What does the thyroid do?
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland at the front of your neck, which has two side lobes. Even though it’s small, it controls many bodily functions. Since it produces hormones that regulate things like mood, digestion, and the body’s metabolic rate, among others, there are plenty of health issues linked to thyroid problems, too. Here are some health problems that might occur if your thyroid is not functioning properly.
Strange weight changes
Because the thyroid gland regulates metabolism, too much thyroid hormone causes the general โspeeding upโ of bodily functions, according to the American Thyroid Association (ATA). So it makes sense that if youโre experiencing unexpected weight loss, hyperthyroidism could be to blame. On the other end of the spectrum, if the number on your bathroom scale is going up, the increase could be caused by hypothyroidism, which causes the slowing of bodily processes. โUsually the weight gain isnโt a matter of obesity; itโs in the range of five to 15 pounds,โ explains Leonard Wartofsky, MD, MACP, professor of medicine at Georgetown University and past president of the Endocrine Society, Washington, D.C. โSo slow, progressive, modest weight gain could raise suspicions.โ Here are the hidden dangers of a “normal” thyroid.
Feeling sluggish and sleepy
If youโve been tired and โblahโ despite adequate sleep, an underactive thyroid might be the reason, per Harvard Medical School. Dr. Wartofsky adds that patients with overactive thyroid experience a different kind of fatigue. โWith hyperthyroidism, itโs a feeling of being worn outโof running on a hamster wheel and feeling exhausted.โ
Freezing in August or sweating in February
โFeeling cold in the middle of summerโfor example, needing a sweater these last few weeksโis a reason to get checked for hypothyroidism,โ says Alan P. Farwell, MD, chief of the section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, and director of endocrine clinics at Boston Medical Center, Massachusetts. Conversely, if you spent last Presidentโs Day weekend sweating through a t-shirt, it could be time to wonder about an overactive thyroid. For example, one of Dr. Farwellโs patients wore tank tops and shorts through a Vermont winter. Check out the best habits you should start to keep your thyroid healthy.
Problems with your period and pregnancy
In women, menstrual irregularities can be common with either an underactive or overactive thyroid gland. โIn hypothyroid women, cycles tend to be longer and heavier,โ says Dr. Farwell. โIn hyperthyroidism, cycles tend to be shorter and scantier.โ In addition, both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are causes of fertility issues, with hypothyroidism being more common. The reason? โModerate to severe hypothyroidism can cause increases in the pituitary hormone prolactin that can directly block the other pituitary hormones that regulate ovulation and the menstrual cycle,โ Dr. Farwell explains. In addition, he adds that hypothyroidism in pregnant women, even if mild, can affect the brain development of the baby. โIt is critically important that any woman on thyroid hormone as well as those with a family history of thyroid problems or any symptoms of thyroid problems should get their thyroid levels checked early in any pregnancy.โ
Freaking out or feeling down
As hyperthyroidism speeds up body functions, it could make you nervous or irritable, explains the ATA. โSymptoms of an overactive thyroid include feeling jumpy, jittery, or shaky,โ says Dr. Farwell. Conversely, as body processes slow with hypothyroidism, feeling depressed or even becoming forgetful could be the result. โDepression is a common condition where a thyroid problem could be missed,โ Dr. Farwell adds. These are the foods thyroid experts avoidโso you should, too.
Weirdness with skin and hair
โDry skin in summerโas opposed to winter when dryness is more normalโwould be suspicious,โ says Dr. Wartofsky. This could be a symptom of hypothyroidism, in which a slowed metabolism could reduce sweating, therefore leaving your skin without enough moisture, according to research published in 2011 in the journal Dermato-Endocrinology. And other research in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism shows that hypothyroidism could also be to blame if hair is falling out. Low thyroid hormone levels interfere with the hairโs growth cycle, which could lead to hair loss.
A new lump in the neck
The most common symptom of thyroid cancer is a lump or swelling in the neck, according to the Endocrine Society. While other signs include trouble swallowing, pain in the neck or throat, or a hoarse voice that doesnโt seem to go away, many cases of thyroid cancer donโt exhibit any symptoms at all. Check outย the thyroid cancer symptoms you should never ignore.
Plus a bunch of other random issues
โThe trouble is thyroid can cause almost any symptom under the sun: weight gain, weight loss, feeling fatigued, feeling stressed, a fight with your boyfriendโanything,โ says Michael Tuttle, MD, clinical director of the endocrinology service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Other symptoms of thyroid disease include constipation, elevated cholesterol, memory problems, sweating, rapid heartbeat, and more. Dr. Tuttle urges patients not to accept such varied problems as natural characteristics of aging or mood, but to use them as a reason to ask your doctor for a blood test to check your thyroid levels. โPeople should realize that any of these subtle symptoms could actually be early thyroid disease, which is very simple to test for,โ he adds. โThereโs no reason to sit around struggling with these problems when it could be something thatโs so easy to treat.โ These are silent signs of a thyroid problem.