Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism Thyroid Disorders

If you are facing symptoms like feeling tired often, getting sudden bouts of cold or you are not feeling bloated and are unable to lose weight, it is important you consult a doctor. These symptoms could be due to thyroid disorder.

Thyroid disorders are of two kinds – hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.  The thyroid is a gland which uses iodine to form thyroid hormones which help in the metabolism of the body and enables proper growth. These thyroid hormones include thyroxine and tri-iodothyronine. While thyroxine is about 99.9%, the more important hormone for the smooth functioning of the body is the tri-iodothyronine. As soon as Thyroxine is released in the body, it is converted into the latter form of hormone which helps in the effective metabolism of cells.

thyroid disorder

Symptoms of thyroid disorder

There are different types of thyroid disorders which can as simple as goiter or as complicated and dangerous as cancer. There are thyroid disorder symptoms different for hypothyroidism when there is less of secretion and production of hormones and hyperthyroidism when there is excessive secretion and production of hormones. Though both can cause a lot of discomfort and requires proper treatment, it can be both managed effected.  The symptoms can be specific for either of the conditions and a few can be common.

Hypothyroidism thyroid disorder

Symptoms of hypothyroidism include tiredness and fatigue. It also leads to excessive weight gain and inability to lose excessive weight due to reduced rate of metabolism. Apart from this, you can also experience joint aches, depression, sudden shivering and cold, lack of sleep, brain fog and inability to concentrate, brittleness of nails and hair tip, breathlessness, constipation, lack of interest in sexual activities, miscarriage or infertility.

Hyperthyroidism thyroid disorder

Likewise hyperthyroidism also has its share of symptoms. If you are suffering from a mild case of hyperthyroidism, then you might not suffer from any symptoms. It is so if you are old and around 70 years of age. However, in worse conditions the symptoms of thyroid disorder of this kind are quite obvious. It includes excessive weight loss, tiredness or fatigue, inability to concentrate, rapid heartbeat, nervousness, inability to tolerate heat, sweating or lack of concentration. Other symptoms can include irritability, brittleness of hair, panic bouts, irregular menstrual flow to name a few. All these are signs of increased metabolism due to excessive secretion of thyroid hormones.

Owing to these improper thyroid hormone secretions, there is fluctuation in the rate of metabolism and energy levels. Apart from these health conditions, thyroid disorder can also lead to other health ailments like diabetes, depression, resistance to insulin, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, PMS, deficiency of iron in the body, autoimmune disease, conditions of chronic stress and excessive pain.

There is however, hope and you can manage thyroid disorders by going in for regular checkups and ensuring proper diet and stress management. You should approach doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating this kind of disorder at different severity levels. With proper medication and wellness management, it can be effectively controlled and managed.

Article: Symptoms pointing towards thyroid disorder