With more than 20 million Americans suffering from thyroid disorders, being even more common than diabetes and heart diseases, it is estimated that 60% of cases go undiagnosed. Seemingly innocent problems can indicate bigger medical issues, which is why people in general should pay more attention to their bodies and what the signals are telling them. Thyroid issues are often dismissed as other issues.
Found in the center of your neck is your thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland. Playing both major and minor roles in every single one of your bodily functions, the thyroid is the central gland to your metabolism. Today, we at ENT Specialists would like to share some of the most common symptoms that indicate a thyroid problem that often are dismissed.
1) Dry skin: Dry itchy skin that seems to persist can be a symptom of hypothyroidism. With a shift in texture slowing the metabolism, sweating is reduced.
2) Hair loss: Sometimes even outside of your eyebrows, a lack of thyroid hormone interrupts your hair growth cycle, which results in hair loss. More often than not, the hair will grow back once the thyroid disorder is treated.
3) Sore neck or throat: A goiter, a lump in your throat, and a change in your voice can point to a thyroid problem. Look at your neck in the mirror and see if you notice any swelling if you have any of these symptoms.
4) Feeling too hot or cold: The ability to regulate body temperature can be disrupted with the different thyroid disorders. Those with hypothyroidism may feel cold more often than usual. Causing excessive sweating and an aversion to hear, hyperthyroidism tends to have the opposite effect.
5) Abnormal weight gain: Sudden weight gain without any changes to your dietary or physical habits could be cause for concern, though keep in mind abnormal weight gain can be due to a variety of possibilities.
6) Muscular pain: Your thyroid may be the culprit in the event you feel random and mysterious tightening or numbness in your arms, hands, legs, or feet. The nerves that send signals from your brain to the rest of your body over time can be damaged from the lack of thyroid hormone.
7) High blood pressure: Another issue with your thyroid could result in having high blood pressure where nothing seems to be effective in resolving the problem without medication; such as a healthier diet or more exercise. Leading to additional medical conditions like an enlarged heart or heart failure, an under-active thyroid can cause high levels of bad cholesterol.
8) Feeling sad or depressed: Your mood can be completely altered with an over or under active thyroid; hypothyroidism, for example, tends to make people feel tired, sluggish and depressed in addition to anxiety and restlessness.
9) Constipation: No one likes to discuss constipation as it is considered a taboo subject, but a very real issue for hypothyroidism sufferers is constipation. A disruption in thyroid hormone production has caused a slowdown in digestion causing the constipation where you can find no relief.
10) Excessive sleeping: Bodily functions can easily slow to a turtle’s pace, which makes you feel sleepy even during the day when you have a sluggish thyroid.
11) Increased appetite and/or a shift in taste: When suddenly foods taste differently or even smell off, an under-active thyroid can be the culprit. Hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid, can influence you to keep eating.
If one or more of these symptoms apply to you, you could be experiencing problems with your thyroid. Call the ENT Specialists if you suspect an issue with your thyroid and let our specialists diagnose the exact problem and offer solutions and treatment to correct it. Contact us today.
