Symptoms of Underactive Thyroid

Underactive thyroid is also known as hypothyroidism. A person is said to suffer from this problem, when the thyroid gland fails to produce enough thyroid hormones, due to which the metabolism rate of the human body slows down and this in turn, leads to various problems like tiredness and gaining of weight. There are various symptoms of underactive thyroid, which one should know so that when someone shows any of the symptoms, treatment can be started immediately.

Causes

This is more common in women than in men though older people are also prone to this problem. The thyroid is a small gland in the neck, which produces a hormone called thyroxine and this hormone is responsible for producing energy from the food that we take in. When the thyroid stops producing the hormone, that is called underactive thyroid. This might happen if the immune system attacks the gland. Some point out that if anyone in the family has this problem, then there are chances that one might suffer from this problem.

Another rare cause of this thyroid problem might be if it is damaged by surgery or maybe radiotherapy or even due to intake of certain medicines. Women, might suffer from this problem after they have given birth, hence, proper care needs to be taken of them.

Symptoms

The symptoms in men and women are difficult to notice sometimes as they are quite mild and vague. The most common symptoms associated with this problem are:

• Pain in the muscle and joints and one also experiences some weakness in their arms and legs.
• There is also a tendency for the person to develop carpal tunnel and tarsal tunnel in their hands and legs, respectively.
• The patient also undergoes some sort of discomfort in the neck. He usually experiences a kind of swelling in the neck region.
• Some other symptoms are dry skin and the person also suffers from weight gain due to a decrease in the basal metabolic rate. If you notice any of these symptoms, then the person should be taken to the doctor soon.
• The person suffering from this problem, feels cold even on a warm day. They also tend to suffer from constipation problems.
• The symptoms in women include irregular periods. If a woman is suffering from this problem and is not treated soon, then she can also show signs of infertility as well.
• The patient (man or woman) also suffers from depression during this time.
• Another symptom is cholesterol problems. If a person, no matter how hard they are dieting or exercising, still faces problems with their cholesterol level, then it might be one of the symptoms.
• Hair loss at a fast rate is also a symptom.
• Hoarse voice is another symptom.

Treatment Options

If a person shows any of these symptoms, then you should go to the doctor immediately. The doctor will ask you to get a blood test done and if this problem is detected, then there is no need to worry as there are many treatments available. There are several hormone tablets that contain thyroxine and they will replace thyroxine that cannot be produced by the thyroid gland. This treatment however has to be continued for quite a while. A good hypothyroidism diet also has to be followed.

Now you know the symptoms, causes, and treatments for it. Do not ignore any of the symptoms and go to the doctor immediately and follow what they say. Follow a good underactive thyroid diet and take care of yourself!