The thyroid is one of the most important glands in your body that makes hormones that control your metabolism. These hormones affect your weight, your energy level, your vision, and even your heart. This gland, which looks like a butterfly, is on both sides of your trachea. But what happens when it gets infected? Even though thyroid disease is fairly common, you might not be able to detect its signs since they are easy to miss. So, here are 18 indicators of thyroid disease that you should never ignore.
Researchers say that your thyroid hormones can change your voice even if you have mild thyroid failure. Hypothyroidism makes the voice sound low and rough, making you sound weak or worn out. Your voice may change in a similar way if you have hyperthyroidism, but this is more likely to happen if you have hypothyroidism. Thyroid disease can also cause the following voice problems:
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If your face looks unusually full or puffy, it could be a sign that there is a problem you’re your thyroid, and it isn’t working right. This swollen look could be from extra fluid retention or weight gain. This is a classic symptom of hypothyroidism, and other similar symptoms include puffy under the eyes, swollen eyelids, puffy lips, and a swollen feeling in your tongue.
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Food tastes different when you have thyroid disease. You might think the food is to blame when in reality, your taste buds have changed because of the hormonal imbalances caused by thyroid disease. This is a common problem that goes unnoticed, but don’t ignore this warning sign.
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When your thyroid gland swells, it results in you developing a disease called goiter. The reason why your thyroid gland swells may be because of a lack of iodine in your diet, among other things. Iodine needs to come from what you eat because your body doesn’t produce it. Iodine deficiency can cause trouble learning and hypothyroidism, especially in children, if you don’t get it treated. Iodized salt was made to eliminate iodine deficiency, which was very common in the 1920s. But certain natural foods contain a good amount of iodine- chicken, beef liver, eggs, milk products, shellfish, and seaweed.
If you haven’t talked to your doctor first, don’t take iodine supplements. If you have hypothyroidism, it won’t help to take iodine. In fact, hypothyroidism can be caused by taking in too much iodine.
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Even if you’re dieting and working out, if the number on the scale keeps going up, you shouldn’t ignore it. Your metabolism isn’t working right if you gain or lose weight without trying to.
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Vision problems are another sign of thyroid disease that is often misunderstood. The buildup of fluid around your eyes makes your eye muscles bigger, which causes your eyes to bulge out. You might not be able to focus, or you might see double. Eye doctors don’t always look for thyroid symptoms, so be sure to bring it up with your doctor.
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If your hands and feet are always freezing cold, even when it’s warm outside, it could mean you have thyroid disease. It’s an indication of an underactive thyroid gland. If you always want to wear a sweater, even when everyone else feels warm, this could be a sign that your thyroid isn’t working right.
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Do you still feel tired when you wake up after getting enough sleep at night? Extreme fatigue is a common indicator of an underactive thyroid. When your hormones aren’t balanced, your body can’t break down food properly. This makes people feel tired and low on energy. If you are always tired, it could be a sign that you have thyroid disease.
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Have you lost track of your iPhone or car keys? Or maybe you can’t remember the name of someone at work. It’s frustrating and embarrassing to forget little things like this. Suppose such foggy brain experiences are happening to you more often than usual. In that case, it could mean your thyroid is totally off balance. A healthy thyroid gland’s hormone tells your brain to send the correct signals to your body. If your thyroid doesn’t make enough hormones to send to your brain, your brain functions will slow down. Being unable to concentrate or think clearly is another red flag of thyroid disease.
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Hypothyroidism may be the reason why you feel sad and irritable, besides other negative emotions. Low thyroid could be the cause for a lot of people who suffer from depression and anxiety. This is a diagnosis that doctors often miss. If you’re feeling sad, ask your doctor to check for low thyroid with a blood test.
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Your thyroid might be out of balance if your skin becomes dry, flaky, scaly, and itchy. More wrinkles may appear on your face and neck too. These are sure signs that your metabolism isn’t working right. You may have thyroid disease if you keep putting lotion on your body but don’t see any changes.
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Hypothyroidism could be the cause if you find a lot of hair on your hairbrush or strands of hair on the couch that doesn’t belong to your dog. People with thyroid problems often lose their hair or even get bald spots.
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If your hands or feet are so swollen that you can’t put your rings on or your shoes feel too tight, you may have edema. Edema is a buildup of fluid or water in your body. It happens a lot when you have thyroid disease. If your feet, ankles, legs, or hands are swollen, it could mean that you have a thyroid disorder.
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When your body has too much fluid, it affects your nerves, especially the ones in your hands. Your wrist hurts because the fluid presses on the soft tissue there. Carpal tunnel syndrome is when your hands feel numb and tingly. If you get treatment for your thyroid disorder, this problem will go away.
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If you have trouble going to the bathroom or have diarrhea frequently, it could indicate that your thyroid isn’t working right. Constipation is a common sign of a slow-functioning thyroid, while diarrhea could mean the thyroid gland has become overactive.
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Have you lost your love or attraction for your partner recently? That’s a red flag that could mean something is wrong with your thyroid. A low sex drive isn’t always a sign of hypothyroidism, but you cannot rule out the possibility that it can be.
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If you don’t treat your thyroid disease, it could stop you from getting pregnant or cause you to lose the baby. If your thyroid hormones are out of balance, it can make it harder for you to get pregnant. But if you are pregnant, your baby may have a low birth weight or maybe a premature birth.
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If you have trouble sleeping all the time, don’t rule out thyroid disease. This is another common sign of a thyroid problem that people often ignore, especially women. Along with your lack of sleep, you may feel restless and anxious. If you have insomnia and some of these other symptoms, this is a warning sign of an imbalanced thyroid.
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Hypothyroidism is easy to treat with medicines that are safe, unlike hyperthyroidism which is more difficult to treat and control. Surgery to remove an overactive thyroid is often the best choice when it comes to living a healthy life. However, you may still need to continue medications for hypothyroidism even after surgery.
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