Signs and Symptoms of a Thyroid Deficiency

The thyroid gland regulates your metabolism by producing two types of metabolic hormones. A thyroid deficiency, usually called "hypothyroidism," occurs when this gland produces insufficient quantities of the hormones T3 and T4. This condition can be the source of a myriad of health conditions, from weight gain to coma. If left untreated, hypothyroidism can sometimes result in heart failure and death. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism is the first step to treatment.

Fatigue and Sluggishness

• Decreased levels of thyroid hormones can prompt feelings of fatigue and sluggishness. Unfortunately, this is a condition that many people do not think to question as there are so many factors in daily life that can trigger similar symptoms. Hypothyroidism can also cause muscle weakness and pain, stiffness or swelling in the joints, and even depression, all which contribute to the general feeling of sluggishness.

Metabolic Symptoms

• Many people with a thyroid deficiency attribute their weight gain to their decreased energy levels and fatigue; however, weight gain is just another symptom of the main problem. Without sufficient levels of thyroid hormones in your system, your body has a difficult time converting food into energy and is more likely to store it as fat. Other metabolic symptoms can include an elevated blood cholesterol level and constipation.

Other Symptoms

• Sometimes, the more benign symptoms are the ones that finally motivate a person with hypothyroidism to seek medical help. These can also be signs that hypothyroidism has progressed, and immediate treatment is needed. Be on the look out for brittle fingernails and hair, dry skin, heavier than normal menstrual periods and a sudden intolerance to cold. These are all symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Goiter

• The most obvious symptom of hypothyroidism is a goiter. A goiter is a hardening or bulb-like growth on the side of the neck caused by the enlarged thyroid. As a result of your body's constant stimulation of the gland to get more thyroid hormone, the thyroid responds by growing to an unhealthy size to compensate, resulting in a goiter.