1. Fatigue
Feeling exhausted when you wake up, feeling as if 8 or 10 hours of sleep a night is insufficient or being unable to function all day without a nap can all be signs of thyroid problems. (With hyperthyroidism, you may also have nighttime insomnia that leaves you exhausted during the day.) Fatigue symptoms are usually mild at first before increasing in intensity.
The key identifier of thyroid-related fatigue is that is remains unrelieved, no matter how much you sleep or nap during the day. This fatigue inhibits patients’ ability to remain productive in day-to-day life, and it’s often what causes them to see a doctor for a diagnosis.
2. Weight Changes
If you’ve tried every low-fat, low-carb, low-calorie diet with little weight loss success, you might have hypothyroidism. An underactive thyroid gland is like miring your metabolism in quicksand, slowing it down to the point of ineffectualness.
With an overactive thyroid, or hyperthyroidism, patients usually cannot gain weight no matter how much they eat. This is because overly active thyroids push metabolisms to warp speed, causing the body to burn calories like rocket fuel. Many patients also experience dramatic and unexplained weight loss.
3. Muscle & Joint Pain
Unexplained aches and pains in the muscles and joints (following no period of physical exertion) can be symptomatic of a thyroid condition. These pains and be intense and unrelenting, interfering with normal activities and inhibiting the patient’s ability to perform movements and actions within their normal ranges of motion.
These symptoms can also manifest as muscle weaknesses, leading specific muscle groups suddenly unable to bear normal workloads. Some people experience tremors in their hands, which can become severe. Pain, swelling and stiffness can also occur in muscles and joints.
4. Swollen Neck
Swelling in the neck or a visibly enlarged thyroid that leads to neck pain and a gravelly voice can indicate thyroid disease. This condition is known as a “neck goiter,” and it typically presents as a localized enlargement at the base of the neck, affecting the skin and surrounding tissues which protect the actual thyroid gland.
However, the presence of a neck goiter does not necessarily signal that there is a problem with the thyroid itself. This type of swelling simply means that there is some underlying condition that is affecting the size of the thyroid and causing it to grow, and if it occurs in isolation without the presence of other symptoms, it may not require aggressive treatment.
5. Hair & Skin Changes
The hair and skin often show the first signs of thyroid problems, including symptoms such as dry hair, loss of hair, scaly skin, or excessively dry skin. Normal, regulated hair growth is actually dependent on the proper functioning of the thyroid gland, and problems with thyroid function can cause balding of the head in both men and women, as well as the loss of body hair.
The thyroid also regulates delivery of hormones which play important roles in the maintenance of healthy skin. When the thyroid is underactive or overactive, these hormones aren’t delivered in the proper quantities, and noticeable changes in the skin are the end result.
6. Bowel Disturbances
Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause changes in bowel habits, as both conditions interfere with the body’s ability to digest food and generate waste. People suffering from an underactive thyroid often experience difficulties in passing bowel movements, resulting in chronic constipation. Bowel movements can also be painful and cause additional problems such as hemorrhoids.
For people with hyperthyroidism, bowel movements can become more frequent and more urgent. Diarrhea can also take place. Stools tend to be loose, with higher volumes of liquid and may occur even if the patient has had little to eat.
7. Menstrual Abnormalities
Both underactive and overactive thyroids can disrupt women’s menstrual cycles, and like other condition-dependent symptoms, the nature of the changes depend on whether the patient is suffering from hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Women with underactive thyroids may experience lighter than normal periods, and they may also miss periods altogether.
On the other hand, overactive thyroids can cause heavier than normal periods, or periods which last several days longer than normal. The menstrual cycle itself may shorten, and spotting can occur.
8. Depression
Depression or anxiety disorders can indicate thyroid disease, although these symptoms are typically not enough on their own to warrant a diagnosis. These psychiatric symptoms and mood disturbances may present in a generalized or acute manner. In other words, patients may slowly sink into sustained periods of mild to severe depression, or they could experience unexpected, sudden and intense outbursts of symptoms, such as panic attacks.
Mood imbalances are more often seen with underactive thyroids. These symptoms may be accompanied by a general feeling of malaise or lethargy, an inability or lack of desire to concentrate, or a feeling of mental sluggishness.
9. Carpal Tunnel
Weakness or tingling in the arms, wrists, hands, and legs is a sign of carpal tunnel syndrome, a common sign of undiagnosed thyroid condition. While clinically significant numbers of patients experience these symptoms, many doctors and even specialists are not aware of the strong links between thyroid problems and carpal tunnel syndrome. As such, the root cause of the carpal tunnel symptoms is often misdiagnosed.
Treatment for thyroid-related carpal tunnel syndrome is the same as it is for stress- or injury-related carpal tunnel syndrome. Ergonomic improvements, wrist braces, physical therapy, specialized exercise regimens and anti-inflammatory medications may all be recommended.
10. Family History
If you have a family history of troublesome glands or “goiter” you may expect thyroid problems down the road. The disease is believed to have a strong genetic component, and you should be particularly vigilant if you have a close female relative who develops an overactive or underactive thyroid condition.
Additional risk factors include a family history of autoimmune disorders, as well as age and gender. Women have thyroid problems more often than men, and the majority of cases appear in patients who are over 50 years of age. Thyroid disease is yet another reason you should butt out, as research has found that smokers of both genders are at increased risk.
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