Do You Have Unhealthy Thyroid? 6 Ways to Tell

Lisa Franchi February 22, 2016

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Thyroid disorders are becoming more common these days and the reason can be attributed to improper diet and lack of exercise among many people. It is also surprising to know that apart from the thousands of people diagnosed with certain thyroid issues, millions more suffer from them but don’t get enough medical attention. 

What is thyroid and how come it is so important to address any problems that affect it? Thyroid is a tiny organ that gets less attention as compared to the other major organs in the body, such as the heart, lungs, kidneys and brain. It is located at the base of our neck and is responsible for producing a very important hormone called ‘thyroid’. But tiny as it may be, the thyroid gland plays an array of essential roles in keeping you healthy. They include heart rate and muscle regulation, breathing, body weight management, and body temperature regulation.  

The good thing is thyroid disorder can be easily detected as they often come with many symptoms. If you are experiencing a few of most of these symptoms, you may want to consider having your thyroid checked. 

Irregular body temperature 

Does your body feel too warm or too cold? One of the effects of an underactive thyroid is lower body temperature. On the other hand, hyperactive thyroid causes irregular increase in the body temperature.  

Unexplained fatigue 

Always feeling down and less energetic? Thyroid problems may be to blame. Lack of the hormone negatively impacts your brain, causing neurological problems like forgetfulness and fatigue. Having an underactive thyroid turns your mood and slows down your bodily functions, making you feel too tired to perform your usual routines even if you haven’t done any strenuous activity yet. 

Weight gain 

Sudden increase in your weight is one of the most common and obvious signs of thyroid problems. Improperly functioning thyroid slows down your metabolic rate. This is the reason why people with thyroid problems tend to gain weight fast even though they haven’t increased their calorie consumption.

 Digestive problems 

Constipation is another sign of hypothyroidism. Lack of thyroid creates a whack in your stomach, making it hard for your digestive track to convert food into fuel. On the other hand, hyperthyroidism could stimulate your digestive system, causing irregular bowel movements or diarrhoea.  

Unexplained pain 

Do you suffer from too many kinds of pain and you, even your doctor, couldn’t figure out the exact reason why? Thyroid problem may be to blame. Thyroid problems cause disruption in your body’s metabolic activity, and even lead to nerve damage which gives you painful sensations. 

Poor sex drive 

Low libido is often linked to hypothyroidism, and the reason is that thyroid shares a connection with adrenal glands as well as sex hormones. Low sex drive as a sign of thyroid disorder can happen in both men and women.  

If you have been diagnosed with a thyroid disorder, don’t feel discouraged. Talk to your doctor at the soonest possible time. He or she will help get your thyroid gland functioning back to normal. Also, working out and eating a balanced diet have been proven to help restore thyroid gland back to its previous condition.