Hypothyroidism is a real condition, but it's frequently misdiagnosed in functional medicine because of a theory about what TSH and T4 lab ranges should be– even though research and clinical experience continue to disprove this.
However, many people still experience thyroid related symptoms even when their labs have “normalized”. This is typically because the root cause of thyroid dysfunction has not been identified. Think about this! 90% of Hypothyroid cases are a result of an autoimmune “self-attack” referred to as Hashimoto's (2).
Sometimes, thyroid disease can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are easily confused with those of other conditions. You may experience similar symptoms when you are pregnant or aging and you would when developing a thyroid disease.
Symptoms of an underactive thyroid are often similar to those of other conditions, and they usually develop slowly, so you may not notice them for years.
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are a common cause of symptoms that can be similar to thyroid disease. These symptoms include fatigue, aches and pains, dry or flaking skin, cracks in the corners of the mouth and numbness in the extremities.
Low thyroid hormone levels may contribute to depression and sadness. Thyroid hormones control our body's metabolism and energy production. Without proper levels, mental health symptoms such as depression, anxiety, mood swings, and brain fog may become more noticeable.
Yes, thyroid disease can affect mood. Common thyroid disease symptoms that affect mood include anxiety or depression. In general, the more severe the thyroid disease, the more severe the mood changes.
Thyroid anxiety symptoms
Anxiety symptoms in thyroid disorders may include the following: racing heart. sleeping difficulties. irritability.
The main symptom of thyroid cancer is a lump or swelling at the front of the neck just below your Adam's apple, which is usually painless. Women also have Adam's apples, but they're much smaller and less prominent than a man's. The lymph nodes in your neck can also be affected and become swollen.
The thyroid hormone is pivotal to the creation and regulation of neurotransmitters like serotonin. Low serotonin levels are linked to depression, anxiety, and mood. When your thyroid is not functioning properly, these neurotransmitters become erratic, potentially causing anxiety and panic attacks.
The Lowdown on Hyperthyroidism
When the thyroid gland is hyper- or overactive, the body's processes speed up and this acceleration may cause nervousness, anxiety, rapid heartbeat, hand tremors, excessive sweating, weight and hair loss, and sleep problems, among other symptoms.
Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism can show up in the hands and nails. Hypothyroidism can cause dermatologic findings such as nail infection, vertical white ridges on the nails, nail splitting, brittle nails, slow nail growth, and nails lifting up.
Hypothyroidism can affect the heart and circulatory system in several ways. Lower production of thyroid hormone slows your heart rate. Hypothyroidism also makes the arteries less elastic, and blood pressure rises in order to circulate blood around the body.
If your thyroid makes too little hormone, it's a more common condition called hypothyroidism. You might have trouble falling asleep or not be able to stay asleep long enough to feel fully rested. Hypothyroidism also can affect your sleep by making you feel too cold or causing joint or muscle pain.
An overactive thyroid may also lead to night sweats and frequent urges to urinate, both of which can disrupt sleep. People with hypothyroidism (underactive), on the other hand, often experience trouble tolerating cold at night and joint or muscle pain that disrupts sleep.
Hyperthyroidism occurs when an overactive thyroid produces too many hormones. Symptoms can include panic attacks, anxiety, tension, sleep disturbances, mood swings, a short temper, and impatience.
For most people, this cough is a dry, hacking sort of cough.” In addition to cough, thyroid growth can lead to pressing on the vocal cords and a hoarse voice, or pressing on the esophagus and difficulty swallowing food. You may also notice swelling or pain in the front of your lower neck, and even into your ears.