Hypothyroidism Symptom Checklist

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Are you unsure as to whether or not you suffer from hypothyroidism? Does your doctor tell you that your TSH levels are fine but you still believe that you’re hypothyroid? If you answered yes to either of these questions then this hypothyroidism symptom checklist can help.

Problems with TSH Testing

It’s well known that TSH levels are not a very accurate indicator of hypothyroidism. But for some reason, the medical community continues to use it, and oftentimes as the only reference point. But there are many well known factors that can lower TSH levels in hypothyroid people which this test does not account for. And because of this, hypothyroidism has become extremely under-diagnosed today.

But that’s also where a good hypothyroidism symptom checklist can come in handy. It can give you a good indication of whether or not hypothyroidism is the likely culprit of your hypothyroidism symptoms.

Hypothyroidism Symptom Checklist

Using this hypothyroidism symptom checklist is easy. All you have to do is place a check mark next to any symptom below that you’ve experienced more recently or as a child.

By using this hypothyroidism symptom checklist to look back at your childhood it becomes easy to see if you were at risk of hypothyroidism as a child which typically worsens over time.

 

Download The Printable Version of This Thyroid Checklist

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Hypothyroidism Symptom

As A Child

Currently

I have a diagnosed thyroid problem  
I have a family history of thyroid disease  
   
I am gaining or losing weight inappropriately  
I am unable to lose weight with diet/exercise  
I often feel and look puffy  
I tend to gain weight around my mid-section  
I don’t have much of an appetite  
   
I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome  
I am constipated  
I have other gastrointestinal problems  
I am sensitive to strong odors (perfumes, cigarette smoke, etc.)  
I have gallstones, or I’ve had my gallbladder removed  
I have other liver problems  
   
I often feel cold when everyone around me is comfortable  
My hands, feet, nose, maybe even my rear end are cold, especially at night  
I am less tolerant of hot weather  
I feel tickling or prickly sensations on my skin, as if a bug was on me  
   
I have persistent fatigue  
I have low energy  
Feeling run down, sluggish, lethargic  
It takes me longer to recover from activities  
I feel worse after exercise or other exertion  
It takes me much longer than normal to complete tasks  
I’ve had changes in perspiration: I sweat very little, or I sweat heavily  
   
My hair is coarse and dry, breaking, brittle  
My hair is falling out  
My skin is coarse, dry, scaly, and thick  
I have orange calluses, or my palms have an orange tone  
I bruise easily  
I have less body hair (armpit, chest, arms, legs, etc)  
I can’t pinch the skin on my outer upper arms/upper thighs because it’s too thick  
My face looks puffy/swollen, especially my upper eyelids  
My skin color looks pale and a bit yellow  
I have acne  
My nails are thin and brittle and break easily  
I have ridges on my nails  
   
I have bulging eyes  
My eyelids are puffy/swollen  
The outer third of my eyebrows are thinning or missing   
My eyes feel gritty and dry  
My eyes feel sensitive to light  
My eyes get jumpy/tics in eyes (eyelid spasms)  
My vision has gotten worse/suddenly need reading glasses  
   
I have a feeling of fullness in neck or throat  
My neck appears swollen  
I am having trouble swallowing or spasms in my esophagus  
I have a hoarse or gravelly voice  
My tongue is swollen and has scalloped edges/teeth marks  
I am having trouble clearly annunciating words, as if talking with my mouth full  
My speech is slow/it takes effort to speak  
I have chronic gum infections  
I have receding (or, overdeveloped) gums  
Tooth decay is particularly a problem  
I have TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint dysfunction)  
   
I am snoring more lately  
I have/may have sleep apnea  
I have insomnia  
I have frequent nightmares   
I often need to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom  
I have a hard time getting up in the morning  
   
I have pains, aches in joints, hands and feet  
I have arthritis  
I have developed carpal-tunnel syndrome, or it’s getting worse  
I have sore feet or plantar fasciitis  
I have muscle weakness  
I have muscular pain/painful trigger points  
I have muscle spasms/cramps  
I have a slow Achilles tendon reflex  
   
I have difficulty concentrating  
I have ADD/ADHD  
I am having trouble remembering things  
I am having trouble learning new things  
I am having trouble grasping or “wrapping my head around” concepts  
My thought process has slowed down  
Colors seem less vivid and “flat” to me lately  
   
I feel anxious  
I feel restless  
My moods change easily  
I feel melancholy or depressed often  
I am shy/avoid social contact  
I have strange thoughts  
I seem to be losing interest in normal daily activities  
I have manic depression/ or Bipolar Disorder, or psychosis  
   
I have/had frequent upper respiratory infections (colds, bronchitis, strep, etc)  
I have frequent bladder infections  
I have frequent fungal/candida infections  
I have other frequent infections (viral, parasitic etc.)  
I have had other serious viral/bacterial infections (polio, TB,  etc)  
I have an auto-immune disorder-e.g. MS, Lupus, etc.  
I have tender lymph nodes  
I am anemic  
I have allergies  
   
I have tinnitus (ringing in ears)  
I have excessive ear wax  
I have fluid in my ear, or unexplained ear pain  
My hearing is reduced  
I have vertigo  
I feel some lightheadedness  
I feel shortness of breath and tightness in the chest  
I feel the need to yawn to get oxygen (air hunger)  
   
I have high cholesterol  
I have blood pressure irregularities (low or high)  
I have a low pulse (under 70 beats per minute)  
I have an irregular heartbeat  
I have atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)  
I have other heart problems  
I have prolonged bleeding (cuts/nosebleeds/bleeding gums/other bleeding)  
I have blood clotting problems (lack of clotting, or blood clots)  
   
I have/have had cancer  
I have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)  
I have diabetes type 1  
I have diabetes type 2  
   
I have a low sex drive  
I was born with a defect in my genitalia  
I am having trouble conceiving a baby  
   
Men Only:  
My testicles and/or penis is diminished and softer  
I have erectile dysfunction  
   
Women Only:  
I am having irregular/longer/heavier/more frequent menstrual cycles  
I have severe menstrual cramps  
I have fibroids  
I have fibrocystic breasts  
I have taken the birth control pill  
I am currently taking the birth control pill  
I have a history of miscarriage  
I have had a baby in the past nine months  
I had excessive during or post-partum bleeding or clotting  
I had post-partum thyroiditis in the past  
   


Copyright © 2014  www.HypothyroidismRevolution.com

Hopefully this hypothyroidism symptom checklist has opened you eyes to the wide array of symptoms that are associated with hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism truly is responsible for a multitude of health problems and diseases and has failed to get the recognition that it deserves. And there are plenty of hypothyroidism treatment options that you can consider today to start getting some results with your health.

Hypothyroidism Symptoms

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Hypothyroidism is most well known for its relationship to your metabolism and oftentimes weight gain or the inability to lose weight. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg when you begin to look at the multitude of various hypothyroidism symptoms ranging from digestive to sensory symptoms.

But also keep in mind that different people develop different symptoms. There is no one set pattern of symptoms that all hypothyroid people progress through. It all has to do with how your body responds and compensates.

One person might gain 30 lbs. and be unable to lose it no matter what. And the next person may develop heart palpitations or chronic depression.

If you find yourself suffering from any of these symptoms then you have to strongly consider that you very well might be hypothyroid. And I encourage you to take an active role in your health because all too often we place our health in the hands of others who don’t have our best interests in mind.

So, do yourself a favor and educate yourself, or find someone who is willing to educate you on what is really happening with your body and what the underlying cause of your health problems really is. Only then can you make an educated decision as to what is best for your health.

A Quick Note on Hypothyroidism Testing Flaws

And keep in mind that most thyroid test options are flawed and oftentimes lead to a false negative hypothyroidism diagnosis. And so millions of people go untreated or are improperly treated for various other related symptoms that stem from underlying hypothyroidism.

Because of this, I often recommend what is called a therapeutic trial to confirm your own diagnosis. This is where you follow a proper hypothyroidism treatment protocol including the right hypothyroidism diet and monitor your symptoms.

If your hypothyroidism symptoms improve then you can confirm that your speculation was correct.

Below I’ve listed a very comprehensive set of hypothyroid symptoms that are broken down into categories which shows you just how extensive these symptoms can be.

General Hypothyroidism Symptoms:

  • Fatigue or Excessive Tiredness
  • Weight Gain or Inability to Lose Weight
  • Obesity
  • Excessive Weight Loss
  • Cold Extremities
  • Swollen Neck or Goiter
  • Loss of Stamina
  • Afternoon Energy Crash
  • Low Morning Temperature
  • Edema
  • Difficulty Breathing
  • Dry and/or Gritty Eyes
  • Slow Recovery
  • Inability to Exercise
  • Trembling, Jittery, or Shivering Feeling
  • Hoarse Voice
  • Cold Sweats
  • Lack of Coordination
  • Heavy Eyelids

Sleep Related Hypothyroidism Symptoms:

  • Insomniahypothyroidism symptoms
  • Poor Sleep Quality
  • Waking Up Feeling Unrested
  • Difficulty Getting Out of Bed in the Morning
  • Frequent Nightmares
  • Sleep Apnea
  • Excessive Snoring
  • Night Sweats

Sensory Hypothyroidism Symptoms:

  • Inability to Concentrate
  • Slowed Reflexes and Reaction Time
  • Sensitivity to Light and/or Sun
  • Sensitivity to Hot and Cold
  • Sensitivity to Strong Odors
  • Sensitivity to Loud Noises
  • Blurred Vision

Hair, Skin, and Nail Related Hypothyroidism Symptoms:

  • Puffiness or Swelling of Eyes, Face, Hands, Feet, and/or Ankles
  • Hair Loss
  • Brittle Hairhypothyroidism symptoms
  • Loss of Eyelashes
  • Loss of Eyebrow Hair (outer portion)
  • Brittle, Flaky, or Peeling Nails
  • Dry, Flaky, or Course Skin
  • Pale and/or Yellowish Skin Pigment
  • Dark Circles Under Eyes
  • Orange Calluses
  • Bruise Easily
  • Acne
  • Rashes and Various Skin Conditions

Digestive Hypothyroidism Symptoms:

  • Loss of Appetite
  • Constipation
  • Food Allergies and Sensitivities
  • Difficulty Swallowing
  • Swollen Tongue or Ridges on Tongue
  • Dry Mouth
  • Alcohol Intolerance
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
  • Abdominal Distention
  • Excessive Gas
  • Bad Breath
  • Diabetes
  • Liver/Gallbladder Issues
  • Salt Cravings
  • Sweet Cravings
  • Hypoglycemia

Heart Related Hypothyroidism Symptoms:

  • High Cholesterol
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Low Blood Pressure
  • Slow/Weak Pulse (under 60 bpm)
  • Fast Pulse (over 90 bpm at rest)
  • Heart Palpitations
  • Heart Disease
  • Bleeding/Clotting Issues

Immune Related Hypothyroidism Symptoms:

  • Recurring Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
  • Recurring Upper Respiratory Infections
  • Fungal and Candida Infections
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Lupus
  • Asthma
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Autoimmune Disease
  • Cancer

Mental Hypothyroidism Symptoms:

  • Panic attacks
  • Poor Memory
  • Confusionhypothyroidism symptoms
  • Restlessness
  • Mental Sluggishness
  • ADD/ADHD
  • Slowed Speech
  • Difficulty Learning New Things
  • Poor Concentration
  • Phobias
  • Loss of Motivation
  • Light Headedness
  • Vertigo or Dizziness
  • Postpartum Depression
  • Epilepsy or Seizures

Emotional Hypothyroidism Symptoms:

  • Depression
  • Nervousness and Anxiety
  • Easily Upset
  • Antisocial Behavior
  • Mood Swings
  • Lack of Confidence
  • Bipolar Tendencies

Pain Related Hypothyroidism Symptoms:

  • Migraines
  • Pressure Headacheshypothyroidism symptoms
  • Muscle Cramps
  • Muscle Spasms
  • Back Pain
  • Wrist Pain
  • Foot Pain
  • Arthritis
  • Joint Pain or Stiffness
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Tendinitis

Women’s Health Related Hypothyroidism Symptoms:

  • PMS
  • Irregular, Longer, Lighter, or Heavier Menstrual Cycles
  • Severe Menstrual Cramps
  • Infertility
  • History of Miscarriage
  • Fibroids
  • Loss of Libido

Men’s Health Related Hypothyroidism Symptoms:

  • Loss of Libido
  • Erectile Dysfunction

Hopefully all of these symptoms of hypothyroidism have opened your eyes and given you a better understanding of the importance of detecting and properly treating hypothyroidism in order to properly restore and maintain your health. Most people, doctors, and healthcare professionals fail to make this connection and far too often the underlying cause of your health problems is missed or misdiagnosed.

Your thyroid is responsible for so much more than increasing your metabolism and helping you to lose weight. It plays an important role in balancing and producing hormones, reducing cholesterol, reducing inflammation within your body, fighting cancer, reducing your risk of autoimmune disease, keeping your brain energized and mentally alert, and slowing the natural aging process.

So many of the hypothyroidism symptoms listed above can be both easily avoided or easily eliminated when you learn how to properly restore the function and health of your thyroid. And it always begins with properly educating and empowering yourself to take control of your health.

Hypothyroidism and Infertility

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There’s a very clear link between hypothyroidism and infertility but it’s something that is not widely discussed for various reasons. Unfortunately, because it’s not widely discussed, infertility continues to rise and is becoming a much bigger and more expensive problem.

Infertility is one of the many hypothyroidism symptoms and largely a hormonal issue that can, more often than not, be corrected by overcoming hypothyroidism and the other associated hormonal imbalances. But instead of taking this common sense approach, we tend to try to force fertility to occur in a less fertile environment through in vitro fertilization and implantation. But no one stops to consider the long term health implications that this can have on the fetus.

This important link between hypothyroidism and infertility is oftentimes missed and many doctors claim that with many cases it’s impossible to fully restore fertility.

However, I would argue that this assumption based on evidence of many completely infertile post menopausal women who have successful become pregnant and given birth to healthy babies. There have been reports of some of these women being upwards of 60 and even 70+ years of age.

If a woman who has been post menopausal and has not ovulated for years can become fertile again, then I believe that a lot can be done for much younger women who have been given no hope.

The Link between Hypothyroidism and Infertility

As I mentioned above, infertility is largely a hormonal issue. But most people fail to realize that there are many factors that they have complete control over that affect their hormones for both the good and the bad.

When it comes to hypothyroidism and infertility, the two primary hormones to consider are estrogen and progesterone.

Most people understand that they need adequate progesterone, the pro-gestational hormone, in order to conceive and maintain a healthy pregnancy. Progesterone increases drastically upon conception and continues to rise throughout pregnancy. And this is because of the protective effect that progesterone has on both the mother and fetus.

But few people realize the implication of estrogen on both hypothyroidism and infertility. Estrogen is actually a hormone that does not support fertility even though the medical community argued that it did for many years.

Just look at how birth control pills work.

hypothyroidism and infertilityBirth control pills contain small doses of estrogen that increase your body’s estrogen levels up through the time of ovulation. And the increase in estrogen causes the cells of your uterus to consume more oxygen. And when your uterus consumes more oxygen, it literally steals the oxygen that is required to support the implanted egg, or embryo. Without enough oxygen, the egg cannot continue to develop.

And hypothyroidism and infertility go hand in hand because one of the main effects of hypothyroidism is the increase of estrogen within your body.

The two effectively feed off of each other. One of the many negative effects of estrogen is that it suppresses the release of thyroid hormones from your thyroid gland which in itself can cause hypothyroidism. And when you become hypothyroid, your liver becomes unable to properly inactivate and detoxify estrogen, so estrogen continues to build up in your system. And this increase in estrogen feeds back to further suppresses your thyroid.

This feedback mechanism quickly spirals out of control and hypothyroidism and infertility will persist until your hormones can be properly balanced again.

Common Causes of Hypothyroidism and Infertility

Excess Estrogen (Estrogen Dominance)

I’ve already discussed the connection between hypothyroidism and infertility above so I don’t think it needs repeating. However, it’s important to understand that any mechanism that leads to hypothyroidism will have the same effect of raising estrogen levels, regardless of whether or not estrogen played a factor in causing your hypothyroidism to begin with.

Estrogen can also come from outside sources.

One which I have already mentioned above is birth control pills. Oftentimes, it can take months after getting off of birth control pills before you can successfully conceive. And this depends entirely on how long it takes your body to inactivate and detoxify all of the estrogen that has built up.

For many women with liver dysfunction, they may not be able to conceive even after getting off of birth control until their liver issues are resolved.

hypothyroidism and infertilityAnother common and significant source of estrogen is from estrogenic chemicals such as xenoestrogens which are prevalent in plastics, pesticides, and many other industrial chemicals.

And lastly, there are even certain foods that are estrogenic by nature. Soy, which is often touted as a “health food” is very estrogenic and oftentimes wrongly recommended to women to help improve fertility when it is actually having the opposite effect.

Progesterone Deficiency

On the other side of the coin, you can become deficient in progesterone which has the same effect as estrogen of promoting and being promoted by hypothyroidism and infertility.

Progesterone is naturally synthesized from the hormone pregnenolone which requires vitamin A, cholesterol, and thyroid hormone to make. So if you are hypothyroid and lack thyroid hormone then your body might not be able to produce enough progesterone to support the fetus.

Another common factor in progesterone deficiency is stress. When your body is under chronic stress then it begins to slow down the production of progesterone in favor of producing more stress hormones.

So, stress can lead to progesterone deficiency which can also play a big part in both hypothyroidism and infertility.

Polyunsaturated Fats

hypothyroidism and infertilityThis is a major cause of hypothyroidism and infertility that nobody ever hears or talks about. And it has a lot to do with the fact that this is a very controversial topic. But in the end, the research speaks for itself.

Polyunsaturated fats in your diet actually cause your body to produce more estrogen. So a diet that is high in polyunsaturated fats can actually cause both hypothyroidism and infertility to develop based on the feedback mechanism between estrogen and thyroid that I mentioned above.

But there’s also another feedback mechanism at play here because when estrogen increases, it causes your body to release more polyunsaturated fats into your bloodstream which perpetuates the problem.

Vitamin E Deficiency

Vitamin E has many beneficial properties that can greatly improve both hypothyroidism and infertility.

For starters, vitamin E helps to offset the effects of estrogen in your body. It also protects your body against the unwanted effects of polyunsaturated fats. It boosts your thyroid function. And it also helps to increase oxygen to the fetus.

Studies have shown that vitamin E increases fertility in both males and female and helps prevent miscarriages.

So it should go without saying that vitamin E is a very powerful nutrient that can offset many of the issues that contribute to hypothyroidism and infertility. By incorporating a good hypothyroidism diet and hypothyroidism treatment protocol, you can effectively improve your thyroid function and drastically improve not only your fertility but also the health of your baby once you conceive.

Signs of Thyroid Problems

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There are many different signs of thyroid problems that you can take in account if you think that you might be hypothyroid. But don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you have to experience all of the various hypothyroidism symptoms because it varies widely from person to person.

But there are some that tend to be more common than others.

Below, I’ve covered some of the more common signs of thyroid problems that you can take into account along with some more medically oriented tests that you can do that are oftentimes a better indicator.

Physical Signs of Thyroid Problems

There are many physical signs of thyroid problems and below I’ll discuss a few of the more common ones. But just because you don’t exhibit physical signs, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re in the free and clear.

Professional athletes are a good example of this. Because of the demands of their sport, they oftentimes appear to be in great physical shape. But most athletes are hypothyroid because of the consistent stress they put on their bodies.

Weight

Not only your weight, but your ability to lose weight is oftentimes one of the big signs of thyroid problems. Because hypothyroidism tends to decrease your metabolism, you naturally burn fewer calories. But your body still needs the same amount of nutrients in order to properly function. And you can only cut calories so far before you start seeing the effects of nutrient deficiencies.

Water Retentionsigns of thyroid problems

When your metabolism slows, your cells begin to absorb more water than normal. And this causes all of your cells including muscle, nerves, and fat cells to swell, causing edema.

Oftentimes there will be noticeable swelling of the ankles and abdomen. And much the weight gain that you experience can be water weight.

Puffiness

Another one of the common signs of thyroid problems is puffiness, especially of the face. And this is completely unrelated to weight. Even extremely skinny people can show puffiness, although it’s oftentimes not easily noticeable until after the hypothyroidism treatment has taken place and the difference is compared.

Swelling is most noticeable within the face, around the eyes and eyelids.

Hair, Skin, and Nails

signs of thyroid problemsYour hair can go through some noticeable changes when you suffer from hypothyroidism. More often than not, your hair becomes dry, course, and brittle.

Other hair related hypothyroidism symptoms include hair loss or thinning, from all areas of your body, including your head. And the loss of hair from the outer portion of your eyebrows as well as the loss of eyelashes.

Skin changes are yet another one of the many signs of thyroid problems. Much like your hair, your skin oftentimes becomes dry, thick, scaly, and coarse.

You nails can become more brittle, flaky, and begin to peel.

And many people notice a yellowish pigment to their skin and oftentimes dark circles underneath their eyes.

Cold Extremities

One of the most common signs is feeling cold, especially your extremities. But this also largely depends on the air temperature around you because if the air is relatively warm then you most likely won’t notice the difference.

A better indicator of cold extremities is to place your hand on your chest, underneath your shirt. This will give a good comparison of the difference between your core temperature and the temperature of your extremities. If your hand feels cold to your chest then this is a sign of hypothyroidism.

Mental Signs of Thyroid Problems

Another one of the more common signs of thyroid problems is the loss of mental ability that comes with it.

You can probably remember times of your life when you were younger when your mind was alert and quick to respond to just about anything. But now you suffer from mental sluggishness and you have a hard time concentrating on any task at hand.

And where the heck did you put your car keys?

Poor memory and concentration are two of the ill effects of hypothyroidism. And they typically are followed by a lack of motivation.

Medical Signs of Thyroid Problems

There are a multitude of physical signs of thyroid problems and I’ve listed some of the more common ones above. But there are also some very important medical signs that you should know about, which most people are completely unaware of.

Elevated Cholesterol

signs of thyroid problemsDid you know that your cholesterol levels were directly proportional to your thyroid function? The lower your thyroid function, the higher your cholesterol.

Studies have shown that when you treat your thyroid then your cholesterol levels fall to normal exactly at the same rate that your thyroid function returns to normal.

So why are you trying to use drugs to force your cholesterol down when your cholesterol isn’t the real problem? It doesn’t make sense to me either. And it makes perfect sense why cholesterol lowering drugs do NOT improve your risk of heart disease.

But now, you’re becoming educated and can understand that your high cholesterol is just one of the many signs of thyroid problems.

Low Morning Temperature

This is one of those pseudo-medical signs of thyroid problems because this is something that you can do in the comfort of your own home without the need of a doctor or fancy medical equipment. All you need is a thermometer and a night’s sleep.

If you take your basal (morning) temperature before you get out of bed in the morning, just after waking, then it has been shown to be a pretty accurate indicator of hypothyroidism.

If you’re morning temperature is 97.9° F (36.6° C) or lower, then your thyroid is struggling to keep your temperature up and you are hypothyroid.

Slow Achilles Reflex

The last of the signs of thyroid problems that I want to discuss is the Achilles reflex. When you become hypothyroid, your nerve reflexes slow down considerably. So oftentimes, before the popular lab testing of today, doctors used to test the Achilles reflex as one of the many indicators of hypothyroidism.

By simply propping your bent knee on a chair with your ankle hanging free, you can have someone trigger your Achilles reflex.

If your thyroid is functioning normally then your foot will quickly reflex and return to its normal resting position. If you are hypothyroid then your foot will quickly reflex but then it will be slower to return to its normal resting position. Some have even equated it to the effect of a pneumatic door that opens quickly but is slow and steady to return to its closed position.

So, there you have it. I’ve given you not only many of the physical and mental signs of thyroid problems but also some simple medical based tests that can give you even a better indicator of whether or not you are experiencing true hypothyroidism symptoms or if they are most likely related to something else. But keep in mind that as you age, your thyroid function naturally declines. So, eating according to a good hypothyroidism diet is always recommended to maintain the best of health.

Thyroid Symptoms in Men

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When you look at the true number of thyroid symptoms, it’s rather staggering even though the medical community takes a blind eye to the majority them. This is particularly a problem with the various thyroid symptoms in men which are often overlooked and dismissed altogether because they have been wrongfully associated with other unrelated health problems and conditions.

But when you consider the fact that your health is largely based on your thyroid and its role in helping your cells to efficiently produce enough energy for you to stay healthy, the far reaching effects of hypothyroidism become much more obvious.

It’s simple really. If your cells don’t get the thyroid hormone or nutrients that they need to be healthy, your health will suffer. And because this can affect any and all of the cells of your body, the thyroid symptoms in men really have few limitations.

Get An Accurate Diagnosis

Most men believe that the thyroid’s only role is with metabolism and that as long as their weight remains stable, they don’t have a problem with their thyroid. However, thyroid symptoms in men are not always accompanied by weight gain. This is a very common misconception today.

Unfortunately current medical testing for low thyroid function or hypothyroidism is not very reliable. Because of this, most men (and women) are wrongfully informed that their there is nothing wrong with their thyroid when the reality is that doctors today are completely dropping the ball.

It’s actually far more accurate to base your diagnosis on a thyroid symptom checklist. But in terms of scientific validation, simply tracking your basal body temperature and your pulse, you can quite accurately diagnose yourself without having to spend money on useless tests.

Even without tracking your temperature and pulse, any of the thyroid symptoms in men can be validated using what is called a therapeutic trial. Simply follow the right hypothyroidism treatment plan and track your symptoms through the process. If you begin to see improvements in your symptoms as your measured thyroid function increases then you’ve just validated your own diagnosis. Even simply adopting a good hypothyroidism diet can be enough to give you the answers that you need.

Of course, it’s always beneficial to have a good understanding and knowledge of the many common thyroid symptoms in men so that you can make your own educated guess as to whether or not your thyroid could be involved. But unfortunately there’s a huge lack of awareness of hypothyroidism today.

Most Concerning Thyroid Symptoms in Men

Most men are rather stubborn when it comes to health problems. They would prefer to wait it out instead of going to see their doctor about any particular health problem. More often than not this is because there’s embarrassment or shame associated with their symptoms. And this is a common reason why so many thyroid symptoms in men are completely missed or go undiagnosed.

Let’s look at some of the most common low thyroid symptoms that you need to know so that you can take a more active role in getting the help that you need to reverse this problem and get your life back in working order.

Common Thyroid Symptoms in Men # 1 – Heart Disease

There are a number of factors that contribute to heart disease and why it’s more prevalent in men than women. For starters, women naturally produce more progesterone than men which gives them far greater protection from heart disease than men.

Studies have shown that men who have heart attacks have much higher levels of estrogen than men who do not. This is important because estrogen rises with the development of hypothyroidism.

High estrogen causes calcium to enter the cells of organs including your heart which leads to calcification of soft tissue and making your heart far less efficient.

There’s also the factor of lactic acid production which naturally increases with hypothyroidism. This increase in lactic acid contributes to the hardening of your arties which further increases your risk of heart disease.

As you can see, by keeping your thyroid healthy you can greatly decrease your risk of one of the deadliest thyroid symptoms in men.

Common Thyroid Symptoms in Men # 2 – Diminished Libido and Infertility

We already established that hypothyroidism leads to an increase in estrogen which has a number of negative health effects. But it also causes a number of other hormonal imbalances. Most notably it causes a decrease in testosterone and progesterone which play an important role in both your libido and sperm production.

Without these important hormones, you’re left with a decreased sex drive and a reduction in sperm production along with other common thyroid symptoms in men which can cause infertility problems, especially if your partner is hypothyroid as well.

Common Thyroid Symptoms in Men # 3 – Thinning of Hair or Balding

thyroid symptoms in menHair loss is another one of the common thyroid symptoms in men that makes a lot of men uncomfortable.

You’re supposed to be in your prime but instead you find yourself grimacing in front of the mirror, wondering why your hair is thinning and whether or not you’re going bald.

 

Common Thyroid Symptoms in Men # 4 – Weight Gain and Puffiness

Weight gain and puffiness, especially of the face are two very common hypothyroidism symptoms. But men tend to gain and carry weight a little different than women.

Both men and women deal with considerable weight gain due to water retention. This occurs because as your cells fail to get the thyroid hormone that they need to stay healthy, they become weak and begin to absorb water.

But men are also more susceptible to higher stress hormone levels, one of which is cortisol. Your abdominal region contains a lot of cortisol receptor sites which is why high stress hormones promote fat storage in your abdominal region.

Common Thyroid Symptoms in Men # 5 – Mental Health Issues

thyroid symptoms in menThis is another one of those symptoms that men rarely talked about. But when stress hormones run out of control as is the case commonly found with hypothyroidism, anxiety and depression can take their toll.

Generally, you become very susceptible to stress and it takes very little to put you over the edge which can cause a lot of strain in your relationships and family life.

It’s important to note that this is not strictly some attitude or mental problem that requires counseling. This is caused by hormonal issues that can be corrected. And when you correct your hormones then this and other associated thyroid symptoms in men will practically disappear on their own.

The most important thing you can do as a man suffering from hypothyroidism is to actually educate yourself and get help instead of continuing to ignore the problem that is only going to worsen over time.

By making some simple changes to your diet and correcting some of the hormonal imbalances that exist, you can eliminate all of the common thyroid symptoms in men and get back to enjoying your life and family without all of the unnecessary stress caused by hypothyroidism.

Thyroid Disease Symptoms

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Fatigue, depression and weight gain are three often overlooked, but yet quite common thyroid disease symptoms.  Most of us don’t pay much attention to our thyroid gland. Conventional medicine has really done a poor job of practically ignoring it and just “expecting” it to do its job.  The reality is that there are millions of people suffering daily from a number of thyroid disease symptoms, yet they have no idea what is causing these symptoms to occur.

Unfortunately the most commonly used tests to diagnose thyroid disease are not accurate to say the least.  Because of this, it’s extremely important that we spread awareness about the vast number of thyroid symptoms so that people can start addressing this very real and prevalent problem instead of being continuously treated for other non-related health problems..

I’ve already mentioned three of the most common symptoms – but let’s take a closer look at those since they are often mistakenly attributed to other conditions.

Common Thyroid Disease Symptoms # 1 – Fatigue

Fatigue is not only one of the early thyroid disease symptoms, but is also one of the most frustrating. Often it begins with just feeling a little more tired than usual in the afternoon, but can soon progress to the point that you feel exhausted most of the time no matter how much sleep you get.

Everyone enjoys a nap once in a while, but if it becomes a necessity just to get through your day, perhaps you should take a closer look at your symptoms and note any others that can be related to hypothyroidism. Oftentimes these energy lows turn into chronic patterns in your day-to-day life. If you notice that your energy fluctuations follow a daily pattern then this is a pretty good indication that your energy and sleep problems are in fact thyroid disease symptoms.

Common Thyroid Disease Symptoms # 2 – Weight Gain

thyroid disease symptomsWeight gain, or weight loss resistance, is one of the most well- known thyroid disease symptoms. Most people understand that thyroid hormones regulate metabolism and that when they are askew, it’s common to start putting on extra pounds. What is lesser known is the fact that dieting for such weight gain is usually fruitless.

The normal response to weight gain is to cut back on your eating.  However, with thyroid disease, it just doesn’t work that way. The less you eat, the slower your metabolism, and the slower your metabolism, the harder it is to lose weight. People often find themselves in a cycle of unsuccessful yo-yo dieting because they fail to understand the drastic influence that their thyroid has on their metabolism.

Common Thyroid Disease Symptoms # 3 – Depression

Depression comes as a surprise to many people who would never think of associating depression with their thyroid gland. However, science continues to shed light on the fact that depression is one of the most common symptoms. It really has to do with how your hormones influence your mood.

While we’ve covered the 3 most common symptoms, there are also a number of other symptoms that need to be mentioned.

Male Specific Thyroid Disease Symptoms

thyroid disease symptomsHypothyroidism can affect all of the body’s systems and can be especially affective at disrupting the male reproductive system.   Symptoms for men can include loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, and even infertility. Fortunately, once you follow the right hypothyroidism treatment protocol to correct the underlying hypothyroidism, these conditions are completely reversible.

There are other common thyroid disease symptoms that are more prevalent in men than women including hair loss or balding, heart disease, and elevated cholesterol just to name a few.

Female Specific Thyroid Disease Symptoms

Just like a man’s reproductive system is oftentimes affected by hypothyroidism, a woman’s reproductive organs are often affected as well. Symptoms range from irregular menstrual cycles to infertility.  It is not unusual for women to have painful cycles that are heavy and last longer than normal. Just like with men, once the underlying cause is addressed, these conditions are reversible.

General Thyroid Disease Symptoms Worth Noting

There are a large number of other thyroid disease symptoms that we’ve yet to cover. In fact, there isn’t enough space in this article to give them all due justice. Below, I’ve listed some additional general symptoms worth noting and that may help indicate whether or not you suffer from hypothyroidism:

Other Common Thyroid Disease Symptoms

  • Joint pain
  • Body stiffness
  • Constipation
  • Sensitivity to cold
  • Dry, itchy skin
  • High cholesterol levels
  • Unexplained aches and pains
  • Water retention
  • Thin, brittle nails
  • Prickling sensation on skin
  • Feel worse after exercise
  • Puffy or swollen eyelids
  • Swollen neck or goiter
  • Arthritis
  • ADD/ADHD
  • Though process feel slow
  • Memory problems
  • Tooth decay
  • Chronic gum infections
  • Sleep apnea/increased snoring
  • Insomnia
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Tongue swollen
  • Slurred speech
  • Bulging eyes

One of the first things that I do with my clients is to have them fill out a complete thyroid symptom checklist so that they can begin to realize just how far reaching their hypothyroidism really is. Most are dealing with a number of low thyroid symptoms that they never once thought could be related to their thyroid.

I’ve actually made this checklist available to you when you sign up for my free reports and I strongly encourage you to get it and see for yourself. Plus, you’ll get a number of other resources to help you to start taking a much more active role in your health.

If you suffer from any of thyroid disease symptoms that I’ve listed here or even have the slightest inkling that you might be hypothyroid, then I highly recommend you conduct your own therapeutic trial to confirm your own diagnosis. This is a far better option than using any of the highly inaccurate tests used today.

Simply follow a proper hypothyroidism treatment protocol including the right hypothyroidism diet and track your thyroid function through the process. If your symptoms improve along with your measure of thyroid function then you can be fairly certain that your suspicions were correct.

Just keep in mind that the scope of these thyroid disease symptoms is quite vast and that the right treatment option can help you turn your life around and have you back to your old happy and healthy self in no time.

Hypothyroidism in Men

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Hypothyroidism in men is often overlooked due to the big misconception that thyroid problems are exclusive only to women.  It’s true that one doesn’t hear a lot about hypothyroidism in men, but it’s not because men aren’t susceptible. On the contrary, many men do suffer from hypothyroidism but unfortunately there is very little awareness and the condition is more often than not, misdiagnosed.

Because most doctors use weight as their main indicator as to the possible involvement of hypothyroidism, they all too often dismiss all of the other hypothyroidism symptoms that their patients present when their weight is not a problem.

Needless to say, there’s men need to do a much better job at recognizing the symptoms and addressing them with the appropriate hypothyroidism treatment.

If not addressed, a lack of thyroid hormone can eventually become a serious health problem which I’ll explain a second. This is why it is so important to have a good understanding of the symptoms of hypothyroidism in men and address the condition sooner than later. The longer you wait, the more difficult and longer the road to recovery.

Common Symptoms of Hypothyroidism in Men

I want to cover some of the more common symptoms of hypothyroidism in men. But do keep in mind that this is just a very short list and there are a lot of other symptoms beyond these. For a more complete list, be sure to check out this list of hypothyroidism symptoms.

And keep in mind that eating the right hypothyroidism diet is key in helping men to overcome hypothyroidism.

Here are just a few of the symptoms of that are important to note:

Fatigue and Hypothyroidism in Men

Fatigue is one of the first signs that your thyroid is either not producing enough thyroid hormone or that your thyroid hormone is not getting delivered to your cells properly.

Hypothyroidism in men, if not addressed, will eventually interfere with your ability do normal activities. Some men report that they feel sluggish or experience a decrease in mobility and reaction time. Many complain that they feel so tired at work that they are concerned about falling asleep on the job.

Many men write fatigue off as something that just occurs with age instead of realizing that it’s not normal and that there is something that you can do about it.

Oftentimes stress hormones can keep you going as long as you stay active but once you sit down and try to relax, the fatigue kicks in and you have a difficult time staying awake.

Weight Gain and Hypothyroidism in Men

hypothyroidism in menWeight gain is yet another symptom that most men completely write off as a byproduct of age. You may have been an avid athlete in your youth but today, your weight is beyond your control.

Your thyroid controls your metabolism so it does play an integral role in the number of calories you burn, but it goes beyond that. Hormonal imbalances that are a byproduct of hypothyroidism play a big role as well. Stress hormones in particular cause fat to accumulate around your midsection.

In any case, slow and unexplained weight gain or the inability to lose weight are both common symptoms of hypothyroidism in men.

Sexual Dysfunction and Hypothyroidism in Men

This is a big one that men typically don’t talk about. But given that the little blue pill is one of the largest grossing drugs every single year, it’s safe to say that many men are relying on a little extra help.

Hypothyroidism can impact a man’s reproductive organs and associated hormones. A study on the Prevalence of sexual symptoms in male Hypo- and Hyper-Thyroid Patients, released by the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism in December, 2005, indicated there is a definite connection between specific sexual problems and hypothyroidism in men.

Research indicated that 64.3 percent of men suffering from hypothyroidism had common sexual problems such as:

  • Delayed ejaculation
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Infertility
  • Low sex drive
  • Premature ejaculation

The men were examined when their thyroid levels first revealed a problem with their thyroid and again two to four months after their thyroid levels returned to normal range.

Researchers found that men whose thyroid returned to normal function experienced prompt reversal of the symptoms of hypothyroidism in men.

Aches, Pains, and Hypothyroidism in Men

hypothyroidism in menHypothyroidism is also the cause of a lot of muscle aches, pains, cramps, tenderness, and stiffness as well as pain and swelling in the joints.

What have we learned from men so far? That most are going to ignore these symptoms and continue on with their restricted lives instead of dealing with the problem head on.

These aches and pains can be contributed to a number of causes. For starters, poor blood sugar handling is common cause for headaches and migraines, especially when the brain isn’t getting the nutrition it need to function properly.

There’s also the issue of calcium retention that occurs with hypothyroidism. When connective tissue retains calcium, it will begin to calcify the connective tissue leaving you stiff and uncomfortable.

Nutrient and mineral imbalances such as a magnesium deficiency which is also associated with hypothyroidism in men can also lead to aches, pains, and muscle cramps.

The increased estrogen associated with hypothyroidism can cause nerve swelling which can contribute to numbness and MS type pain symptoms.

High Cholesterol and Hypothyroidism in Men

It has been known since the 1940’s that cholesterol increases in direct proportion as thyroid function decreases. Yet today, doctors don’t seem to be aware of this very telling relationship.

In fact, during the 1940’s, doctors used cholesterol as a sign of hypothyroidism and would track it as an indicator that their hypothyroidism treatment plan was working. Your cholesterol will lower to normal levels at the same rate that your thyroid function returns to normal.

The medical community likes to use cholesterol as a risk indicator for heart disease but the truth is that it’s hypothyroidism and its negative effects on your body that lead to heart disease, not cholesterol itself.

Thyroid researcher and scientist Dr. Broda Barnes demonstrated this very phenomenon. In one of his research studies, he showed that by removing the thyroid gland and inducing hypothyroidism, heart disease developed. And by reversing the hypothyroidism, heart disease disappeared.

Even today, high cholesterol is becoming one of the more common hypothyroidism symptoms in women.

These are all common signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism in men that largely go undiagnosed or are diagnosed and improperly treated independent of hypothyroidism. By properly treating your hypothyroidism and taking it seriously, you can literally add years back to your life.

Symptoms of Low Thyroid

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Many people’s understanding of hypothyroidism is that it is a condition that affects the thyroid glands ability to produce thyroid hormone. If thyroid hormone can’t be produced then symptoms of low thyroid function begin to present themselves.

But that’s not the only way to become hypothyroid. Hypothyroidism really refers to the inability to deliver an adequate amount of thyroid hormone to your cells. So, your thyroid gland might be producing thyroid hormone without a problem. But if there’s a problem that occurs between the time that it is produced and the time that it is delivered to your cells, then you also become hypothyroid. It doesn’t matter what the source of the problem is, it’s all described as low thyroid function.

The hormones produced by your thyroid gland are responsible for many different functions in the human body and therefore, when the gland isn’t producing enough, you will eventually develop symptoms of low thyroid function.

The condition is actually quite common. In fact, some figures indicate that at estimated ten million Americas suffer from one or more of the symptoms of low thyroid function.  It is not only very common, but the vast majority of these people have no idea they are suffering from the condition which is actually quite treatable with the right hypothyroidism treatment protocol.

First of all, let’s take a look at the thyroid gland to get an understanding of what exactly it is and what it does.  The thyroid is a tiny gland, shaped somewhat like a butterfly that is located in the front of your neck.

Though it’s small, its purpose is huge – to control the rate of function for each and every other gland and cell within your body.  That not only includes metabolism, but also growth and cell repair.

Symptoms of Low Thyroid in Women

The condition is more prevalent in women than in men; and especially in women over the age of 30.  Also, women who are about to begin menopause, or are going through menopause, have a tendency to display symptoms of low thyroid function more so than their younger counterparts.

This is because thyroid function is connected to the body’s other hormones including estrogen and progesterone.

The most common cause of hypothyroidism is inflammation of the thyroid gland, oftentimes caused by excessive estrogen. Excessive estrogen blocks the production of specific enzymes that signal the thyroid gland to release its hormones. When this occurs, thyroid hormone builds up causing thyroiditis or goiter. Watch for these symptoms:

  • Weight gain
  • Fatigue
  • Depression
  • Hair Loss
  • Sensitivity to cold
  • Difficulty swallowing

When any of these symptoms is present, simply eating per the right hypothyroidism diet plan can provide a significant boost to your thyroid function and drastically improve your symptoms.

Symptoms of Low Thyroid in Children and Teens

Hypothyroidism is most common in middle aged women; however, anyone can develop symptoms of low thyroid function, including babies, children and teenagers.

Babies often show no symptoms function until they are older. When they do display symptoms they are often associated with the following:

  • Yellowing of the skin
  • A large tongue that protrudes
  • Tendency to choke on foods or saliva
  • A puffy face
  • Poor muscle tone
  • Excessive sleeping

 For children and teens, symptoms are likely to include:

  • Low growth rate, shorter than others their age
  • Late development of second or permanent teeth
  • Early or late puberty

Like so many symptoms of low thyroid function, these can easily be attributed to other conditions.  That’s why it is so important to become familiar with the common symptoms of underactive thyroid so you can be aware of any which are manifesting in yourself or family members.

Symptoms of Low Thyroid in Men

Many men develop symptoms of low thyroid function as well.  Untreated, these symptoms can lead to some very frustrating conditions such as:

  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Muscle aches and cramps
  • Unexplained weight gain
  • Fatigue
  • Hair Loss
  • Depression

Remember that no matter what age you are, and whether you are a man or woman, symptoms of hypothyroidism can certainly interfere with your life if left untreated.

There are so many different symptoms that not all of them can be addressed here. Also, many of the tests used to determine if one has hypothyroidism are not always accurate. Because of this, the best way to determine if you have the disorder is to become aware of the many symptoms of low thyroid function so you can determine if you or your loved ones may be suffering from the disorder.

Signs of Hypothyroidism

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One of the most overlooked conditions in both men and women is hypothyroidism.  Although in men the disorder is not quite as common as in women, they still experience similar troubling symptoms that often go undiagnosed. The reason for this is that the signs of hypothyroidism are not only numerous, but also tend to be incorrectly diagnosed as something else.

It’s important to understand the expansive role of the thyroid gland which is largely why it is responsible for causing so many symptoms of hypothyroidism. It determines how much energy your cells produce. The less energy they produce, the unhealthier they become. And because it affects all cells, these signs and symptoms can develop within any part of the body.

One of the first signs of hypothyroidism is often a feeling of being tired all the time. Fatigue that interferes with daily life is often really an early warning sign and oftentimes adopting the right hypothyroidism diet early enough can correct the problem and save you a lot of time and energy.

Another sign of hypothyroidism is weight gain.  When the body slows its metabolism, the natural result is that you start putting on extra pounds. Unlike weight that comes from overeating, weight gain due to hypothyroidism is difficult, if not impossible to shed.  Oftentimes, much of the weight gain can also be associated with water retention or edema. While weight gain and fatigue are two of the most frustrating signs of hypothyroidism, there are many other symptoms as well.

Unfortunately, most men believe they are unlikely candidates for hypothyroidism which causes them to overlook the real problem, especially when weight gain is not a problem. But hypothyroidism is growing amongst men as well making the right hypothyroidism treatment protocol just as important for men as it women.

Let’s take a look at some of the signs of hypothyroidism in men. You will note that while some are similar to the signs in women, some are exclusive to men.

Signs of Hypothyroidism in Men

Fatigue

One of the most prevalent signs of hypothyroidism in men is fatigue and/or a general feeling of overall weakness.  Your body never seems to have enough rest no matter how many hours of sleep you get at night.  Some men define the condition as “sluggishness,” or say they feel like they are moving in slow motion.

Unfortunately, most men ignore this, and many of the symptoms of low thyroid function, and chalk it up to the fact they are getting older, or that they had a bad day at the office. However, a man who experiences chronic fatigue, especially if no other physical problems are present, are more likely suffering from hypothyroidism.

Weight Gain

Men, as well as women, tend to experience weight gain when they develop hypothyroidism.  Men have a tendency to stop exercising when they are grossly fatigued, which over time develops into weight gain. For men, gaining weight is actually one of the later signs of hypothyroidism. Weight gain in spite of decreased appetite for food is a definite symptom.

Muscle Aches

Men who work at a job where physical labor is involved throughout the week are apt to ignore the signs of hypothyroidism.  Most will chalk up even the most uncomfortable muscle pain to the fact that they work hard. However, men with extreme pain, aches and/or cramps in their muscles, especially if they are experiencing any other symptoms, should take into consideration the fact that they may suffer from hypothyroidism.

Sexual Dysfunction

Most men suffering from hypothyroidism will experience some type of sexual dysfunction.  Decreased desire, erectile dysfunction, inability to ejaculate or premature ejaculation, are all signs of hypothyroidism in men.  This can cause severe concern which in turn can lead to depression if the disorder is not diagnosed and treated.  Fortunately most all cases of sexual dysfunction will be reversed once thyroid levels are brought back to normal.

Depression

Depression is also one of the strong signs of hypothyroidism in men who are otherwise healthy.  As the thyroid hormone levels decrease, the body becomes fatigued and the inability to do normal amounts of work or enjoy physical recreation can make a man feel self-defeated.  Usually when depression sets in, it begins as sense of feeling blue. Left untreated, however, hypothyroidism can lead to severe depression in men.

Loss of Hair

For men, hair loss caused by hypothyroidism is usually noticed first by a thinning of eyebrows. As the disorder continues, scalp hair can begin falling out as well.  Sudden hair loss, such as losing hair in clumps, or large amounts of hair left behind in the shower or sink, is often one of the more severe signs of hypothyroidism.

What is the solution?

It’s important to remember that the thyroid gland produces the hormones necessary for cell growth, metabolism and cell repair as well as sexual function.  Many men will fail to get the proper treatment because they don’t want to discuss some of these concerns with their physician. However, once diagnosed, with the proper treatment, the signs of hypothyroidism in men will be alleviated.

Hypothyroid Symptoms in Women

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Hypothyroid symptoms are more common among women than men. This is largely due to estrogen’s role in suppressing thyroid function and women naturally have far more estrogen than men.  Because of this, the hypothyroid symptoms in women tend to be more correlated with hormonal cycles.

Hypothyroid symptoms in women are especially noticeable during adolescence, pregnancy, menopause, and peri-menopause. This is because these are the typical times when estrogen and progesterone levels are changing within a woman’s body. In fact, women who have a history of female hormone imbalance or menstrual issues almost always develop hypothyroidism at some point in life.

Unfortunately, many hypothyroid symptoms in women go undetected or misdiagnosed. The tests for thyroid hormones are not always accurate; thus leading many women who are suffering from low thyroid function to suffer a great deal as their health and sense of well-being decline steadily. This can be a frustrating and fearful experience.

As the years pass, these women will find themselves taking a long list of medications and prescriptions for various ailments, when in reality; the answer is that they have been suffering all along from one or more of the common hypothyroid symptoms in women.  The fact is, hypothyroid symptoms in women can be quite severe and sometimes life changing if not addressed.

It is therefore, crucial that women pay close attention to their bodies and especially their thyroid function and follow the right hypothyroidism treatment plan when necessary.  The best way to determine if you have a low thyroid is to determine if you are suffering from hypothyroid symptoms:

Let’s take a look at some of the more common symptoms:

Early Stage Hypothyroid Symptoms in Women

  • Unexplained fatiguehypothyroid symptoms in women
  • Oversensitivity to cold
  • Muscle aches
  • Joint aches
  • Weight gain
  • Constipation
  • Heavy menstrual cycles
  • Rough, dry skin
  • Hair that becomes coarse
  • Mental or emotional problems
  • Depression

 

Most of these hypothyroid symptoms in women will simply go unnoticed because they are so common.  It’s natural to consider them as separate problems altogether. However, if you find you are experiencing one or more of these, it might be a good idea to take a closer look at your body and how it’s functioning to determine if in fact, you are hypothyroid.

If these early hypothyroid symptoms in women remain untreated, the condition will naturally progress.  This is especially true for depression, which, when caused by a low thyroid function, has a tendency to lead to a major depressive state.

Other hypothyroid symptoms in women include physical changes that are not only uncomfortable, but sometimes embarrassing. Let’s take a look at some of the hypothyroid symptoms in women that are the result of not being treated properly for the condition.

Later Stage Hypothyroid Symptoms in Women

  • Face develops a round, puffy appearancehypothyroid symptoms in women
  • Eyes always look tired
  • Dry, rough skin that doesn’t respond to treatment
  • Hair loss
  • Intense muscle pain
  • Increased weakness
  • Mental confusion
  • Memory problems
  • Daytime sleepiness

 

Other Common Hypothyroid Symptoms in Women

Weight gain is one of the most noticeable hypothyroid symptoms in women.  Not only is low thyroid function responsible, but the additional lack of motivation due to fatigue and other symptoms only complicates things even further.

This added weight is because women with an underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism have a tendency to have a low resting, or basal, rate of metabolism. Unfortunately decreasing calories is not the solution to lose weight because you can only cut so many calories before you no longer get the necessary nutrients for your body to function and be healthy. Instead, it’s imperative to correct your thyroid function to increase or restore your metabolism. In other words, as long as you are hypothyroid, cutting calories is not going to help you lose weight.

This is why so many women get frustrated when they are trying to lose weight and nothing seems to work. Often, it isn’t that you have been overeating or lack exercise. It’s simply because you are hypothyroid.

Women suffering from hypothyroidism often spend most of their time dieting to no avail. Often they fall into the cycle of “yoyo” dieting which consists of starving and fasting, then binging and overeating.  Not only is this not good for your body, but it decreases your metabolic rate further, leaving you further in a state of hypothyroidism and making you more susceptible to other common hypothyroid symptom in women. It’s important to follow the right hypothyroidism diet to improve your thyroid function and boost your metabolism in a healthy way for weight loss.

Because of blood sugar issues associated with poor dietary habits as well as other forms of excessive stress, your stress hormones become affected as well. Your body will overproduce cortisol in an attempt to compensate and raise your blood sugar because your liver is unable to do its job. This results in sweet cravings, which if not balanced properly, leads to further weight gain.

You can see how having a problem with your thyroid can literally put your on a merry-go-round of symptoms that absolutely must be addressed.

If you find that you have any of the hypothyroid symptoms in women that are covered here, consider that the real problem may be that you’re unknowingly suffering from hypothyroidism. Even if you’ve tested negative for hypothyroidism, remember that current thyroid testing is very insufficient and more often than not leads to false negatives.