The Thyroid gland is an extremely important gland as it controls a myriad of vital functions and physiologic processes in the body. Understanding the symptoms of underactive Thyroid is highly important to help in timely diagnosis and treatment. Underactive Thyroid implies that the thyroid gland is not functioning normally, and it is incapable of producing adequate quantities of Thyroid hormone. This condition is termed as Hypothyroidism and is characterized by multiple organ dysfunctions and hence the symptoms of underactive Thyroid are not limited to the gland itself.
Symptoms Of Underactive Thyroid - A Thorough Guide
- Genetic predisposition (Congenital Hypothyroidism)
- Familial predisposition (patient has one or more blood relations who suffer from hypothyroidism)
- Affects more women than men
- Deficency of Iodine in diet (endemic goiter)
- Medications used for Bipolar disorder or cardiac arrhythmias etc
- Dysfunctions of Pituitary gland and hypothalamus of the brain
- Autoimmune Thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis)
What Are The Symptoms Of Underactive Thyroid?
Symptoms of underactive Thyroid could be vague and non-specific, making the diagnosis of Hypothyroidism quite delayed. Moreover not all symptoms are found in every patient, and many people may just have 2 or 3 non-specific symptoms. The commonly found symptoms of underactive Thyroid are listed here :
- Fatigue and lack of energy
- Easy tiredness and lack of stamina to do even the simplest of tasks
- Palpitations
- Sweating profusely and the sweat is often very much debilitating
- Irregular or absent menses in women
- Sleepiness
- Dryness of skin with loss of luster and smoothness
- Coarseness, dryness and brittleness of hairs and nails
- Extreme sensitivity to cold and intolerance of cold in the slightest form
- Depression and melancholy
- Anxiety, nervousness and tendency to forget things due to a weak memory
- Digestive troubles like acidity, heartburn, dyspepsia, feeling of weight in stomach soon after eating, constipation and slowness of intestinal motility
- Change in facial features with deposit of fat over the cheekbones and face becoming more rounder.
- Sudden and unexplained gain of weight.
- Inability to lose weight despite vigorous attempts at doing so.
- Pain and soreness in muscles and joints
- Inflammation of tendons and joints
- Slowness of heart rate and pulse
- Intolerance of being in a closed room.
- Paleness of skin and mucous membranes
- No desire to do any activity and exhausted by the slightest exertion
- Sterility and low or extremely low sperm count
- Increased tendency to abortions and miscarriages in women
- Hoarseness of voice with an apparent change in the timbre of the voice. A woman’s voice seems more like that of a man
- Decreased libido
- External swelling and enlargement of the Thyroid gland, which is called as a Goiter
- Reduced natural immunity with a tendency to catch infections easily
- Increased desire for sweets
- Headaches or migraines coming on repeatedly
Image via Wikipedia
