According to the British Thyroid Foundation, thyroid disorders affect around one in twenty people in the UK. As we have discussed in a previous blog titled ‘Thyroid and Nutrition’ there are two main problems that are associated with the thyroid gland. One of these problems is called hypothyroidism, where the thyroid is underactive and doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones. The other thyroid problem is called hyperthyroidism, where the thyroid is overactive and produces hormones too quickly. As we have extensive experience in this field we can competently recognise the signs and symptoms of thyroid problems, which is what we will be looking at in this blog.
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid)
Men and women can have an underactive thyroid, but research suggests that it is much more common amongst women. In the UK it is believed to affect 15 in every 1,000 women whereas it is considerably less amongst men. Babies who are born in the UK are screened for hypothyroidism when they are 5 years old, and around 1 in 4,000 babies are born with an underactive thyroid.
They symptoms of hypothyroidism can vary depending on how severe the hormone deficiency is, but in general terms the symptoms develop slowly over a number of years. It is for this reason that people don’t spot the signs at an early stage, for example fatigue and weight gain can be attributed to ageing or tiredness from work.
Below are some obvious signs that you may have hypothyroidism:
Extreme Tiredness
Weight Gain
Depression
Thinning Hair
Slowed Down Heart Rate
Sore Muscles
Croaky and Deeper Voice
Of course, these symptoms are not always the result of hypothyroidism, but it is well worth getting yourself checked out.
Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism
Much like hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism affects more women than men. It can occur at any age, with around 8 in 100 women and 1 in 100 men developing it at some stage. If hyperthyroidism is undetected then you run the risk of developing heart conditions such as angina and heart failure. In addition, to this you could develop fragile bones.
You should be wary of the following symptoms because it could mean you have hyperthyroidism:
Hyperactivity and restlessness
Chronic tremors in your hands
Shortness of breath
Thirst and a dislike of heat
Swelling in your thyroid gland
Eyesight problems
If you have hyperthyroidism then you may not have all of the above symptoms, but if you have at least two of them then it is worth getting checked out. These symptoms usually develop slowly over several weeks and may be mild to start with. Whether you show the signs of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, we will be able to help you. Here at Bclinical, we are renowned for our thyroid testing, so if you are looking for a thyroid specialist in London get in touch with us. We offer sophisticated, highly sensitive and accurate testing unavailable through the NHS.
