15 Common Signs and Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism lowers your body’s metabolism rate. When the metabolism slows down, it reduces sweating which in turn dries out the skin and causes the fingernails to become dry and brittle.

If your heartbeat feels a bit sluggish, it could be due to lack of the thyroid hormone that controls heart rate. Hypothyroidism causes the heart muscle to pump 10-20 beats per minute less than someone without thyroid issues.

The thyroid hormone plays an important role in the growth, development, and maintenance of the hair follicles. The less thyroid hormone that is present in the body means less maintenance of follicles, causing hair to fall out.

With a slower metabolism, it’s easier to gain weight and harder to work it off. Some of the weight gain is fat, but much more of it is caused by fluid buildup from the effects of hypothyroidism on the kidney’s function.

As with most body systems, an underactive thyroid can damage the digestive tract. Muscles that line the large and small intestines can become weak, lessening contractions which causes the stool to move slowly.

A goiter is an enlarged thyroid gland that can make the neck/throat area appear enlarged and/or swollen. This can be caused by over-stimulation of the gland to get it to produce the right amount of the hormone.

Hypothyroidism and anxiety and/or depression have many of the same signs and symptoms, sometimes causing a misdiagnosis of either condition such as weight gain, memory loss, and fatigue. The best way to diagnose hypothyroidism is through a simple blood test.

The thyroid controls metabolism, heart rate, and body temperature— all functions that keep our bodies warm. Therefore, a thyroid hormone deficiency can slow the body’s processes and cause a sensitivity to cold.

The body requires certain amounts of thyroid hormones to create energy. A drop in hormone production leads to lower energy levels, causing feelings of weakness and fatigue.

Thyroid deficiencies can cause voice changes such as low voice, roughness, reduced range, and vocal fatigue. The larynx is directly above the thyroid in the neck. If the thyroid becomes larger than normal, this places pressure on the larynx which causes vocal dysfunction.

The thyroid also controls—you guessed it—the brain. Therefore, hypothyroidism can affect your memory span and ability to concentrate, mimicking symptoms of mild dementia.

One type of thyroid disease is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the thyroid. This disease can attack the central nervous system which can, in turn, cause hand tremors.

Hypothyroidism can cause fluid to build up in the joints as the metabolism slows down, which leads to swelling that causes pain. This occurs most in people whose hypothyroidism that is poorly managed; however, proper treatment lessens these symptoms.

That’s right—the thyroid also controls the menstrual cycle! Too much or too little of the thyroid hormone can cause very light, heavy, or irregular cycles. This can also cause problems with infertility as the thyroid also controls ovulation.

Hormones produced in the thyroid affect just about every cell in the body, including the ones that control sexual health and pleasure. Hypothyroidism can cause erectile dysfunction, and/or painful intercourse for women, and can lower the overall sex drive for both genders.