What Are the Symptoms of Thyroid Problems?
The symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:
- Weight loss, despite increased appetite
- Increased heart rate, heart palpitations, higher blood pressure, nervousness, and excessive perspiration
- More frequent bowel movements, sometimes with diarrhea
- Muscle weakness, trembling hands
- Development of a goiter (an enlargement in your neck)
- Lighter or shorter menstrual periods
The symptoms of hypothyroidism, in which the body doesn't produce enough thyroid hormones, may include:
- Lethargy, slower mental processes or depression
- Reduced heart rate
- Increased sensitivity to cold
- Tingling or numbness in the hands
- Development of a goiter (an enlargement in your neck)
- Constipation, heavy menstrual periods, or dry skin and hair
Subacute thyroiditis:
- Mild to severe pain in the thyroid gland
- The thyroid feels tender to the touch
- Pain or discomfort when swallowing or turning your head
- Appearance of these symptoms shortly after a viral infection, such as the flu, mumps, or measles
Call Your Doctor About Thyroid Problems If:
- You have any of the symptoms listed above.
Call 911 or seek emergency medical care if:
- You are feverish, agitated, or delirious, and have a rapid pulse; you could be having a thyrotoxic crisis, a sudden and dangerous complication of hyperthyroidism.
- You feel intensely cold, drowsy and lethargic; you could be experiencing the symptoms of the beginning stages of a myxedema coma, a sudden and dangerous complication of hypothyroidism that can cause unconsciousness and possibly death.
