Frustrating symptoms you can’t explain? Weird periods, hair loss, weight gain and everything in between?
These might be the signs of an underactive thyroid problem (also called hypothyroidism). This little butterfly-shaped gland in your neck can cause a lot of issues – let me explain.
1. Funny periods.
Your ovaries need thyroid hormone to ovulate and make hormones and give you a normal period. That’s why low thyroid causes period problems such as irregular periods, lack of periods (amenorrhea), spotting, heavy periods, and ovarian cysts.
2. Can’t get pregnant.
Even mildly low thyroid can significantly impair fertility and cause recurrent miscarriage. Experts recommend that thyroid treatment be considered for infertility patients if their blood test TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is between 2.5 mIU/L and 4 mIU/L (borderline normal on blood tests).
3. Depression and brain fog.
The brain needs thyroid hormone to regulate neurotransmitters such as serotonin. Up to one-half of depression cases may actually be due to an undiagnosed problem with thyroid.
4. High cholesterol.
Thyroid hormone stimulates the liver to remove cholesterol from the blood, so low thyroid can cause elevated cholesterol. Rather than just giving cholesterol-lowering medication, doctors are encouraged to always test thyroid to determine if thyroid hormone is a better treatment.
5. Hair loss.
Hair loss is one of the earliest and most reliable signs of a thyroid problem. Why? Because hair follicles are exquisitely sensitive to thyroid hormone (either too little or too much hormone). Hair follicles are also affected by iron deficiency and female hormone imbalance. For more information, read my article on hormonal hair loss.
6. Dry skin.
Low thyroid causes skin to become dry and flaky, and nails to peel and crumble. Left untreated, low thyroid eventually causes the painful symptom of cracked heels.
7. Weight gain.
Thyroid hormone is essential for metabolic rate and insulin sensitivity, so low thyroid can cause weight gain and insulin resistance (pre-diabetes). However, being normal weight is no guarantee of normal thyroid function. Sufferers of low thyroid can be normal weight or even underweight. It affects everyone differently.
8. Gut problems.
Digestive enzymes, bowel motility and intestinal bacteria are all affected by thyroid hormone. That’s why low thyroid can cause or worsen constipation, irritable bowel syndrome and other common digestive problems.
9. Feeling cold all the time.
Cold hands and feet are common signs of low thyroid. It’s partly because of reduced metabolism, and partly because of impaired circulation that makes it difficult to adapt to changes in temperature. Some sufferers of low thyroid report feeling too hot.
10. Fatigue.
Thyroid hormone is the “on-switch” for every cell in the body, and is essential for normal energy and stamina. One of the most common symptoms of low thyroid is severe morning fatigue (even after a good night’s sleep).
Did your doctor miss a thyroid diagnosis?
What if your doctor tested you for thyroid, but says it’s normal? You might want to take a closer look. The standard test for thyroid disease (TSH) is not always accurate, and under current guidelines, hypothyroidism is not flagged until TSH is greater than 5 mIU/L.
Many experts believe that hypothyroidism should be diagnosed by a TSH greater than 2.5 mIU/L. There are also other more sensitive tests for thyroid disease including free T4, free T3, and thyroid autoantibodies (a marker of autoimmune thyroid disease).
How to treat low thyroid.
Treatment for low thyroid includes taking thyroid hormone (thyroxine), and possibly fixing an underlying gut problem. Read more on the gut and thyroid connection here! Of course, if you’re worried about any of the above signs of an active thyroid, talk to your doctor or hormone specialist and request thyroid blood tests.
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