Thyroid Hormone Deficiency - How To Identify It?

Hypothyroidism is a condition wherein the body lacks sufficient amount of thyroid hormone. As this hormone is responsible for the process of metabolism in the body, whenever one suffers from hypothyroidism, one will definitely suffer from a slow metabolism. Thyroid Hormone Deficiency, as the disease is commonly known as, is actually more common than people can actually estimate it.

Causes of hypothyroidism
There are basically two causes, which prompt the deficiency of thyroid hormone. The first reason may be the inflammation of the thyroid gland, whereas the second reason may be a result of various medical treatments which a person may undergo. In the first case, a large number of cells of the thyroid gland get damaged or die, as a result of which sufficient hormone is not produced. In the second case, if there is a need to remove a certain portion of the thyroid gland or all of it, the leftover mass may not be able to meet the needs of the body. This will result in the deficiency of the thyroid hormone.

 Symptoms

There are a number of symptoms which indicate that one is suffering from hypothyroidism. Some of them are:

1. A constant feeling of fatigue even after sleeping for 8-10 hours
2. Abnormal weight gain or weight loss
3. Fluctuations in mood
4. Imbalances in hormones, irregular periods, low sex drive or infertility
5. Dry or cracking skin, brittle nails and excessive loss of hair
6. Hands and feet becoming cold and the temperature giving a constant reading below 98.5°F
7. Constipation
8. Pain in muscles or joints
9. Swelling of the neck, snoring or the voice becoming hoarse
10. Having problems in mind like fog issues

Each patient may suffer from many of the above-mentioned symptoms. The number of symptoms in the body is actually a result of the degree to which the hormone is less in the body. Often, any one of the above symptoms may be a result of the suffering. But most of the people affected will have a combination of the above symptoms. Some cases have also shown that the patients, for a long time, have shown no signs at all.

They suffer silently. The occurrence of any one of the above signs should ring a warning bell and one should consult an endocrinologist. If immediate consultation is not taken, the symptoms will gradually progress and life-threatening problems like depression, coma or heart ailments may arise.