According to the American Thyroid Association, approximately 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease, with 60% of those people being unaware of their condition. For this audience, an even crazier statistic, is that women are 5–8 times more likely than men to have thyroid problems. One in every 8 women will develop a thyroid disorder at some point during their life. To put that into perspective, of the approx. 500,000 women in Jacksonville, 62,500 of us will develop (or, if you’re me, have developed) a thyroid disorder.
If you’re reading this and wondering, “What the heck even is the thyroid?”, you are certainly not alone. The thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped gland that is part of your body’s endocrine system. It’s located at the front of your neck, and despite its small size, it plays a huge role in your day-to-day and long-term health. It’s responsible for releasing two hormones (T3 and T4) (T3 and T4), which are hormones that regulate how your body uses energy. It affects everything from your heart rate and digestion to your body temperature and weight. When the thyroid isn’t working as it should, the hormone levels get out of whack (too high or too low), and the symptoms can be felt or seen from head to toe. Here are some of those signs that you need to be aware of:
Signs of Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism means you have an underactive thyroid — it slows everything in your body down. Symptoms include:
- Fatigue that is constant
- Constipation (slowed digestive system)
- Mood changes: feeling depressed, down, experiencing brain fog
- Dry skin, changes in hair texture, or moisture
- Sensitivity to cold temperatures
- Muscle aches/pain across the body
- Menstrual cycle changes: heavier or more frequent periods
- Weight gain or a persistent struggle to lose weight
READ: 10 Ways to Get More Sleep (From a Tired Mom’s Perspective)
Signs of Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism means you have an overactive thyroid — it speeds everything in your body up. Symptoms include:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Unexplained weight loss
- Sensitivity to heat and having excessive sweating
- Sleep struggles: inability to fall or stay asleep
- Digestive changes: increased appetite, more frequent bowel movements
- Menstrual changes: having irregular periods
- Goiter that develops at the base/front of the neck
- Muscle pain and weakness across the body
- Thinning hair and nails (becoming brittle and dry)
- Mood changes: feeling anxious/on edge
Signs of Thyroid Cancer
- A lump in your neck (where the gland is) that can be felt through the skin
- Changes in your voice or persistently being hoarse
- Swollen lymph nodes in your neck
- Pain in your neck/throat
- Difficulty swallowing or feeling like your food is stuck in your throat
For most of you, you likely thought to yourself, “Yep, yep, yep,” as you read through at least one item from the symptom lists above. For some of you, you may have thought, “Holy crap, yes, this describes me to a tee.” And for the rest of you, maybe you read through those lists and didn’t relate to any of the items. But the one uniting takeaway for every reader is that, regardless of where you fall on that spectrum, awareness is essential. Because when you’re aware, you can no longer ignore.
