Your thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped organ at the base of your neck that has an incredibly important job. It produces thyroid hormones that help regulate your metabolism, heart rate, body temperature, mood and more. An underactive thyroid causes a condition called hypothyroidism, and an overactive thyroid causes hyperthyroidism. When your thyroid isn’t functioning properly, it can cause an array of confusing symptoms that are often overlooked or misdiagnosed.
While thyroid disorders are common, affecting around 20 million Americans, they frequently go undiagnosed. In fact, as many as 60% of people with thyroid disease don’t know they have the condition. This is dangerous because untreated thyroid disorders can increase your risk for various health complications, including heart problems, osteoporosis and infertility. Familiarizing yourself with the early warning signs of thyroid disease and thyroid test options allows you to get more information about your thyroid health.
Here are four potential early signs of thyroid issues:
- Unexpected weight changes: One of the most telling signs of a possible thyroid problem is unexplained weight gain or weight loss. Your thyroid helps control metabolism, so with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, the metabolism may speeds up or slow down. An overactive thyroid can lead to weight loss despite no changes in diet or exercise. An underactive thyroid can cause weight gain even if you are eating well and staying active. If the number on the scale is unexpectedly creeping up or down, your thyroid may be to blame.
- Constant fatigue: Feeling tired all the time is one of the most common symptoms of a thyroid disorder. However, fatigue is also associated with many other conditions like anemia, depression and sleep apnea. If you are constantly exhausted even after getting enough sleep, consider a thyroid blood test to see if a hormonal imbalance is the culprit. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can leave you feeling drained.
- Temperature sensitivity: Do you feel cold all the time even when it's warm, or find yourself sweating in cooler weather? Since your thyroid helps regulate body temperature, an overactive or underactive thyroid can cause you to have trouble maintaining a comfortable body temperature. Hypothyroidism can make it difficult to stay warm. Hyperthyroidism can lead to sweating excessively or feeling hot when others are comfortable. Pay attention if you need to crank up the heat or AC more than those around you.
- Changes in heart rate: Your thyroid hormones affect nearly every cell and system in your body, including your cardiovascular system. Both too much and too little thyroid hormone can lead to heart palpitations, a fluttering feeling that your heart is beating too fast, slow or irregularly. While heart palpitations are usually harmless, a persistently racing heartbeat can indicate hyperthyroidism. An unusually slow heart rate can be a sign of hypothyroidism.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, Labcorp OnDemand’s Standard Thyroid Test can help provide answers. Thyroid hormone results within normal levels may help rule out thyroid problems and point you toward other causes of your symptoms. Abnormal results can signal thyroid dysfunction and allow early treatment to get your levels back on track, potentially preventing complications.
Take control of your thyroid health today and explore our thyroid blood test package.
