Hypothyroidism is one of the most common diseases in the world and directly affects people’s quality of life. When the hormones secreted by the thyroid gland are insufficient, various diseases will occur, and various consequences such as heart disease, infertility, and poor brain development in children will occur.
The thyroid is a pair of small butterfly-shaped glands located at the front of the neck and at the base of the neck. Despite their small size, they are powerful. The hormones secreted by the thyroid gland play an important role in human health, especially in controlling the body’s energy metabolism. The process of energy metabolism converts the food people ingest into the energy of the body, which supplies the operation of various systems and parts of the body.
The hormones produced by the thyroid affect the functioning of multiple systems in the body, including heart rate, weight, inflammation, brain function, heart health, mood, immune and digestive systems, and more.
When I was in nursing school, I needed to learn about complex endocrine mechanisms. One of them is the thyroid. The teacher at the time told me that whether it is hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, it is easy to remember the thyroid as “energy”.
The so-called “hyperthyroidism” means that the metabolism of energy is too much; and “hypothyroidism” means that the metabolism of energy is insufficient.
An underactive thyroid can cause the body’s metabolism to slow down, causing the body to feel tired and gain weight. Conversely, hyperthyroidism can lead to feelings of excess energy and anxiety.
Hypothyroidism is more common than hyperthyroidism in the United States. Patients with such problems can consult a doctor who specializes in hormones to adjust the thyroid to achieve a balanced state.
Top 10 Common Symptoms of Low Thyroid
1. Fatigue
A common symptom of an underactive thyroid is feeling very tired. Thyroid hormones control the body’s energy balance, making you energized or lethargic. One of the most common signs of an underproduction of thyroid hormones is feeling “tired to the ground” by the afternoon.
2. Weight gain
Hypothyroidism leads to weight gain in three ways. It signals the body to store more energy, burn less energy, and tell the brain to eat more. This state can easily lead people to gain weight.
3. Constipation
A telltale sign of a slowed metabolism is sluggish bowel activity. Many reasons can lead to constipation, it should be said that most constipation patients are not caused by hypothyroidism. However, if your body experiences many of the symptoms described in this article, it’s a good idea to get a blood test to check for thyroid problems.
4. Body cold
This symptom is easy to detect and can worsen as the disease progresses. The human body has a basal metabolic rate, which refers to the number of calories the body needs to burn at rest. People with hypothyroidism also have a reduced basal metabolic rate, causing the body to produce less heat and making people more afraid of cold.
5. Reduced hair volume
You might not realize that the health of your thyroid can also affect your hair.
The growth rate of hair follicle cells is also controlled by hormones secreted by the thyroid. If the thyroid gland is not active enough, the hair follicle cells also stop growing, resulting in thinning hair. To make matters worse, studies have found that many people with hair loss problems also experience thicker and stiffer hair.
6. Puffiness and joint pain
Hypothyroidism can cause the body to not metabolize water properly, resulting in water retention and prone to facial puffiness. Joints are also prone to swelling and pain.
7. Feeling down
Hormonal fluctuations in a woman’s body after childbirth can also lead to hypothyroidism, which may also be a cause of postpartum depression.
Regardless of whether the depression is related to the thyroid gland or the symptoms are severe, seek help from friends and doctors in a timely manner. In addition, practicing yoga and meditation is very helpful for depression, allowing people to learn to withdraw from stressful living conditions and chaotic thoughts, learn to relax, and find true peace.
8. Dry skin
Skin cells have a short life cycle and are also affected by the thyroid. Many factors can affect the skin, sometimes caused by the use of some harmful cosmetics. Many of the cosmetics and beauty products that are newly launched every year contain substances that are harmful to the human body. If you can’t figure out why your skin is suddenly dry, you can also go to a hormonal specialist for a blood test to see if it’s a hormonal cause.
9. Muscle Decay
Sometimes the body needs to break down important tissues in the body like muscle to provide energy, a process called catabolism. When the body’s metabolism is too slow due to a low thyroid gland, the body turns to catabolism for energy. This process is painful and can lead to muscle soreness, which in turn reduces overall health.
10. Brain fog
Brain fog and lack of concentration can be difficult to find out from these two symptoms alone, because people sometimes experience this state, even when there is no disease. However, it is a common symptom in people with hypothyroidism.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism vary according to the severity of the condition and vary from person to person, and the condition usually develops gradually over several years, sometimes undetected.
Many people blame these symptoms on the stress of everyday life, or “natural aging” without paying attention to them. In fact, if it is found that the problem is caused by hypothyroidism, these problems can be solved by some methods and drug treatment.
About the Author: Nisha Jackson is a leading American hormonal and functional medicine expert, renowned lecturer, motivational speaker, radio host, columnist, author of the best-selling book Brilliant Burnout, and OnePeak Medical Center in Oregon founder of . For 30 years, her medical approach has successfully reversed chronic problems such as fatigue, brain fog, depression, insomnia and lack of stamina.
This article was originally published inOnePeak Medical, reprinted and translated by the Chinese and English “Epoch Times”. For the English report, please see:Could It Be Hypothyroidism? Top 10 Symptoms
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Responsible editor: Li Qingfeng
