Signs That You May Have a Thyroid Problem

Your thyroid is described as a gland in your neck that resembles the shape of a butterfly. It regulates metabolism in the body, but a malfunction with your thyroid gland can cause a whole host of problems for your entire body.

If your thyroid is not functioning at an optimum level, then your body will tell you that something is wrong.

Exhaustion

Feeling sluggish and lacking energy can signify a variety of problems, but there is a strong link between this symptom and a thyroid problem. If you are getting a full night’s sleep and still feel tired in the morning then that could be a sign that your thyroid is not functioning properly. When your thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormones your muscles feel it, causing extreme fatigue.

Change in Feelings or Emotions

When you begin to suddenly feel down and depressed, it could be because your thyroid isn’t producing enough hormones and affecting your brain. When your brain lacks serotonin, it can lead to feeling depressed, down, or blue for no apparent reason. On the other hand, if you are feeling anxious or jittery, this can also be a sign of a thyroid problem. When your thyroid produces too many hormones it can cause your body to go into overdrive making it almost impossible to stop, slow down, or relax.

Low Sex Drive

When your thyroid produces too little hormones, it wreaks havoc on your entire body including your libido. This is in part due to the lack or hormones produced, but also to the side effects of a low producing thyroid. The weight gain, body aches, and lack of energy associated with thyroid hormone imbalances play a part and certainly don’t help with the decreased sex drive.

Constipation or Diarrhea

Those who suffer from a low producing thyroid often experience episodes of constipation. The disruption that an under-producing thyroid causes takes its effect on the digestive system. The imbalance of hormones causes the digestive process to slow down which leads to constipation. Those who suffer from an over-producing thyroid experience the opposite, diarrhea. The overproduction of hormones leads to bowel movements that are more frequent and the undigested food leads to diarrhea.

Changes in Menstrual Cycle

A sudden change in your period could signify a thyroid problem. Periods that last longer or involve more cramps or heavier flow are directly related with thyroid problems. Another symptom of lower thyroid hormones in the body includes periods that come closer together. On the other hand, periods, which are shorter in duration, further apart and lighter than normal, signify an over-productive thyroid.

Hot Flashes or Cold Chills

Having cold chills is a common symptom associated with an under-productive thyroid. The reduction in thyroid hormones causes less energy to be burned by the cells in your body. When the body burns less energy, less heat is created by the body. An over-productive thyroid causes the opposite effect.

The increase in hormones causes the body’s cells to go into overdrive mode which makes the body produce immense amounts of heat. Many people who experience hot flashes think that it is related to a hormonal imbalance due to menopause, or pre-menopause, when in reality the cause is a hormone imbalance due to an over-or under-productive thyroid gland.

An estimated 25 million people in America suffer from some form of a thyroid problem. This number might seem amazingly high, but what is even more amazing is that over half of them have no idea there is even a problem.

Hyperthyroidism, an overactive thyroid, and hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid, are the two common disorders of the thyroid, but hypothyroidism is the most common condition associated with more problems in the body.