Home / Women Health / Must-Know Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
Nowadays, Thyroid has become a very common problem. It is found in people of all ages, sometimes even in children. Thyroid is a small gland which is located at the bottom of the neck. This gland is responsible for the production of the hormone thyroxine, which is required for the normal functioning of the body. When the thyroid gland is unable to produce sufficient quantities of thyroxine, it is known as hypothyroidism. This affects the metabolic rate of the body since the main function of the thyroxine hormone is to convert calories and oxygen into energy and make it available to the cells and tissues of the body. The underproduction of thyroxine causes a lot of malfunctioning in the body. The initial symptoms of hypothyroidism are a result of these dysfunctions:
Table of Contents
Sudden gain in weight is a sign of the decreasing quantity of thyroxine in the body. This is one of the most common and early symptoms of hypothyroidism.
Feeling cold or suffering from frequent colds is also a sign of hypothyroidism. This is because thyroid works as a thermostat for the body and helps to regulate body temperature. Due to lack of thyroxine, the body is unable to bear even a little cold.
Dryness of skin can be a symptom of hypothyroidism. The lack of the thyroxine hormone slows the metabolism of the body and the body also tends to sweat less. Lack of sufficient moisture makes the skin dry. Lack of thyroxine also leads to dryness of hair, thinness of hair and hair breakage.
Although depression is a disease in itself which can happen to anyone, but doctors also consider it to be a symptom of hypothyroidism. Doctors have reported that patients feel depressed and disappointed without any apparent reason. They feel tired, lazy, are unable to focus, and feel extremely sleepy. All these could be signs of hypothyroidism.
Hypothyroidism can give rise to problems of the muscles and joints in some individuals. These could be pain in the muscles, tenderness, stiffness in the shoulders and hips, and pain in the joints of hands and feet.
If the thyroid gland becomes too big, then it can also lead to swelling. This in turn, can lead to pain in the neck and difficulty in breathing. However, this symptom is rarely seen.
Cramps during periods, increased flow of blood, and having periods for too many days may also be a sign of hypothyroidism. When the production of the thyroxine hormone is less, the gap between two cycles is also reduced.
Hypothyroidism may lead to a low sex drive in some individuals. Doctors believe that lack of thyroxine in the body may be the prime reason for lack of interest in sex.
Are you experiencing any of the above-mentioned symptoms? If yes, don’t ignore them. Consult a doctor immediately.
Image Source: www.wikimedia.org, www.wikipedia.org, www. Public Domain Pictures.net www.flickr.com,www.pexels.com www.pixabay.com www.aljamila.com www.minsvyaz.ru
COMMENTS (0)