Low thyroid symptoms

Hypothyroidism can cause a host of health problems. Fortunately, an underactive thyroid can be easily diagnosed and treated. Midlife can bring subtle changes in our skin, hair, energy, weight, and even mental outlook. Before writing them off as products of aging, it's a good idea to make sure they're not the result of an underactive thyroid. This tiny butterfly-shaped gland influences virtually every organ system in the body. The hormones it secretes into the bloodstream play a vital role in regulating metabolism — the rate at which our bodies convert food and oxygen to energy. Low thyroid hormone production, or hypothyroidism, causes a range of symptoms, such as fatigue, constipation, Moreover, hypothyroidism is especially common in women. Between ages 35 and 65, about 13% of women will have an underactive thyroid, and the proportion rises to 20% among those over 65. Because the link between hypothyroidism symptoms and thyroid disease isn't always obvious, especially in Untreated hypothyroidism can increase your risk for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart disease. That's why it's important to keep an eye out for hypothyroidism symptoms and have your thyroid function checked. Hypothyroidism can be diagnosed with a blood test and treated with a pill. Hypothyroidism symptoms Hypothyroidism symptoms can differ from person to person. In some women, the onset is so gradual that it's hardly noticeable; in others, hypothyroidism symptoms come on abruptly over the co...

For some people, hypothyroidism that hasn't been treated can lead to joint and muscle problems. Specifically, hypothyroidism may cause: • Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness. • Joint pain and stiffness, particularly in the hands and knees in adults. • Swelling of the small joints in the hands and feet. • Carpal tunnel syndrome. Pain relievers you can buy without a prescription, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), may help ease the pain. But treatment with thyroid hormone replacement medicine typically is the most effective way to relieve the symptoms of hypothyroidism, including joint and muscle pain. If you're taking thyroid hormone replacement, and you still have joint and muscle pain, your medicine dosage may need to be changed. It's important to be aware, too, that some people who have hypothyroidism also may have other autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis. If joint pain, stiffness and swelling don't improve after treatment with an appropriate dosage of thyroid medicine, contact your health care provider. There may be other possible causes of the pain that need to be explored. • Loscalzo J, et al., eds. Hypothyroidism. In: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 21st ed. McGraw Hill; 2022. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed Dec. 14, 2022. • Pope TL, et al, eds. Pituitary and thyroid disorders. In: Musculoskeletal Imaging. 2nd ed. Elsevier; 2015. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Dec. 14,...