Underactive Thyroid Symptoms in Women – Let’s Take a Closer Look

Underactive Thyroid Symptoms in Women can be make everyday life so much harder for the sufferer. In many cases woman can suffer from thyroid problems for years before being fully diagnosed and even after they have seen a doctor they might not be getting the best advice on treatment. However, we are here to help. So if you are one of the following:

• Someone who has recently been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid problem
• Someone who suspects that they might have a thyroid problem and is looking for diagnosis advice
• Or if you know someone who is suffering from a thyroid problem and are looking to help

The thing is, as I am sure you know, underactive thyroid problems are a very complicated matter. Even after you have seen a doctor and he has diagnosed the problem there is still so much more that could be done. Of the people we have spoken to 80% hadn’t even heard of the tests that we think are vital to beating underactive thyroid symptoms. (Getting the right tests is 1 of the 5 steps that we have outlined in the Free Guide below. If you enter your email address we will send it right over).

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Underactive thyroid disease in women is very common. This condition occurs when the thyroid starts to malfunction and produce an abnormally low amount of thyroid hormone. This is known as hypothyroidism.

We have listed many of your possible underactive thyroid symptoms below. If you are experiencing these symptoms or something similar it’s possible your thyroid is to blame and you may have an underactive thyroid.

We have also listed the symptoms of an overactive thyroid just in case you are experiencing any of these problems too. An overactive thyroid is know as hyperthyroidism. Whatever your situation right now you can find a thyroid treatment that will help.

What is the thyroid gland?

The thyroid gland is shaped like a butterfly and can be found in the front of the neck. This small gland produces thyroid hormones that are released into your bloodstream. Since the thyroid hormone interacts with the vast majority of the cells in your body there can be dire consequences when this gland is not working properly.

Underactive thyroid symptoms in women check list:

• Coarse, dry, scaly, and thick skin
• Gravely or hoarse voice
• Conceiving a baby is problematic
• Inappropriately gaining weight
• Unable to lose weight even with exercise and diet
• Severely constipated
• Feeling cold when others feel hot
• Forgetfulness
• Feeling exhausted and fatigued
• Feeling lethargic and sluggish,
• Brittle, coarse, dry hair
• Depression
• Swelling around the face and eyes
• Aches in joints, feet and hands
• Development of carpal-tunnel syndrome
• Longer, more frequent or heavier menstrual cycles
• Mood swings
• Restlessness
• Concentrating becomes harder
• Feeling over emotional or sad

Many people also suffer the following additional symptoms:

• Tinnitus
• Hair loss
• Bad memory
• Feeling light headed
• Loss of libido
• Menstrual cramps
• Snoring
• Sleep apnea
• Eyes feel light sensitive
• Neck or throat feel unusual
• Shortness of breath
• Increased yawning
• gritty and dry eyes

Do any of these underactive thyroid symptoms sound familiar?

Next we are going to look at the possible symptoms of an overactive thyroid. This occurs when there is over production of the thyroid hormone and can have many painful symptoms. As mentioned above, this often referred to as hyperthyroidism.

Overactive thyroid symptoms check list:

• Feeling irritable or nervous
• Exhausted and Fatigued
• Coarse, dry, brittle hair that falls out
• Coarse, dry, scaly, thin skin
• Inappropriate/unusual weight loss
• Trouble conceiving a child
• Bad memory
• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Increased appetite combined with weight loss
• Nervous energy
• Loose or more frequent bowel movements and diarrhoea
• Weak feeling in the muscles
• Difficulty sleeping
• Heart palpitations
• Fast pulse
• Pulse is high when resting
• hand tremors or shaking hands
• Feeling hot when it’s not hot in the room
• Increased sweating
• Losing interest in regular daily activities
• Have had one or more miscarriages
• Depression
• restlessness or anxiousness
• Gravely or hoarse voice
• Pains and aches in joints
• Suffer from panic disorder or panic attacks
• Puffiness and swelling around the eyes and face
• Enlarged eyes
• Moods swings
• Finding it hard to concentrate

You may also experience the following additional symptoms but most likely to a lesser extent than those listed above.

• Vertigo
• Feeling light headed
• Increased and severe menstrual cramps
• Dry and gritty eyes
• Eyes which are painful in the light
• Hair loss
• Sinus infections
• Neck or throat feel unusual
• Infections that last longer than they would normally
• Feel shortness of breath and tightness in the chest
• Tinnitus
• Bad memory
• Low libido

(Merck Manual, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and the Thyroid Foundation of America [no longer operational])

These underactive thyroid symptoms in women need treatment in order to be healed.

When Does Hair Loss Indicate Hypothyroidism?

You hair is a really good indication of your health. Why? Largely because your hair contains some of the most rapidly growing cells in your body. When your health is good, your hair also looks healthy and grows quickly. The moment; however, that your health begins to decline, it will become the most noticeable in the look of your hair. Dry, dull and thinning hair is an indication that there is a serious health issue afoot. Often, when your body is experiencing some type of health issue, the energy that is normally directed to your hair cells will be used elsewhere in the body, which quickly becomes apparent in the look of your hair. Perhaps your hair is dry, thinning and starting to fall out rapidly.

Quite often, if you frequent a regular hairdresser, they will notice the change in the look of the hair. Don’t forget that your hairdresser is a professional, and they are experienced with your particular head of hair and they are probably going to the be among the first people to notice a change in your hair. Although a certain amount of hair loss is normal, even in healthy people, the changing of the hair is sometimes a really good indication of hypothyroidism. The hormones which are normally associated with hair growth start to convert and can end up attacking the hair follicle and causing it to shrink.

If you are experiencing serious changes with your hair, and you have already seen your doctor, you may also wish to consult with a dermatologist. Your general practitioner doctor may miss certain signs, or may not run certain tests; however, a dermatologist can make a very good and thorough assessment about what is behind your hair loss. Hypothyroidism is what is categorized as an autoimmune disease, which means that your body is basically defending itself against its own systems and cells. There are many different types of autoimmune diseases. Aside from a correct diagnosis, you also need to ensure that you are receiving the proper treatment in the appropriate dosage. So many people tend to assume that the only way to treat this kind of problem; however, many herbal remedies are much more effective and safe.

The best way to find out if your hair changes are an indication of hypothyroidism is to ensure that you get the proper testing. There are several different types of tests that can be run, keep insisting on having them done properly and do not give up until you get the results you are after.

What are the Main Symptoms of Hypothyroidism?

While there is a long list of symptoms of hypothyroidism, they can often be mistaken for other medical conditions or just feeling run down. In addition to that, the symptoms can take a long time to develop and tend to build over time, one symptom compounding on the other.

Some of the main symptoms of hypothyroidism include constipation, heavy and longer menstruation (in women), sore muscles and joint pain, thinning hair, or patches of hair falling out, loss of outer edges of eyebrows, problems staying warm (keeping body temperature/core temperature constant), low blood pressure, a puffiness in the eyes and/or face, memory issues, difficulty in concentrating, migraine headaches, an intolerance to heat, excessive perspiration, constant or chronic sinus infections, depression, low sex drive, retention of fluid, panic attacks, dry skin, feeling lightheaded, bruising easily, being itchy, having high cholesterol, and rapid weight gain. While any of these symptoms can be cause for concern, a large number of a combination of them should send you to your doctor for a closer examination.

If you tend to eat a large number of goitrogenic foods (such as Brussels sprouts, turnips, radishes, broccoli, kale, soy, cabbage, cauliflower and rutabaga, you may be increasing the problem. These foods are generally safe for consumption if they are cooked, so avoid eating them raw. It is probably best to avoid eating these foods, even if cooked, until you get your hypothyroidism under control.

This ailment is more common than people think and it is also one of the most routinely underdiagnosed conditions in the medical profession. If you believe that you are suffering from hypothyroidism, it is possible that your doctor will miss the diagnosis, even while running the proper testing. It is because your doctor will run some peripheral tests, but probably not the ones most necessary to get the proper diagnosis.

So what can you do? You can try some alternative remedies and get back on the road to health by treating yourself and recovering. There are countless remedies that are highly effective as well as being 100% safe and natural. The one thing you need to bear in mind with this course of action is that treatment and recovery are not instantaneous. You need to choose a course of treatment and stick with it for several months to see a noticeable improvement.

After all, you did not suddenly develop hypothyroidism, it came on and manifested itself over time. It will take time to treat it and return to good health.

Thyroid Problems – The Differences Between Men and Women

Men and women tend to have different symptoms of thyroid issues, and often, they do not even know that some of their symptoms are related to problems with their thyroid. For men, the main problems arise and manifest themselves in sexual dysfunction. They find that they have problems achieving and maintaining an erection, that they have low sperm counts and that they have low libido or sex drive. Eventually, their thyroid issues can lead to prostate cancer.

Men can also suffer a great deal of joint pain. There is a weakness in the muscles and an unusual fatigue that goes along with the weakness, however, women are five times more likely than men to have thyroid issues.

For women, thyroid disorders tend to manifest themselves in weight gain. We all tend to gain weight as we age and slow down; however a thyroid problem can add a lot of pounds into the mix. Women can also suffer with heavy menstrual flows. In addition, they may experience difficulties in conceiving or being able to carry a fetus to full term, resulting in miscarriages.

Once you are over the age of 35, you should have your thyroid tested by your doctor at least every five years. As we age, we tend to become much more susceptible to issues with the thyroid. The most common thyroid issue symptoms include irritability, fatigue and weight gain; however, these are common symptoms for many other issues, and so your doctor may not even consider a thyroid issue unless you specifically ask them to test for it.

The symptoms that come along with a hypothyroidism problem can easily be mistaken for a lot of other things, and so your doctor may resist your suspicions and tell you that you are not suffering with hypothyroidism. Many of us tend to take our doctor’s word for whatever they think the diagnosis is; however, no one knows their own body better than you. If you think that you have hypothyroidism, it is up to you to insist on the proper testing and the correct diagnosis.

For women, especially, symptoms of hypothyroidism can blend together with menopause symptoms, and weight gain. The compounding of these symptoms can lead to many health issues, and it is difficult to sort the symptoms out from one another. Once you have had the appropriate tests, and the correct diagnosis, it is then time to seek a treatment that will work for you.

Natural Treatments for Hypothyroidism

Seeking out a natural treatment for hypothyroidism is a really intelligent choice. First of all, you are not putting yourself at risk by introducing harmful prescription drugs into your body. Second of all, you are giving your body the compounds and herbal supplements that it needs to correct the deficiencies you are dealing with in suffering from hypothyroidism.

So many of us are out of touch when it comes to reading our body’s signals. When there is a problem with our health, our body responds with symptoms. The functions of our organs, fertility, metabolism, body temperature, development and growth are all regulated by the thyroid gland and the function of that particular gland is of the utmost importance in keeping these functions on track. Most of these functions are regulated with the production of two main hormones, T3 (thyroxine) and T3 (tri-iodothyronine). These hormones regulate our metabolism and control the speed at which our organs function and how our body utilizes energy. All of this hormone production is largely dependent on iodine which we must ingest in order to allow our thyroid to produce the hormones.

When we start to suffer from hypothyroidism, it is our thyroid gland malfunctioning, and failing to produce the necessary hormones that we require to keep our bodies functioning properly. The symptoms start to compound and we feel run down and have a lack of energy. Along with the low energy, you may experience memory and concentration issues.

This can be a tough road, especially when it comes to getting up in the morning and going to work. When you suffer from hypothyroidism, you are cold in the morning, unable warm your core temperature. You feel horribly devoid of energy and it seems like a chore just to get out of bed. Natural treatments are one of the best answers to the problem, because they have very little side effects on you. You may find that it does take a lot of time to notice an improvement, but you are not filling your body with dangerous chemicals and forcing it to perform.

Natural remedies do not have harmful side effects, are routinely a fraction of the cost of prescription medications and they are much better for your body and your health. There are many options for treatments for hypothyroidism, and they are readily available for quick delivery. You need to remember that you will have to continue taking these treatments for a prolonged period of time in order to get the best results.

Tests for Your Thyroid

There are many issues that can arise with your thyroid and ensuring that you get the appropriate testing done is as much your responsibility as it is your medical practitioner’s. While your doctor can suggest a variety of tests, you will need to ensure that you ask a lot of questions in order to get the answers you seek.

The type of tests conducted will be determined by what your condition is, specifically. There are a variety of issues that can affect your thyroid. We will go over the conditions and the tests normally conducted for those conditions.

Of course, your doctor will conduct a routine examination of you, physically, first before ordering any testing. You will be asked a series of questions about a variety of things, so answer as honestly and as up front as you can, because your health is on the table here.

Hashimoto’s Disease is an autoimmune disease and also is commonly called hypothyroidism. This is where the body wrongly attacks its own tissue treating it like a foreign body. Some of the symptoms include fatigue, inability to warm the core temperature, weight gain, depression, elevated cholesterol levels, dry skin, hair loss and decreased ability to concentrate. The tests that are conducted to identify this disease include a simple blood test to measure the TSH levels – also known as the thyroid stimulating hormone. Depending on the results of that test, your doctor may wish to conduct a brain scan or an ultrasound.

Hyperthyroidism and Graves Disease can also be diagnosed with blood test for TSH levels. Other tests include the T3, T4 and Radioactive Iodine update tests.

Often, a thyroid condition is caused by other underlying conditions or deficiencies and it may take some investigative work to determine what those are. You might want to see other professionals, such as a naturopath who can examine your dietary needs and deficiencies, as well as suggest some supplements or natural treatments that can put you on the road to recovery. Doctors are generally quick to prescribe medications that are not always helpful in the long run, and this is not their fault, they are trained in western medicine, which is largely ruled by the concept of throwing medications at a problem, rather than finding underlying causes.

It is, of course, always advisable to get testing conducted by your medical professional so that you can be sure of your exact condition, and then decide what course of treatment you would like to follow after the initial diagnosis.

Insulin Resistance – Hypothyroidism

For people who have a serious weight problem, weight gained due to hypothyroidism, there is a virtual inability to lose weight. Your body has responded to the condition by keeping the weight on, and you cannot seem to lose it, even reducing your diet down to 900 calories a day, which is not recommended.

The problem is that your body has a set point for the weight it feels it needs to be at. No matter what you do, you cannot lose weight. Eating less, exercising more, nothing seems to work. When you have hypothyroidism, you have a certain insulin resistance, which means that your body will not burn off the calories, nor will it rid itself of the fat it has stored, no matter what you do.

What can be done about this? It’s a tough sell, but you have to change the way that you eat. Basically, you have to avoid starchy foods and carbohydrates. This means no bread, potatoes, peas, sweet potatoes, cereal, rice, pasta, sugar, and definitely no sweets or desserts. You have to eat more lean meats, such as chicken, turkey, fish, non starchy vegetables and fruits that do not contain high sugars.

Exercising regularly is also important, which means getting out for a brisk walk for at least 45 minutes daily. Exercise serves to lower insulin levels and this is the main issue with trying to lose weight. It is difficult to live this way; however it is the only way to lose the weight when you have insulin resistance.

As you change your diet, you will find that you no longer have cravings for the sweets and the high carbohydrate foods that you have eliminated from your diet. In fact, eating these types of foods after eliminating them might cause you to be ill, because they will no longer be tolerated by your stomach or your body.

For those with hypothyroidism and insulin resistance, it can seem an impossible task to lose weight. It is extremely difficult to lose just two pounds, and incredibly easy to gain weight. This can lead to a great deal of frustration and some people just resolve to carry the extra weight. You need to make a decision, whether you want to deal with the problem, and then work towards being healthier. Only you can solve the problem, and it won’t be easy. It will take a great deal of dedication, but once you change your eating habits, you will find it much easier down the road.

Hypothyroidism in Children

Children have plenty of challenges in development and growth and sometimes they can suffer from hypothyroidism, although the diagnosis can be completely missed by their pediatrician or family doctor.

So what are the symptoms? In very young children, this condition can cause severe developmental problems, and inhibit growth. The more severe symptoms are the inability to concentrate, constipation, slowed heart rate, chronic tiredness and difficulties in learning and concentrating. In newborns, the symptoms can be a hoarse cry, jaundice, an umbilical hernia, constipation and poor appetite. Unfortunately, not all newborns are tested for the disorder, which could solve many a problem right away.

Therein lies the problem. Most doctors would see those symptoms and mistake them with some type of mental or learning disability. While many children are born with this condition, it generally resolves itself in fairly short order. A mother can affect her unborn child’s health if she herself suffers from hypothyroidism.

Routine blood screening of newborns for levels of T4 hormone and TSH hormone could easily diagnose and identify hypothyroidism. The main thing is to seek the testing and then follow through with the treatment. If left untreated, hypothyroidism in a child can interfere with growth and with normal development.

Of course, there are certain symptoms that are not cause for alarm, but if you have your reasons for believing that your child may be suffering the effects of hypothyroidism, you should seek diagnosis. Too many parents are complacent in a doctor’s diagnosis when they advise that there is no issue with their child, when they should be seeking a second or even a third opinion.

The sooner that you get help for your child, the better. There really is nothing worse than feeling tired all of the time, being constipated, and performing slowly at school, with an inability to concentrate. It is up to us to be aware of what our children are going through and keeping an open dialogue so that they will report symptoms to us. When you are sure that you have a full list of what they symptoms are, be sure to get a diagnosis and then move on to treatment. If you do not deal with the issues now, they will only worsen and impede your child’s development potential.

The diagnosis of hypothyroidism is not a lifelong sentence, the condition can often be corrected with diet and proper supplements. It is simply a matter of gaining an understanding of what it is that you are dealing with and the fact that it must be treated.