Not everyone has the same symptoms, so make sure to talk with your health care provider if you think you have hypothyroidism. The doctor will ask about your symptoms, do a physical exam, and order blood tests. These tests measure your TSH, or thyroid stimulating hormone, level and antibodies.
In Hashimoto's disease, high levels of antibodies in the blood show that the thyroid is being attacked by the immune system. If you have an enlarged thyroid that's causing hypothyroidism, called a goiter, your doctor may order an ultrasound to see it better. In rare cases, you might need surgery, since an enlarged thyroid can make it hard to swallow. Hypothyroidism can usually be treated with an oral medication called levothyroxine.
Levothyroxine replaces a hormone naturally produced by the thyroid gland to regulate the body's energy. Your doctor may need to test the level of TSH in your body a few times to make sure the medication is working properly. TSH levels can change more during pregnancy, if you have heart disease, or if you take certain hormone therapies. Although most cases are mild, about 4. Women are three times more likely than men to experience migraines.
Much of this can be attributed to hormonal changes When Terran, 14, passed out in school, an ambulance took her to the hospital. Brown fat is important in maintaining body heat in cold climates, but hypothyroidism prevents it from doing its job 9. Low thyroid hormone flips the metabolic switch toward catabolism, which is when the body breaks down body tissues like muscle for energy During catabolism, muscle strength decreases, potentially leading to feelings of weakness.
The process of breaking down muscle tissue can also lead to aching Everyone feels weak once in a while. However, people with hypothyroidism are twice as likely to feel more weak than usual, compared to healthy people 6.
One study in 35 individuals with hypothyroidism showed that replacing low levels of thyroid hormone with a synthetic thyroid hormone called levothyroxine improved muscle strength and decreased aches and pains, compared to no treatment Weakness and aches are normal following strenuous activity. However, new, and especially increasing, weakness or aching is a good reason to make an appointment with your physician.
Summary: Low levels of thyroid hormone slow down your metabolism and can cause painful muscle breakdown. Because hair follicles have stem cells that have a short lifespan and rapid turnover, they are more sensitive to low thyroid levels than other tissues Low thyroid hormone causes hair follicles to stop regenerating, resulting in hair loss.
This will typically improve when the thyroid issue is treated. Consider hypothyroidism if you experience unexpected changes in the rate or pattern of your hair loss, particularly if your hair becomes patchy or coarser. Other hormone problems can also cause unexpected hair loss. Your doctor can help you sort out whether your hair loss is anything to worry about. Summary: Low thyroid hormone affects rapidly growing cells like hair follicles. This can cause hair loss and coarsening of the hair.
Like hair follicles, skin cells are characterized by rapid turnover. Therefore, they are also sensitive to losing growth signals from the thyroid hormone.
This means the outer layer of skin has been around longer, accumulating damage. It also means that dead skin may take longer to shed, leading to flaky, dry skin. Changes in skin that cannot be blamed on allergies like hay fever or new products can be a more practical sign of thyroid problems.
Finally, hypothyroidism is sometimes caused by autoimmune disease. This can affect the skin, causing swelling and redness known as myxedema.
Myxedema is more specific to thyroid problems than other causes of dry skin Summary: Hypothyroidism commonly causes dry skin.
However, most people with dry skin do not have hypothyroidism. Myxedema is a red, swollen rash that is characteristic of thyroid problems. Hypothyroidism is linked to depression.
The reasons for this are unclear, but it might be a mental symptom of an overall decrease in energy and health About the same percentage of men and women also experience anxiety In one study, thyroid hormone replacement improved depression in patients with mild hypothyroidism, compared to a placebo Another study of young women with mild hypothyroidism showed increased feelings of depression, which were also connected to decreased satisfaction with their sex lives Furthermore, postpartum hormone fluctuations are a common cause of hypothyroidism, potentially contributing to postpartum depression 7 , 20 , Feeling depressed is a good reason to talk to a physician or therapist.
They may be able to help you cope, regardless of whether the depression is caused by thyroid problems or something else. Summary: Hypothyroidism can cause depression and anxiety. These conditions are shown to improve with thyroid hormone replacement. The way this mental fogginess presents itself varies by person.
In another study of 14 men and women with untreated hypothyroidism, the participants showed difficulty remembering verbal cues 4. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification.
I Accept Show Purposes. Lumps in the neck can be caused by thyroid disease, and they can also be caused by a variety of other conditions, such as: Lymph node enlargement Lymphoma An infectious abscess A traumatic injury In general, a neck check is not considered the most accurate or reliable way to identify thyroid disease.
Stand in front of a mirror Stand in front of a mirror so that you can see your neck. Extend your neck back Gently extend your neck back. Take a sip of water With your neck slightly extended back, take a sip of water and swallow. Look for enlargements as you swallow As you swallow, look for any: Enlargements Lumps Protrusions Anything that is off-center It is a good idea to repeat the process again.
Feel for bumps and enlargement Gently touch the area around your thyroid gland to try to palpate or feel any enlargement, bumps, or protrusions. To tell the difference between the thyroid and the other structures of your neck: Slide your finger down the midline of your neck. The first hard structure you will hit is the thyroid cartilage leading to the Adam's apple. As you continue to move your finger downward, you will next encounter another bit of cartilage called the cricoid ring.
This encircles the trachea , also known as your windpipe. Two fingers-width below this is the thyroid isthmus. This is the tissue that connects the two sides of the gland. Your thyroid gland's lobes are on either side of the thyroid isthmus. Follow up with your healthcare provider If you find lumps or protrusions of any sort, you should definitely let your healthcare provider know.
Thyroid Disease Healthcare Provider Discussion Guide Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider's appointment to help you ask the right questions. Download PDF. Email the Guide Send to yourself or a loved one. Sign Up. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback!
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