. You and your doctor can decide if thyroid testing is needed to rule out any underlying medical conditions.

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The symptoms of hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) can differ from person to person. In some women, the onset is so gradual that it's hardly noticeable; in others, symptoms come on abruptly over the course of a few weeks or months. In general, the lower thyroid hormone levels are, the more pronounced and severe the following symptoms will be:

• Fatigue. Low thyroid function can result in less energy.
• Cold intolerance. Slowed-down cells burn less energy, so the body produces less heat. You may feel chilly even when others around you are comfortable.
• Appetite loss, weight gain. Although a seeming contradiction, the lower your energy needs, the fewer calories you need, so your appetite declines. Yet, you may gain a few pounds because your body converts fewer calories into energy, leaving more to be stored as fat.
• Cardiovascular effects. Low levels of thyroid hormone can lead to high blood pressure as well as elevated levels of total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. The heart's pumping ability may fall, reducing blood flow to the skin, kidneys, brain, and other vital tissues, and increasing the risk of heart failure, especially in older women.
• Mental effects. Hypothyroidism and depression share many of the same symptoms, including difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and loss of interest in things that are normally important to you. They call for different treatments, so proper diagnosis is important.
• Other signs and symptoms. Hypothyroidism can act as a dimmer switch on nearly every bodily function. Digestive processes become sluggish, causing constipation. Speech and movement may slow. Muscle aches and pain around the joints, including carpal tunnel syndrome, are common. Skin, hair, and nails may become dry and thin.
• If you have any of these symptoms, see your clinician for a physical exam. You'll be checked for physical signs of hypothyroidism, and you may have blood tests for levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) as well as the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4).

The common signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

• Depression
• Difficulty in losing weight
• Dry skin
• Headaches
• Lethargy or fatigue
• Heavy or irregular periods
• Recurrent infections
• Sensitivity to cold

Symptoms of hypothyroidism usually appear slowly over months or years. Symptoms and signs may include:

• Coarse and thinning hair.
• Dry skin.
• Brittle nails.
• A yellowish tint to the skin.
• Slow body movements.
• Cold skin.
• Inability to tolerate cold.
• Feeling tired, sluggish or weak.
• Memory problems, depression, or problems concentrating.
• Constipation.
• Heavy or irregular menstrual periods that may last longer than 5 to 7 days.

Some less common symptoms may include:

• An enlarged thyroid gland (goiter).
• Modest weight gain, often 10 lb (4.5 kg) or less.
• Swelling of the arms, hands, legs and feet, and facial puffiness, particularly around the eyes.
• Hoarseness.
• Muscle aches and cramps.

In general, how bad your symptoms are depends on your age, how long you have had hypothyroidism and the seriousness of the condition. The symptoms may be so mild and happen so slowly that they go unnoticed for years.

Mild (subclinical) hypothyroidism often causes no symptoms or vague symptoms that may be attributed to aging, such as memory problems, dry skin and fatigue.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism during and after pregnancy include fatigue, weight loss, dizziness, depression and memory and concentration problems.

Because of the range of symptoms, hypothyroidism can be mistaken for depression, especially during and after pregnancy. In older people, it may be confused with Alzheimer's disease, dementia and other conditions that cause memory problems.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism in infants, children and teens

Although rare, hypothyroidism can occur in infants, children and teens. In infants, symptoms of a goiter include a poor appetite and choking on food. Symptoms of hypothyroidism may include dry, scaly skin. In children and teens, symptoms include behavior problems and changes in school performance. Children and teens may gain weight and yet have a slowed growth rate. Teens may have delayed puberty and look much younger than their age.

Hypothyroidism is caused by an underactive thyroid. The thyroid has been found to be more common in women than in men, especially those over 50. Common symptoms associated with the condition are fatigue, lack of energy or drive, daytime sleepiness, weight gain, water retention or bloating, thinning hair, dry skin, constipation and difficulty concentrating.