What are the symptoms of poor thyroid health – and what to do?

Hidden just beneath the surface of the skin, in the front of your neck, is your thyroid gland. This butterfly-shaped structure produces thyroid hormones that drive many of the processes in your body. Your thyroid gland is a critical part of the puzzle when it comes to maintaining your health and wellness. However, many people are unfamiliar with their thyroid gland’s function and what symptoms might be caused by poor thyroid health.

At Lompoc Valley Medical Center, we believe having health information at your fingertips is key to keeping you well over your lifetime. Preserving your thyroid health, and taking steps to correct any thyroid hormone imbalances, is critical when it comes to making sure you are feeling your best. Here’s what you need to know about the symptoms of poor thyroid health and what to do.

What does the thyroid gland do?

To understand the symptoms of poor thyroid health, it’s helpful to know a little bit more about the gland and its function. The thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones, which it releases into your bloodstream. These hormones can influence many processes in your body by acting on cell receptors. Your thyroid gland knows how much hormone to produce based on the signals that it gets from a master hormonal control center in your brain.

Typically, poor thyroid health stems from a problem with the thyroid gland itself (this is called a primary thyroid disorder). However, occasionally, a thyroid problem is caused by a problem with the control center in the brain (the hypothalamus)—this is known as a secondary thyroid disorder.

What can cause poor thyroid health?

A problem with hormone production typically causes poor thyroid health. Your thyroid gland may be producing too little thyroid hormone (it is underactive), or it may be producing too much thyroid hormone (it is overactive).

When your thyroid gland is producing too little thyroid hormone, the condition is known as hypothyroidism. People who are most likely to have hypothyroidism include women, people with a family history of thyroid disease, and people with associated medical conditions. Hypothyroidism has a variety of causes, but some of the most common causes include:

• Autoimmune disease. In a condition known as Hashimoto’s disease, your immune system attacks your thyroid gland, which causes it to stop producing thyroid hormones.
• Thyroid surgery or radiation. If you have had some or all of your thyroid gland removed, then you will likely have a hard time producing a normal amount of thyroid hormone. The same is true of radiation, which can lead to damage to the thyroid gland and reduced hormone production.
• Inflammation. When your thyroid gland gets inflamed, it can produce a surge of thyroid hormone (leading to temporary hyperthyroidism) and then become underactive.
• Medications. Some medications can cause your thyroid gland to stop producing a normal level of thyroid hormone.

When your thyroid gland is producing too many thyroid hormones, the condition is known as hyperthyroidism. People with a family history of hyperthyroidism are more likely to have this condition, as well as people who have other associated medical conditions or a recent pregnancy. Several conditions can cause an overactive thyroid that produces too much thyroid hormone. These include:

• Autoimmune disease. In a condition known as Grave’s disease, your autoimmune system attacks your thyroid gland, which causes it to produce too much thyroid hormone.
• Thyroid nodules. Sometimes there are growths on your thyroid called “nodules.” You may be able to feel these in the front of your neck as lumps. When these tissue overgrowths begin to make too many hormones, it can cause a cascade of symptoms.
• Inflammation. When your thyroid gland gets inflamed, it may produce too much thyroid hormone, which then gets passed along into your bloodstream.

What are the symptoms of poor thyroid health?

When your thyroid is operating normally, you will likely not be aware of its effect on your body. Your thyroid hormones help regulate many different processes in your body, from your body temperature to your metabolism to your skin health. Often, thyroid conditions progress slowly, which means that your symptoms may also emerge slowly. For this reason, it can be difficult to detect or suspect a thyroid condition.

Symptoms of too little thyroid hormone

In hypothyroidism, it’s easiest to think of your body systems as “slowing down.” Symptoms of a thyroid condition in which you are not producing enough thyroid hormone include:

• Feeling more tired than usual
• Feeling more sensitive to cold temperatures
• Skin changes (dry or coarse)
• Gaining weight
• Having a puffy-looking face
• Hoarse voice
• Hair changes (more coarse or thinning)
• Feeling muscle aches, stiffness, tenderness, or weakness
• Slowed heart rate
• Feeling depressed
• Experiencing memory problems
• A notable change in the menstrual cycle (irregular periods or more heavy bleeding)

When it’s not treated, hypothyroidism can also cause problems with your heart, including an increased risk of heart disease or heart failure. It can also lead to infertility or potential birth defects. Hypothyroidism can also occur in babies and may appear as difficulties eating, poor weight gain, slow growth, constipation, or poor muscle tone.

Symptoms of too much thyroid hormone

In hyperthyroidism, it’s easiest to think of your body systems as “speeding up.” Symptoms of a thyroid condition in which you are producing too much thyroid hormone include:

• Feeling more anxious, nervous, or irritable than usual
• Weight loss, especially unintentionally
• Feeling a fast pounding or irregular heartbeat or pounding
• Feeling hungrier than usual
• Experiencing tremors or trembling
• Sweating
• Skin changes (more thin, warm, or moist skin)
• Hair changes (more brittle or fine hair)
• Feeling more sensitive to warm temperatures
• Feeling tired or having muscle weakness
• Problems sleeping
• More frequency bowel movements
• Changes in menstrual cycle
• An obvious change in the appearance of the thyroid, such as a swelling of the gland known as a “goiter”
• An obvious change in the eyes, which may be bulging or protruding

When it’s not treated, hyperthyroidism can lead to heart problems such as atrial fibrillation or heart failure. It can also cause osteoporosis, which is a weakness and brittleness of the bones.

What are the symptoms of a thyroid health emergency?

Sometimes poor thyroid health can lead to an emergent condition. If you don’t recognize or address the symptoms of poor thyroid health, or if your condition is severe, then you are at risk of a “thyroid crisis.”

Thyroid crisis of too little thyroid hormone

A crisis of too little thyroid hormone is known as a myxedema coma. This may be triggered when you have underlying hypothyroidism that has not been treated, and then you have an added stress on your body, such as an infection. Symptoms of a myxedema coma include feeling very cold, very drowsy, very weak, and then eventually falling into unconsciousness.

Thyroid crisis of too much thyroid hormone

A crisis of too much thyroid hormone is known as a “thyrotoxic crisis,” or “thyroid storm.” This is a rare condition, but it can include life-threatening symptoms like fast heart rate (tachycardia), nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, fever, confusion, or delirium.

How is poor thyroid health managed?

It can be intimidating to learn of the wide-ranging effects of a thyroid condition on your overall health. Luckily, thyroid conditions can be managed very well once they are identified via a physical exam and blood test, as well as other potential studies.

In the most common type of thyroid condition, hypothyroidism, the treatment merely replaces the thyroid hormone. This is done by taking a daily medicine that functions in the same way as your naturally-produced thyroid hormones. Taking a synthetic thyroid hormone medication for a low thyroid disorder is extremely common. Thyroid hormone replacements are some of the most commonly-prescribed medications on the market.

The management of hyperthyroidism depends on your unique desires and health status. Some medications can help slow down the activity of the thyroid gland, and these are usually taken for a series of months. Your treatment may also involve the removal of part or all of your thyroid gland. In this case, you may then require supplement thyroid medications due to low thyroid hormone production following the procedure.

What to do if you think you may have a thyroid problem

If any of the above symptoms ring true, it may be time to seek medical attention. Many overlapping conditions may cause symptoms similar to those that are caused by thyroid disorders, and a skilled family medicine or internal medicine provider can help you get to the bottom of the way you’re feeling.

If a thyroid condition is identified through a physical exam, blood tests, and other potential diagnostic studies, there are numerous medications available to help correct the condition.

To schedule an appointment with one of our providers to get evaluated for a thyroid condition, contact us today.