Here’s how to tell if your thyroid gland is having trouble…
Your thyroid gland is one of the most important glands in your body! You’ll find that it plays many vital roles: producing growth hormone, increase cellular growth, regulate your metabolism, control testosterone levels, and the list goes on. If your thyroid develops problems, you’ll find that your body may begin to go haywire.
Here are a few of the symptoms of thyroid problems you need to be aware of:
- Sensitivity to cold — This is an odd one, but it’s a good way to know if your thyroid is out of whack. You often find yourself feeling cold even when the weather is mild, or you get VERY cold when the weather turns chilly.
- Fatigue –– You will often feel tired without a specific cause of fatigue, and it may occur even after a full night’s sleep or a nap.
- Puffy face –– The skin around your face will swell up, sometimes to the point where it almost looks like the result of the mumps, but there is no pain or underlying cause of the puffiness.
- Dry skin –– Your thyroid hormones play a role in keeping your skin healthy, but an under- or over-active thyroid may be unable to prevent dryness of your skin.
- Constipation — This is a symptom of a wide range of digestive disorders, but it’s also a side effect of thyroid problems. If it’s accompanied by one or more of the other symptoms on this list, it’s a good indicator.
- Muscle weakness –– This is the result of reduced hormone production in your body. It often accompanies fatigue.
- Weight gain –– Your hormone levels will be out of balance as a result of your thyroid problem, leading to unexplained weight gain.
READ MORE: 15 Reasons Your Hair is Brittle
- Aches and pains –– Your muscles and joints may feel stiff, achy, or very tender as a result of your thyroid problems.
- Thinning hair –– Your hair health is closely linked to your hormone production. If thyroid function decreases, your body doesn’t get enough of the hormone needed to keep your hair healthy.
- High cholesterol –– This is another side effect of thyroid problems, but one you’ll only notice when you get your blood tested.
- Heavy or irregular menstruation –– For women, the thyroid gland plays an important role in their menstruation. If your thyroid gland is out of balance, you may end up suffering from heavy bleeding or irregular periouds.
- Impaired memory — This is an unusual side effect, but one that often occurs with serious thyroid problems.
- Depression –– Hormones play a large role in your emotional health. If your body isn’t getting enough of certain hormones, the imbalance can lead to problems like depression.
- Slow heart rate –– This is often accompanied by fatigue and the aches/pains in your muscles and joints. You may feel like your heart is beating TOO slowly.
These are the symptoms of thyroid problems, and they are a pretty surefire sign that there is something wrong with your thyroid gland. If you notice two or more of these symptoms, it’s best to visit your doctor and get checked out. That way, you can get the treatment you need to correct your thyroid function and restore your body to full health before the effects of an over- or under-active thyroid gland become more serious. Take these symptoms seriously, and get checked out as soon as you possibly can!
