What are the early signs of a thyroid problem? Symptoms of overactive and underactive thyroid
One in 20 people in the UK have a thyroid problem. And, with women six times more likely to struggle with a thyroid issue than men, according to the University of Aberdeen, it's vital that we catch and treat thyroid conditions early.
Your thyroid is a gland in your neck that sits just in front of your windpipe and is responsible for producing hormones that regulate your metabolism, called thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). 'Your metabolism is the combination of all the chemical processes happening in your body. It includes processes that change the food you eat into energy,' explains Dr Elizabeth Rogers, clinical director at Bupa Health Clinics.
So a problem with your thyroid can result in changes to your metabolism, energy and a host of other symptoms. Here, Dr Rogers shares the early warning signs - and what to do about them.
What are the types of thyroid problems?
There are two main problems that can occur with your thyroid: it can become overactive or underactive.
'Hypothyroidism is a disease caused by your thyroid being underactive and not producing enough hormones, while hyperthyroidism is when your thyroid is overactive, so it makes too many hormones,' explains Dr Rogers.
'Each of these thyroid diseases can be caused by and lead to a range of health conditions.'
What are the early signs of thyroid problems?
Because the two conditions result from opposite problems with the thyroid, the symptoms are very different from each other. In hypothyrodism, a lack of hormones means that the metabolism slows down, while hyperthyroidism is associated with a too-fast metabolism.
The early signs of hypothyroidism include:
Feeling more tired than usual without a clear reason
Your heartbeat is slower than usual
Weight gain that can’t be explained
Feeling sensitive to cold
Constipation
Changes to your skin and hair – skin becoming dryer, and hair becoming coarser or thinning
Mood changes – including depressive feelings
Heavier than usual periods in women, that may become irregular or stop completely
Little appetite
Your voice becomes hoarser
Muscle and joint pain
The early signs of hyperthyroidism include:
Finding it difficult to sleep enough
A quickened heart rate
Diarrhoea
Feeling hungrier and eating more than usual
Feeling a lump or pressure in your neck, that may make it difficult to swallow
Shaking
Breathlessness
Losing your hair
Weight loss that can’t be explained
Feeling sensitive to heat
Feeling sweatier or clammier than usual
Mood changes – feeling more anxious, irritable or nervous than usual
Periods becoming irregular or stopping in women
Reduced libido and swollen breast tissue in men
When are thyroid problems likely to start?
Anybody can get thyroid problems, but they are much more likely to impact women. While it's still not entirely understood why, research links the high risk of thyroid problems in women to sex differences in immune function, as well as the impact of menstrual cycle hormones, pregnancy and menopause.
'You’re at risk of developing thyroid problems if your body can’t regulate the amount of of the hormones needed to help your body function well. Anyone can develop thyroid problems, but they’re more common if you’re female, thyroid problems run in your family or if you have an autoimmune disease, like diabetes or celiac disease,' explains Dr Rogers.
Hypothyrodism is most likely to impact people over the age of 50. The most common cause is Hatashimo's disease, an autoimmune condition, but it can also be caused by other autoimmune conditions and damage to the thyroid.
Hyperthyrodism is most likely to develop between 20-40 years of age. It's most commonly causes by Grave's disease, 'an autoimmune condition where the immune system produces antibodies that cause the thyroid to produce too much thyroid hormone,' according to the NHS.
What to do if you have early signs of thyroid problems?
It's important to speak to your doctor if you have early signs of a thyroid problem. Your body can not fix thyroid issues alone, so medication or treatments are necessary if you have a thyroid problem.
'If your doctor suspects you might be having thyroid problems, they’ll send you for blood tests to measure how much thyroid hormone you have in your body. If your tests confirm an underactive thyroid, it can usually be treated by your GP. You might be prescribed a hormone replacement medicine called levothyroxine (a synthetic version of the thyroxine your body isn't producing enough of). This is a daily tablet to help bring your thyroid-stimulating hormone back to normal levels,' says Dr Rogers.
'Overactive thyroid cases are always treated by endocrinologists. It can potentially be treated by medicines, though may require radioactive iodine and surgery to help lower your thyroid hormone levels. Your health professional will help you decide the best treatment option, depending on your symptoms and circumstances.'
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