Symptoms of Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism
Most people have a lot of doubts surrounding thyroid problems, especially in terms of its two different type’s hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. So to make things easier, we have detailed the general as well as typical symptoms of both these types of thyroid problems.
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism term is used for the condition in which the thyroid gland is over active and thus produces more thyroxin than is required by the body.
Some of the noted symptoms of hyperthyroidism are:
The patient feels warm, and it’s because the basal body temperature remains a little over the normal due to excess production of thyroid hormone.
Mental symptoms include lack of concentration and anxiety. In fact most patients experience anxiety up to level where their body or limbs begin trembling.
Loss of muscle mass is a commonly seen symptom of hyperthyroidism. And most patients report the feeling of weakness in the limbs, a dip in their stamina and inability to do strenuous physical work.
A constantly high heart rate may also be indicative of an underlying overactive thyroid.
People suffering from hyperthyroidism loose significant amounts of weight over a short term, due to a fall in the metabolic activities inside the body.
Hypothyroidism
As opposed to the one above, hypothyroidism results from an under active thyroid gland and some of its symptoms are:
Since thyroid hormone is essential for different metabolic activities, when it’s scarce in the body the metabolic activities slow down and cause lethargy and fatigue. Muscle cramps may also been noted. This can become a permanent feature till proper treatment begins.
Weakness of the digestive system, coupled with constipation and gastric may also be experienced when suffering from hypothyroidism.
Mentally the patient feels irritated and suffers from loss of memory. In general, hypothyroidism causes the patient to have a low morale, and in some severe cases this may transform into depression.
A dip in the metabolic activities will also lead to fat deposits and weight gain. And when left untreated for long it can cause undesirable changes in the lipid profile, making the patient prone to cardiac problems.
The patent feels comfortable in hot weather and finds it difficult to tolerate even mildly cold weather. In terms of diet the patients show an increased liking for hot foods instead of cold ones, and you may find them refusing for ice-cream even if they loved it earlier.
Lastly, you must remember that the symptoms may vary from one person to another, so it’s always better to consult your physician and get a proper diagnostic test done to know about your thyroid problem.
