Your thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland found at the base of your neck just below your Adam’s apple. The gland is in the front of the neck and it releases crucial hormones that regulate bodily functions. If your thyroid is underactive – in other words, it doesn’t produce enough hormones – you suffer from what is called hypothyroidism. This should not be confused with hyperthyroidism, which means you have an overactive thyroid gland. Do you suffer from hypothyroidism? Revive Medical Center lists the symptoms of this common ailment that affects both women and men.
Hypothyroidism Symptoms
Hypothyroidism can sneak up on people. It isn’t something that generally happens overnight. Rather, people begin to notice the symptoms of the condition slowly over time and, in some cases, only after the symptoms have become blatantly noticeable. Your thyroid may be underactive if you notice a number of the following things.
- Cold sensitivity
- Constipation
- Depression
- Dry skin
- Fatigue
- Goiter (enlarged thyroid)
- Heavy or irregular menstruation
- High cholesterol
- Hoarse voice
- Memory trouble
- Muscle aches, stiffness, tenderness, weakness
- Pain, stiff, or swollen joints
- Puffy face
- Slow heart rate
- Thinning hair
- Weight gain
You don’t need to have all of these symptoms to have an underactive thyroid. A number of symptoms point to the condition.
Things That Cause Hypothyroidism
You may end up with hypothyroidism for any number of reasons. Autoimmunity is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. Hashimoto’s disease is the number one cause of an inactive thyroid and it is considered an autoimmune disease. Medical treatments, such as hyperthyroidism medication, radiation therapy, and medications such as lithium can also slow thyroid hormone production.
Less common causes of this condition include congenital disease – a baby is born with thyroid gland problems – pituitary gland disorder, pregnancy, and iodine deficiency. These are rare causes of hypothyroidism, but some people do have pituitary glands that don’t produce enough thyroid-stimulating hormone and some pregnant women have been known to suffer with thyroid issues. Iodine deficiency is rare in the United States as we iodize most table salt.
Located in Lawrenceville, GA, Revive Medical Center helps patients who suffer from thyroid disorders. If you feel you might have hypothyroidism, call us today to set up an appointment with one of our expert physicians. We would be happy to diagnose your thyroid trouble with comprehensive tests that go above and beyond the average testing and offer a treatment plan that suits you. We will discuss all possible treatment options in great detail so you can pick the one you prefer.
