Approximately 20 million people in the USA suffer from thyroid disorders. That’s quite a significant portion of the population! The thyroid controls the body’s metabolism, and as such, is a very important part of the body. So how do you know if you have a Thyroid Disorder? Some people find it difficult to answer such question. In this article, I will attempt to provide some tell tale signs you should look out for.

There are actually a few symptoms that both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism have in common. They can both cause fatigue, muscle weakness, lack of concentration, and irritability. In the case with hypothyroidism this is because the metabolism is too slow and your body is slowing down. One of the main causes of hypothyroidism is the absence or shortage of iodine. However, with hyperthyroidism this is because of exhaustion from an overactive thyroid. They also can both lead to hair loss, and goiters (enlarged thyroids).

As you might expect many of the symptoms of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are exact opposites. A low metabolism leads to weight gain (and difficulty losing said weight), dry skin, pale skin, cold intolerance (these are the people who put on a sweater while everyone else is in t-shirts), constipation, increased menstrual periods and deafness in rare cases, bleeding and decreased libido. In contrast a high metabolism leads to unexplained weight loss, warm and moist skin, heat intolerance, increased bowel movements, light or absent menstrual flow in women, and an increased libido.

Hypothyroidism can also lead to coarse, dry hair, muscle cramps and aches, depression, memory loss, brittle nails, high cholesterol, and puffiness around the eyes and face.

Hyperthyroidism can lead to a fast heart rate which can cause nervousness, insomnia, breathlessness, trebling hands, and excessive sweating. Patients with Grave’s disease, the number one cause for hyperthyroidism, can also have protruding eyeballs, red or swollen eyes, and eye problems including light sensitivity, blurry or double vision, and reduced eye movement.

Children face their own special problems when dealing with thyroid disorder. Children with Hypothyroidism can deal with poor growth, delayed development of their permanent teeth, delayed onset of puberty, and poor mental development in girls. Children with hyperthyroidism often deal with hyperactivity, restlessness, accelerated growth rate, and a variety of abnormal behavioral disturbances.

Different patients will display different combination of symptoms. Additionally, while some symptoms very obviously indicate a thyroid condition, such as a goiter, others can be indicative of a wide variety of health problems. Due to this fact, it’s always advisable to consult your doctor for proper diagnosis.

It’s important to have a blood test done to analyze the actual levels of thyroid hormones in a patient. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed in this article, please heed my advice. It is important to seek professional assistance. While there are many different treatments out there for thyroid problems, and many of them natural, it’s always important to determine the exact nature of your condition before beginning any course of treatment.

Author Bio: A data analyst, webmaster and a prolific writer. Austin has been writing articles for years. He has written numerous articles on a number of subjects. For more insight on the thyroid, please go to : Hashimoto Thyroid Condition http://www.symptomsofthyroiddisease.com/hyperactive-thyroid/

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: thyroid disorder,thyroid disorder symptoms,thyroid problems,disorder symptoms,thyroid disorders