Symptoms of Thyroid Problems

Symptoms of thyroid problems differ depending on the type of thyroid disease the person is suffering. There are two main thyroid diseases, one is hyperthyroidism and the other is hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism means the person is producing too much thyroid hormone, while hypothyroidism means too little thyroid hormone is produced. 

Hyperthyroidism Symptoms 

When a person's body is producing too much thyroid hormone they will experience a number of symptoms over time. When the body continues to produce too much of the hormone that is needed, some of the following symptoms will be present:

• Inability
  to tolerate heat with a feeling of always being too warm


• Heart
  palpitations


• Increased
  heart rate even at rest


• Insomnia


• Nervousness


• Skin
  seems warmer to the touch as well as an increase in how moist the
  skin is


• Weight
  loss due to the increase in thyroid hormone, which speeds up the
  metabolism

Keep in mind that not all of these symptoms need to be present, but if you have some, you should be tested by your doctor via a blood test. Your doctor can run a blood test to check your thyroid levels.

Hypothyroidism Symptoms 

Hypothyroidism is the exact opposite in that the body stops producing adequate amounts of the thyroid hormone that it needs to regulate itself. Symptoms are almost the exact opposite of hypothyroidism, which include some of the following: 

• Sluggish
  / fatigue


• Inability
  to handle cold


• Dry
  skin


• Constipation


• Face
  may become swollen or have a puffy look


• Weight
  gain without eating anything extra


• Joints
  may feel achy and stiff


• Depression


• Nails
  and hair may be dry and brittle