Clinical manifestations of hypothyroidism range from life threatening to no signs or symptoms. The most common symptoms in adults are fatigue, lethargy, cold intolerance, weight gain, constipation, change in voice, and dry skin, but clinical presentation can differ with age and sex, among other factors.
Overt hypothyroidism is associated with typical symptoms and signs such as the slowing of motor activity, constipation, cold intolerance, menorrhagia, stiff muscles, sleep apnea, dry skin, weight gain, snoring, and a hoarse voice. Less common symptoms involve the heart, muscle, joints, and blood.
How to Look Your Best With Hypothyroidism: Coping With Dry Skin, Thinning Hair and Eyebrows, Puffy Eyes, and Weight Gain. Physical changes are part of hypothyroidism, but there are strategies that can help you feel happier about your appearance.
Signs and symptoms due to excess thyroid hormones
Commonly reported symptoms are palpitations, fatigue, tremor, anxiety, disturbed sleep, weight loss, heat intolerance, sweating, and polydipsia. Frequent physical findings are tachycardia, tremor of the extremities, and weight loss.
However, changes in the facial expressions can also be a tell-tale sign of hypothyroidism. “Facial expressions become dull, the voice is hoarse, speech is slow, eyelids droop and the eyes and face become puffy,” the MSD Manuals explains.
Patients with hypothyroidism have changes such as dry, scaly and rough skin. Increase carotene in the dermis becomes a yellowish tone to the skin of the patient with hypothyroidism. There is an increase in capillary cycle (anagen phase) and nail growth and a reduction in eccrine gland secretion.
Macroglossia, dysguesia, poor periodontal health, aberrant tooth morphology, delayed wound healing, delayed eruption of teeth, burning mouth syndrome, and dry mouth are all common oral manifestations of hypothyroidism.
The most common difference between the two diseases relates to hormone levels. Hypothyroidism leads to a decrease in hormones. Hyperthyroidism leads to an increase in hormone production.
What's the difference between hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism? Hyperthyroidism is an overactive thyroid (when it produces too much thyroid hormone). Hypothyroidism is an underactive thyroid (when it does not produce enough). Hypothyroidism is more common than hyperthyroidism.
Hyperthyroidism may manifest as weight loss despite an increased appetite, palpitation, nervousness, tremors, dyspnea, fatigability, diarrhea or increased GI motility, muscle weakness, heat intolerance, and diaphoresis.
The most common symptoms of hypothyroidism in adults are fatigue, lethargy, cold intolerance, weight gain, constipation, change in voice, and dry skin, but the clinical presentation can include a wide variety of symptoms that differ with age, sex, and time between onset and diagnosis (table 1).
The contours of the thyroid are usually very smooth and quite discrete. Each lobe is bordered by the trachea medially, strap muscles anteriorly, and the carotid artery laterally. Posteriorly, there is the fat and lymphatic tissue that fills the central compartment between the spine and the thyroid.
Hypothyroidism, a disease in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone, is the second most common endocrine disorder among women. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, weight gain, alteration in cognition, infertility, and menstrual abnormalities.
The classic symptoms of hyperthyroidism include heat intolerance, tremor, palpitations, anxiety, weight loss despite a normal or increased appetite, increased frequency of bowel movements, and shortness of breath.
For diagnoses related to hypothyroidism, typical problems include fatigue, weight gain, depression, lethargy, dry skin, cold intolerance, voice change, change in menses, muscle cramps, or treatment of a thyroid condition. Thyroid enlargement (goiter) may present in the context of hyper- or hypothyroidism.
WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HYPOTHYROIDISM AND WEIGHT GAIN? Since the BMR in the patient with hypothyroidism (see Hypothyroidism brochure) is decreased, an underactive thyroid is generally associated with some weight gain. The weight gain is often greater in those individuals with more severe hypothyroidism.
People with hypothyroidism can often lose or manage weight through dietary changes, physical activity, and stress reduction. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones. While a reduction in metabolism can make weight loss difficult, it is not impossible.
Some features of hypothyroidism are more suggestive like dryness of skin, proximal myopathy, constipation, cold intolerance and dry brittle hair. The presentation of hypothyroidism depends on various factors like age and sex.
An abnormally large tongue is characteristic of hypothyroidism, in which case the tongue is fissured and may extend from the mouth. Macroglossia is also commonly observed with type 2 glycogen-storage disease, neurofibromatosis type 1, and Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome.
A swollen fingertip, curved nail, and thickening skin above a nail are often signs of thyroid disease.
Thyroid dysfunction can also affect your nails, causing abnormality in nail shape, nail color, or attachment to the nail bed. Pay attention if you experience ongoing hangnails, ridges in your nails, splitting, peeling, or even dry cuticles.
In hypothyroidism, the time it takes for the skin cells to turn over increases. Because of this, your old cells stay on your skin longer. This will cause your skin to start feeling dry, rough, and scaly. You may start to notice wrinkles appearing or your skin starting to sag.
Those symptoms most commonly related to thyroid deficiency include forgetfulness, fatigue, mental slowness, inattention, and emotional lability. The predominant affective disorder experienced is depression. Perceptual changes may develop with alterations of taste, hearing, and vision.