You've probably heard the term 'thyroid' bandied about with regards to things like unexplained weight issues. But what actually
is it?
The
thyroid is a small gland at the base of your neck that affects
essentially every one of your bodily functions. So it’s really no
surprise that several issues can arise when this gland suddenly doesn’t
release enough thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) or when it releases too much (hyperthyroidism).
The
most annoying part: The symptoms of thyroid disease mirror the symptoms
of a lot of other issues. 'Thyroid conditions can do undiagnosed for a
long period of time,' says Valentina Rodriguez, M.D., an endocrinologist
at NYU Langone Health. 'Symptoms vary from person to person, and can
come on suddenly or very gradually, so they’re hard to detect.'
Still, you need to stay on top of whatever symptoms you
do experience
because thyroid disease is way, way, more common among women. One in
eight women will develop a thyroid disorder during her lifetime,
according to the American Thyroid Association,
and women are five to eight times more likely than men to have thyroid
problems. Even more troubling: 10 to 20 percent of women in their
thirties develop thyroid issues, says Eve Feinberg, M.D., assistant
professor of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Northwestern
University Feinberg School of Medicine.
Leaving a thyroid
condition untreated can be really taxing on your other organs,
especially your heart, says Rodriguez. Plus, living with the symptoms of
a whacked out thyroid really sucks. These are the thyroid symptoms in
women you should be aware of:
1
Weight changes
An under-active thyroid slows down all your bodily functions,
including your metabolism, says Rodriguez. 'Your body is basically being
told to put the brakes on everything,' she says. 'And many women gain a
little weight because of this.'If you have hyperthyroidism, the
opposite can happen. 'Now your thyroid is laying on the gas, and a lot
of functions speed up,' she says.
Hyperthyroidism can lead to
unexplained weight loss. 'A lot of women don’t want to be treated for
hyperthyroidism because they see the weight loss as a good thing, but
they need to get treatment—the overproduction of the hormone is really
hard on the body, especially the heart,' Rodriguez says.
2
Abnormal blood pressure
The thyroid hormone is in constant communication with the heart,
and impacts how fast or slow it beats. With hypothyroidism, your heart
rate will be slower than normal, which affects a host of other organs
and body functions.
In hyperthyroidism, it’s the opposite—your
heart rate speeds up too much. 'Either situation can result in heart
failure,' says Rodriguez. 'Especially if your heart rate is revved up
for a long period of time, that extra stress is dangerous.'
3
New bathroom habits
Another body system that slows down with hypothyroidism is the gut,
Rodriguez says. You may notice that you’re not going to the bathroom as
often or you’re just really constipated. With hyperthyroidism, you may go a lot and find that your poops are not super-solid.
4
Fatigue
Hypothyroidism wipes you out. 'Your energy balance and control
is less effective,' says Rodriguez. Maybe that means a full day at work
tires you out way more than it used to, or the workouts you used to love
are just too exhausting now.
This feeling of fatigue can also contribute to weight gain with hypothyroidism.
In hyperthyroidism, you’re generally wound up, but this can also result in fatigue, says Rodriguez.
If
you’re feeling jittery, or like you had too many cups of coffee at all
times, that can leave you extremely tired at the end of the day. Your
body can only be on overdrive for so long before it needs a break, and
hyperthyroidism doesn’t give you that balance.
5
Mood changes
Hypothyroidism can affect the way your brain functions and greatly impact your mood, says Rodriguez.
Depression
is a symptom many women experience, and it can be hard to recognise
that the thyroid might be involved, since depression itself can lead to
some of the symptoms of hypothyroidism.
If you have
hyperthyroidism, your mood might be altered another way. 'People will
feel like they’re thinking a million miles a minute, they’re anxious,
irritable, and tremulous,' says Rodriguez.
Both disorders can
leave you feeling out of control mentally and emotionally, so it can be
helpful to seek mental health treatment, like talk therapy, along with
medical treatment.
6
Period issues
Is your period suddenly way heavier than normal? This could be a
sign of hypothyroidism, says Rodriguez. Your thyroid also impacts your
cycle, so when something’s off, you’ll often see changes from your
typical period.
Hyperthyroidism can cause the opposite—you may
have much lighter periods than you’re used to, or it may disappear for a
few months unexpectedly.
7
Changes in hair and skin
Hypothyroidism can cause your hair and skin to be super dried
out (major bummer). If you suddenly can’t get enough moisturizer, or
notice your hair is brittle and breaking off, that could be a sign of
hypothyroidism.
Both conditions—hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism—can cause hair to thin, unfortunately.
8
Muscle aches and weakness
In both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, you may feel muscles aches,
joint stiffness, and weakness, says Rodriguez, further tiring you out
and making you not want to be active. 'Hopefully you’re in tune with
your body and recognise something feels different than your baseline,'
says Rodriguez. If you haven’t recently done a tough workout, you
shouldn’t be feeling weak and sore.
9
Mental fog
Hypothyroidism can actually slow the synapses in your brain, and reduce
the speed of your brain function, says Rodriguez. “You won’t be able to
think as clearly, and you might feel like you have brain fog,” she says.
This slowed-down feeling can come along with mood changes and
depression, too.
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