Overview

When Should You Suspect Your Thyroid?

Your thyroid gland tells every cell in your body the rate at which it should function. Having too little hormone, called hypothyroidism, puts you into a dragging slowdown. This is a problem for more than 10 million Americans-of whom 8 million don't know it. Having too much hormone, called hyperthyroidism, races your engine, so you feel all revved up-as if you were burning out. This problem affects some 4.5 million Americans, but at least 600,000 of them have yet to be diagnosed.

Feeling tired and chilly, having constipation or losing your hair, can mean your thyroid is underactive-but these could also come from overwork, or aging, or a dozen other causes. Feeling totally tense and overworked could mean an overactive thyroid-or just plain stress. That's why your doctor needs to do the proper blood tests to make sure.

Common problems with an underactive thyroid and too little thyroid hormone

feeling tired and listless
feeling chilly, especially when other people are comfortable
dry skin
hair loss
constipation
slow-growing and brittle fingernails
slow heart rate
leg cramps
sore muscles
depression
for women, heavier periods
for men, loss of interest in sex, erectile dysfunction
weight gain due to fluid retention, but usually no more than 3-4 pounds

If the above match how you feel, learn more about hypothyroidism.

Common problems with an overactive thyroid and too much thyroid hormone:

feeling too hot when others are comfortable
shakes and tremors of your hands
feeling nervous and irritable
sweating more than you used to
fingernails growing faster
muscle weakness, especially thighs and upper arms
faster heart rate, sometimes irregular rhythms and an erratic pulse
more frequent and looser bowel movements
for women, lighter periods, as well as difficulties in becoming pregnant or in carrying the child to term
for men, loss of interest in sex, erectile dysfunction
eyes that appear larger than normal

If the above match how you feel, learn more about hyperthyroidism.

Your risks are higher if...

others in your family have thyroid or other immune-system problems (such as insulin-dependent diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, colitis, pernicious anemia).
Thyroid Related Disorders.
you are pregnant or a new mother.
Thyroid Problems During and After Pregnancy.
you are a woman over 50 or a man over 60.
Thyroid Problems of Older Individuals.

Conclusion

If you think you have a thyroid problem, make an appointment to see your doctor who knows you and should be in the best position to decide if thyroid tests should be done. But if your doctor won't order thyroid tests and you still think you have a problem, you can call the Thyroid Foundation of America for more information or a referral to a thyroid specialist in your area. There is still a lot to be understood about the causes and effects of thyroid disease and much further research is needed.