Excessive sleep, struggling to waking up, or staying awake in the morning could be early signs of hypothyroidism, warns Nohitha Cheva, co- founder of Oraah, a wellness company for women.
Thyroid disorders are no longer uncommon in India.
About 12% of people suffer from abnormal thyroid-related problems at some phase during their lives.
Women are eight times more prone to thyroid disorders than men. Also, thyroid problems increase with age and may have different symptoms in adults compared to children.
At the most basic level, thyroid hormone function is coordinating energy, growth, and metabolic activity in your body.
Thyroid disorder can occur when there is a change in hormone levels in the body. Sometimes it rises or falls rapidly leading to problems.
Hypothyroidism, or low levels of thyroid hormone, slows down your metabolism activity or growth and repair of many parts of the body.
What is hypothyroidism?
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland that wraps around the front of your windpipe.
It releases thyroid hormone, which exhibits growth and metabolic activity of every part of your body.
The pituitary, a tiny gland located in the middle of your head, releases thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and also controls your physiology.
TSH is the indication to the thyroid gland to stimulate thyroid hormone in your body.
Sometimes TSH levels rise, but the thyroid gland can’t release extra thyroid hormone T4 in response. This is known as primary hypothyroidism, as the symptoms start at the level of the thyroid gland.
At other times, TSH levels fall, and the thyroid can’t acknowledge the signal to increase the level of thyroid hormone in the body. This is termed secondary hypothyroidism.
As our biological functions are so often related to our hormones levels, several signs and symptoms could indicate a problem with your thyroid gland.
10 common signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism:
1. Increase in heart rate
An excessive heart rate can be a sign of hyperthyroidism in your body.
When the thyroid is functioning too hard and releasing too many hormones, blood pressure gets high, causing an increased heart rate.
Without a heart pulse, it can be difficult to analyse your resting heart rate. Fortunately, many smartphones have inbuilt health-related apps that can help you to figure out your heartbeat rate.
If your heartbeat rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute at rest, it is considered normal. However, if your heart rate is constantly over 80 beats per minute, it is better to seek medical help.
2. Excessive fatigue
When your heart and blood pressure are not working fast enough, you might feel excessively tired and lethargic.
This is often related to hypothyroidism and is usually the early sign of thyroid issue.
Excessive sleep, struggling to waking up, or staying awake in the morning should be treated seriously.
If you are experiencing these symptoms, it’s better to seek medical help as soon as possible.
3. Anxiety
Many who experience hyperthyroidism symptoms often struggle with feelings of excessive anxiety.
This may cause an emotional turbulence and you may end up getting annoyed or prone to outbursts.
If you are experiencing difficulty getting along with the people around you, you should start analysing what has changed.
If there is no other reason for the change in your emotional behaviour, you might be experiencing a change in hormone levels as a result of thyroid disorder.
4. Weight gain or loss
One of the early signs of thyroid disorder is sudden weight gain or weight loss.
Rapid weight gain is a sign of low thyroid function.
If your energy level is too low in your body to carry out functions normally, your body will find difficulties in burning the calories required to maintain a healthy weight.
Alternatively, when you are troubled with too much energy, you will find that your metabolism activity in your body will work too fast.
This may lead to rapid weight loss which may, which initially seems like a great change.
If you start losing weight suddenly without any reason, however, you must seek medical help to make certain that the otherwise pleasant change is not a sign of an underlying thyroid issue.
5. Body shakes
High blood pressure may often lead to trembling as a result of nervousness, however, shaky hands or difficulty in relaxing cannot be considered normal.
Usually, shaky hands or body twitches are considered a symptom of exhaustion or nerves. However, if you experience these symptoms frequently, it would be better to seek medical help.
6. Feeling chilly or overheated
Blood pressure is directly related to circulation. Feeling the chill might be due to low blood circulation in your body.
You might need a sweater or blanket when others are feeling just fine.
If you are always feeling cold or your hands and feet become extremely chilled when not covered, that may be an early symptom of hypothyroidism.
Hyperthyroidism might experience opposite reactions as well. The symptoms may include feelings of hot flashes or excessive sweating.
7. Trouble concentrating
Do you often notice that you lose concentration when trying to complete work?
If you have trouble focusing or forget things easily, then you might be experiencing a symptom of thyroid disorder in your body.
Prolonged confusion is the early sign of thyroid issues.
This may include losing track of your car parking, what you entered the kitchen for, or the inability to track names and dates are the early signs of thyroid disorder.
8. Hair loss
Hair loss is often normal. If you notice that your hair is getting thinner than it used to be, or that you are getting bald spots in your head, this might be a reason for thyroid problems.
Notice carefully how much hair is pulling out itself to your hairbrush regularly.
It is normal to lose some hair while combing, but it can be a serious concern if you brush out more hair than usual, it might be a sign of hyperthyroidism. Seek medical help as soon as possible.
9. Digestive issues
Constipation is one of the symptoms of hypothyroidism.
Those who suffer from hypothyroidism experience constipation issues, while those who are struggling with a hyperactive thyroid experience loose stools more frequently.
It’s better to seek medical help if your digestive function has changed recently as that might be because of hormonal levels changes in the body.
10. Muscle aches and trouble swallowing
Muscle aches throughout the body are the symptoms of abnormal thyroid levels.
If your muscle aches have lately onset without any other obvious reason, a thyroid disorder might be the reason.
Sometimes muscle breakdown can also happen, but the probability is less. If you have noticed that you are unable to build toned muscle, then it’s better to seek medical advice.
In a similar vein, as the thyroid is present inside the neck, usually the neck muscles are the first to undergo these symptoms. This includes the muscles that are associated with swallowing.
If you are finding difficulty swallowing, this might be another symptom of thyroid disorder.
Hypothyroidism, or low thyroid, is a common thyroid disorder. It can have a wide range of symptoms, that includes fatigue, weight gain, and feeling cold.
It can also be a problem with your hair, skin, muscles, memory, or mood. It’s important to note that none of these problems are unique to hypothyroidism.
Yet if you are experiencing several related symptoms or they are new, worsening, or severe, seek help from your doctor to check if you need to be tested for hypothyroidism.
Fortunately, hypothyroidism is curable with less expensive medications.
If your thyroid hormone levels are at low levels, a simple treatment could cure your thyroid disorder.
Never ignore the symptoms of thyroid disorders.
If you find anything different or unusual happening with your body, observe the changes for a couple of days and seek medical advice.
You may be required to get a Thyroid Function Test done to confirm the situation and take suitable action.
Different treatments are available for thyroid disorders and they can be set right over a period of time. The most important thing is to be aware of the warning signs and seek medical help when it is needed.
Thyroid issues are normally resolved through medication and in some serious cases, through surgery.
Based on the results of your Thyroid Function Test, your doctor will decide the medication for you. They may be in the form of pills or injections.
In some cases, the thyroid may be surgically removed. This is more common in the case of hyperthyroidism. This will be followed by medication.
Observing the signals your body sends you at regular intervals will help you take timely action. Knowing the cause is the first step to solving a problem.
