Low thyroid known as hypothyroidism causes a variety of low thyroid symptoms or low thyroid levels symptoms that vary slightly from individual to individual.
People often blame their weight gain on a sluggish thyroid and they may be right in some instances, although if they're holding a deep fried potato in one hand and a donut in the other, it makes the story less believable.
Doctors take tests to see if the thyroid levels are normal and may dismiss the person with low thyroid symptoms because the reading are within range. This is a shame since untreated low thyroid problems create difficulty losing weight and other problems later on in life. Mayo Clinic estimates that potentially ten percent of the population suffers from thyroid problems and the numbers seem to increase each year.
While difficulty losing weight is one problem because of lower metabolism. There are other distinct and symptoms of low thyroids, which make it obvious that the body does not produce enough of the hormones necessary.
Fatigue is one problem faced by those that have a low thyroid. While it may seem that they lack ambition and motivation, and they do, it isn't from a defective mental process but the effects of the low thyroid function. People also find that they can't tolerate excessive heat or cold as well as other do.
People with hypothyroidism often have dry skin and dry hair. They may suffer from hair loss and retain fluids frequently. Anxiety and panic attacks often occur in people with low thyroid functioning. Their concentration isn't as good as others are, neither is their memory. Depression often walks hand in hand with a low functioning thyroid. Besides the dry and thinning hair, the nails are also dry and brittle.
Constipation, irritable bowel syndrome and low sex drive also hallmark a problem with the thyroid output. Sometimes the person suffers form insomnia, has problems healing, may experience carpel tunnel syndrome or exhibit signs of allergies such as hives and asthma. The person with a low functioning thyroid also may heal very slowly and develop skin problems such as acne.
Problems with ovarian cysts, fibroids endometriosis, PMS, female cancer, cramps, spontaneous abortion, infertility and dry vagina may have thyroid disease also. Other problems created by low thyroid are gallbladder disease, ADD, heart disease, cancer, problems with the colon, hypoglycemia. The body's chemical balance is no longer correct and you have other hormones, such as adrenalin, which works in conjunction with the thyroid. Because of the close correlation between adrenalin and thyroid. A shortage of adrenalin also creates many of the same problems as hypothyroidism. In order to use the hormones from the thyroid, the body needs the secretions of the adrenal gland also.
If you exhibit many of these low thyroid symptoms, it's imperative that you see your physician and have him run tests to see if your thyroid is working properly. Some people have minimal insufficiency but it does affect their overall health and if left untreated may cause many problems later in life.