Over 12 percent of Americans have a thyroid condition, and many aren’t even aware of it. Could you be one of them?
Your thyroid gland creates and produces hormones that are involved in a variety of systems throughout your body. Thyroid disease occurs when your thyroid produces either too much or too little vital hormones. Thyroid disorders can range from small to life-threatening cancer. Thyroid disease is classified into numerous kinds, including hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Therefore, if you’re feeling ill for no apparent reason, your body may be signaling that your thyroid is malfunctioning.
Here are the signs you should consider to understand if your thyroid is normal or not.
- Anxiousness & Nervousness
When your thyroid gland works for long hours, the hormones tell the rest of your body to do the same. As you can see, this causes various symptoms that might make you feel uncomfortable and uneasy. However, before that, these hormones cause mood swings and hyperactive thoughts.
- Excessive Sweating
Increased sweating is another indicator that your thyroid is not functioning normally. Because thyroid hormones enable your body to become more active, it will naturally try to cool itself off by sweating even if you’re not physically active at the moment.
- Heart Rate Increase (Heart Palpitations)
Your heart rate will increase as one of the physical indications of increased hormone levels. Cardiac palpitations can occur as a result of an increase in heart activity. So, if you notice that your heart is racing or that it is beating too quickly, consult your doctor about having your thyroid checked.
- Goiter
A goiter is an irregular growth of the thyroid gland. A goiter may be an overall enlargement of the thyroid, or it may be the result of irregular cell growth that forms one or more lumps (nodules) in the thyroid. A goiter may be associated with no change in thyroid function or with an increase or decrease in thyroid hormones. Normally, the thyroid requires appropriate iodine levels. However, if you don’t get enough iodine, your body will try to compensate, and the thyroid may grow.
- Too Hot or Too Cold
When the thyroid gland in the body is functioning properly, its cells produce enough heat and energy. However, those who have a thyroid issue, on the other hand, will either produce too much or not enough thyroxine. This shift in hormone levels will confuse the body, causing it to produce either too much heat or not enough energy. Furthermore, people with an underactive thyroid are more likely to be overweight or obese, making them more prone to feeling hot. Individuals with an overactive thyroid, on the other hand, will struggle to maintain or gain weight which may result in a decrease in body weight and fat, making the body more sensitive to cold.
Most Common Symptoms of Irregular Thyroid Function
Thyroid dysfunction can result in:
- Your hands and fingers are trembling (called tremors)
- Dripping with sweat
- An increased desire to consume food than usual
- Weight loss
- Swelling in the stomach intestines
- Weird dreams
- Thin skin
- Brittle and fragile hair
- Tiredness
- Dryness of the skin
- Become bloated and dehydrated
- Be forgetful and constipated
- Feeling depressed or down
- Weakness in the muscles
- Hoarseness
What To Do?
To determine if you have hypothyroidism, a simple blood test to evaluate your thyroid hormone levels is all that is required. Your doctor will examine your thyroid gland to see if it is larger than it should be or if your pulse is too quick if you have hyperthyroidism. They will also test for tremors in your fingers as you hold them straight out. If they suspect you have it, they will perform a blood test to assess your thyroid hormone levels. They may also suggest a thyroid scan using a small quantity of radioactive tracer to check how your thyroid is functioning.
Disclaimer: None of the information posted is intended as medical, legal, or business advice, or advice about reimbursement for health care services.
