10 Most Common Signs Of A Thyroid Condition

1. Fatigue. Feeling exhausted when you wake up, even after 8 or 10 hours of sleep. Finding yourself unable to function all through the day without a nap. (When thyroid levels are too high, you may also have nighttime insomnia that leaves you exhausted during the day.)
2. Depression and Anxiety. Depression or anxieties, which includes sudden onset of panic attacks, are often symptoms of thyroid disease. Low thyroid levels are most typically associated with depression, while excessively high levels are more commonly associated with feelings of anxiety or panic. Depression that does not respond to antidepressants may also be a sign of an undiagnosed thyroid disorder.
3. Unexplained Weight Changes. You may be on a low-fat, low-calorie diet with a rigorous exercise program, but are unable to lose or gain any weight. Difficulty losing weight can be a sign of low thyroid. You may be losing weight while eating the same amount of food as usual - or even losing weight while eating more than normal.
4. Cholesterol Issues. High cholesterol, especially when it is not responsive to diet, exercise, or cholesterol-lowering medications are all very common signs of undiagnosed low thyroid. Unusually low cholesterol levels may be a sign of excessive thyroid hormone.
5. Irregular Bowel Problems. Severe or long-term constipation is frequently associated with thyroid levels that are too low, while diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is often associated with too much thyroid activity.
6. Hair loss or Skin Changes. Hair and skin are particularly sensitive to thyroid levels. In particular, hair loss is frequently associated with thyroid problems. When thyroid levels drop too low, hair frequently becomes brittle, coarse, and dry. It then breaks off and falls out easily. Skin can become coarse, thick, dry, and scaly. In low thyroid conditions, there is often an unusual thinning or loss of the eyebrow starting from the outer edge moving in. Severe hair loss can also occur when thyroid is too high, and skin can become fragile and thin.
7. Muscle and Joint Pains, Carpal Tunnel/Tendonitis Problems. Aches and pains in your muscles and joints, weakness in the arms and a tendency to develop carpal tunnel in the arms/hands and tarsal tunnel in the legs can all be symptoms of undiagnosed thyroid problems. Fibromyalgia responds extremely well when low thyroid levels are normalized.
8. Your Family History. If you have a family history of thyroid problems, you are at a higher risk of having a thyroid condition yourself. You may not always be aware of thyroid problems in your family, though, because among older people, it is often referred to as "gland trouble" or "goiter." So pay attention to any discussions of glandular conditions or goiter or weight gain due to "a glandular problem," as these may be indirect ways of referring to thyroid conditions.