Symptoms of Low Thyroid
Hypothyroidism as we all know is a very common health issue that affects millions of individuals around the world. However the disease is some times overlooked by the health care system. It is estimated that over 10 percent of the Americans that have diabetes and cancer both also have thyroid problems. To understand the effects of low thyroid one must understand how the disease affects the human body.
A thyroid that is healthy in nature produces hormones which control the metabolic rate of the human body. An overactive thyroid gland will make the system run too fast and hot and the hypothyroidism production will make the system run too slow and cold. The effects of hypothyroidism in the human body can be devastating as every degree drops the metabolic rate of the body decreases by 6 percent. And so there is no wonder that the people with thyroid dysfunction is depressed or tired always.
The symptoms of low thyroid are very subtle initially and the symptoms get obvious when the condition gets worsen. The common symptoms of hypothyroidism include: Fatigue, Getting Depressed, gain of weight, intolerance to cold, Excessive sleepiness or feeling of sleep, coarse hair, Constipated throughout the day, Dryness of skin, Muscle cramps Increase of levels in cholesterols, Unable to concentrate, Aches and pains, Swelling of legs.
Symptoms of low thyroid in females over thirty years of age includes post-partum depression, being infertile, miscarriages, feeling weak, skin and hair problems, being lethargic, feeling a sensation of cold, mood swings, getting constipated, fluctuation in weight, pain in body which includes muscular or joint pain, being emotional unstable, swelling around the area of eyes, getting nervous alot, feeling of depression, heart palpitations, getting fullness in the throat area or a difficulty in swallowing food , and many more. In most cases severe hypothyroidism have led to myxedema coma which is life-threatening.
Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of low thyroid. Therefore if a patient suspects that he/ she might have hypothyroidism must visit the doctor immediately to get evaluated by them to confirm if these are the symptoms of low thyroid. However it should not be taken for granted that fatigue is the symptom of low thyroid production.
Diagnosing low thyroid might be difficult, thought there are many other lab values which can be used to evaluate the functioning of the thyroid. Most doctors opt for only one lab test for diagnosis the Thyroid stimulating hormone. Eight out of ten patients with symptoms of low thyroid will be told that the symptoms are due to the difference in TSH levels. Properly treated hypothyroidism can be cured completely whereas the untreated hypothyroidism can lead to enlarged heart and pleural effusion or accumulation of fluid around the lungs.
