All over the world, thyroid related problems are increasing day by day. Thyroid is a very important gland which regulates various functions in our body, rate of metabolism being the most important. It is very difficult to identify the symptoms of thyroid conditions as they are common to other health problems too.

There two hormones produced by thyroid; T3 and T4. The level of T3 is lesser than that of T4, but its potential is much more. Any disorder in the functioning of thyroid affects the levels of these hormones which further affect our health in various ways. There are two main types of thyroid disorders, named Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism.

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism, as the name suggests occurs due to less production of the thyroid hormones by the gland, than required.  The common symptoms of hypothyroidism are as follows –

fatigue
dryness of skin
gaining weight
low body temperature
forgetfulness and nervousness
low immunity
irregular menstruation

Besides these common symptoms, there are other body functions which are affected due to the problem. These symptoms are high cholesterol levels and change in voice etc. Due to low immunity, people having hypothyroid are more at risk of having heart problems and become more prone to infections.

When the functioning of the thyroid gland falls to the very low levels, it results into myxedema, a condition in which the person experiences very low tolerance to cold, and serious reactions to specific drugs. The symptoms may become so severe that the patient may lose consciousness and may go in coma in some cases. Hypothermia is another dangerous symptom of hypothyroid where the body temperature falls dangerously low.

Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is the condition which occurs due to over activity of the thyroid gland. Some common symptoms of hyperthyroidism are as follows –

fatigue and weakness
excessive sweating
intolerance to heat
dryness of skin and hair
loss of weight
feeling of dullness
high body temperature
poor memory
low immunity

In addition to these symptoms, there are other symptoms also which indicate towards the problem. These symptoms are women having irregular periods or no periods and men developing enlarged breasts etc.

The symptoms of hyperthyroidism are so general that sometimes they are mistaken for the common symptoms of aging; like increased heart rate, fatigue and less sleep etc.

Sometimes hyperthyroidism may lead to an uncommon problem, known as Graves’ ophthalmopathy. In this problem the eyes of the patient become Protruding. This happens due to the swelling of the tissues behind the eyeballs.

Hyperthyroidism become fatal when a condition known as thyroid storm occurs. This happens in very rare cases when the problem is ignored for a long time and/or the patient has encountered a serious infection. In such cases, the gland releases large amounts of the thyroid hormones in short intervals.

Thyroid disorders can be checked and brought under controlled if treated properly under expert medical guidance, and the person can lead a normal life.