Thyroid disease symptoms are often dismissed because they can be similar to symptoms of other health issues or even be associated with lifestyle choices. Because of this, even people who are aware of thyroid disease might not notice that they have symptoms of the condition.
In addition, some forms of thyroid disease, such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis may be underdiagnosed. This may result in a lack of treatment or stubborn thyroid symptoms that have a varying response to traditional thyroid treatment.
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Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease that sometimes presents with no symptoms and other times presents with numerous symptoms. For example, while some patients develop a goiter, which is a lump in the neck, others do not.
According to MedicineNet, because it is an autoimmune disease, Hashimoto's causes the body to attack the thyroid gland. A diagnosis of this disease requires a blood test to reveal an "increased number of antibodies against thyroid-specific proteins." Once diagnosed, the disease is often treated with the same medications as hypothyroidism, which is the medical term for an underactive thyroid.
Fatigue is a significant symptom of hypothyroidism. However, fatigue can also be a factor in lifestyles that do not include enough sleep, are nutritionally deficient, or contain abundant stress. Weight gain is yet another common symptom of an underactive thyroid but this too can be attributed to other factors. An understanding of all of the potential symptoms of thyroid disease can serve to increase awareness of symptoms not previously noticed or not attributed to the condition.
The most common signs of hypothyroidism are fatigue, weight gain, depression, and constipation. However, the
Mayo Clinic also lists dry skin, puffy face, hoarseness, impaired memory, muscle weakness, and heavier than normal or irregular menstrual periods.
Common symptoms of hyperthyroidism, which is the medical term for an overactive thyroid include anxiety, nervousness, shaky hands, and frequent bowel movements. However, the
UCSF Medical Center in California also lists, thin delicate skin, irregular fingernail and hair growth, heat intolerance, increased sweating and potential protrusion of the eyes.
Finally, there are cases where thyroid disease has been diagnosed, medications prescribed, and yet the symptoms of either hyperthyroid or hypothyroid stubbornly persist. This is the time to take notice of as many unique symptoms as possible and share the information with a physician. While thyroid tests do provide a wealth of information, sometimes how the patient feels is equally important when determining which prescriptions and treatments will provide the optimum medical care.
This article is for information only and is not intended as medical advice. Talk with your doctor about your specific health and medical needs.
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