Hypothyroidism is a condition where the thyroid, a butterfly shaped gland located at the base of the neck that regulate your metabolism, either operates very sluggishly or slowly. Often this can cause weight gain for patients suffering from the condition as their body begins to tack on extra pounds due to their metabolism’s inability to properly burn calories. Therefore, hypothyroidism and weight loss impediment and are closely linked.  While this can make weight loss extremely difficult, there are treatment options available for hypothyroidism. Here is a list of risk factors associated with the condition that may help you identify if you are susceptible to having hypothyroidism.

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• Both men and women can develop thyroid problems, however, women are far more likely.
• Thyroid problems in personal or family history.
• Risk of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, vitiligo, multiple sclerosis or lupus.
• Former or current smoker.
• Allergies to gluten, or diagnosed celiac disease.
• Prolonged exposure to unsafe radiation sources or prolong exposure to radiation as part of cancer and radiation therapies.
• Exposure to lithium or amiodarone.
• Consuming iodine as part of a treatment or having reduced levels of iodine in your body.
• Exposure to harmful chemicals, such as pesticides, from either drinking water, tainted food sources or hazardous working conditions.
• Exposure to heavy metals through hard water, mercury contamination or hazardous working conditions.
• Excessive consumption of fluoride or products with fluoride.
• Consuming too much soy.
• Overconsumption of foods normally consumed raw or consuming too much organic produce such as Brussels sprouts, rutabaga, turnips, kohlrabi, radishes, cauliflower, African cassava, millet, babassu, cabbage and kale.
• 60 years of age or greater.
• Being in a state of hormonal flux such as pregnancy, post-partum, perimenopause, menopause.
• Injury to the neck or the tissue surrounding the thyroid.

Should you be exposed to any of these risk factors and you find you have a difficult time losing weight, look for these additional signs of hypothyroidism.

• Extreme exhaustion and fatigue after mild or moderate activity.
• Depression, moodiness, sadness and despair.
• Abnormal sensitivity to cold, cold hands, cold feet.
• Weight gain, or difficulty losing weight despite lifestyle changes in diet and activity levels.
• Dry, tangled or coarse hair growth.
• Hair loss concentrated mainly on the eyebrows and other facial areas.
• Dry, cracked or brittle nails.
• Muscle and joint pains and aches.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome, or tendonitis in arms and legs that previously did not exist.
• Painful soles of the feet that impede activity.
• Sudden swelling or puffy face, eyes, arms or legs.
• Reduced low sex drive.
• Unexplained infertility, or recurrent miscarriages with no underlying cause.
• Heavier than usual menstrual periods, periods that are longer than before, or that come more frequently.
• Cognitive difficulty that impairs memory, concentration, clear thinking or forming sentences when speaking.
• Constipation.
• Swollen or sensitive feeling in the neck around the thyroid or abnormal lumps in the neck.
• Raspy, coarse voice.
• Heart palpitations.
• Heightened cholesterol levels.
• Worsening allergies, itching, prickly hot skin, rashes and hives.
• Elevated blood pressure.
• Slow pulse.
• Unusually low blood pressure or sudden blackouts.

Should you experience any of these symptoms, speak to a medical professional to determine if you are experiencing reduced thyroid function.  While hypothyroidism an weight loss impediment are closely related, you should also focus on all of the other possible symptoms and bring them up to your doctor if you are experiencing these symptoms.