9 Surprising Symptoms Of Hypothyroidism You Shouldn’t Ignore

Hypothyroidism is a condition that you may not have heard of. But it's important to know about because it can have serious effects. Hypothyroidism means your thyroid isn't working properly, so it can cause symptoms like tiredness, depression, infertility and more. The good news is that hypothyroidism is easy to diagnose and treat with medication.

Tiredness

Fatigue is a common symptom of hypothyroidism. On the one hand, this is easy to understand—low thyroid hormone levels can make you tired and sluggish. On the other hand, fatigue can also be caused by other factors like poor sleep or stress. If you’re experiencing fatigue but don’t have hypothyroidism, there are steps you can take to feel more energized!

• Get enough sleep: Try going to bed earlier or waking up later in the morning to give your body more time between when you wake up and when you have to head out for work (or school).

• Exercise regularly: Exercise gives your body energy by releasing endorphins into your bloodstream after physical activity. It also helps with weight loss if that's something that concerns you!

• Reduce stress levels: Stressful situations increase cortisol production in our bodies which reduces energy levels over time because cortisol suppresses an important hormone called DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone). To reduce stress levels try taking some time each day just for yourself where no planning needs to happen and just do whatever makes sense at that moment -- whether it's taking a walk outside during lunch break or making something tasty with family members at home after dinner -- these activities will help restore balance back into our lives without causing us any extra hassle whatsoever!

Weight gain

Weight gain is a common symptom of hypothyroidism, and it can occur for a variety of reasons. When your thyroid gland slows down and produces less hormone, it causes your body to burn fewer calories than usual. This can result in weight gain if you eat the same amount of food or even more food but don't move around as much because you're tired all the time (the latter will make the former worse).

Another way that hypothyroidism causes weight gain is by causing insulin resistance. Hypothyroidism reduces your body's ability to use insulin effectively, which means that blood sugar levels remain higher than normal (and therefore cause cravings) even after eating meals containing carbohydrates like pasta or breads made from grains such as wheat or rye.

Finally—and perhaps most importantly—hypothyroidism may lead to overeating due to low levels of leptin and ghrelin hormones. Leptin signals satiety while ghrelin tells us when we're hungry; when these two hormones are out of balance due to low thyroid function (or any other reason), we may not feel full despite eating three meals per day plus snacks every few hours!

Depression

You should also be on the lookout for depression as a symptom of hypothyroidism. Depression is a common complication of hypothyroidism, and it can sometimes be a side effect of taking thyroid hormone replacement medication. Depression may also occur because your body doesn’t have enough thyroid hormones to work properly. Even if you have healthy levels in your system, low levels are still associated with depression and other mood disorders.

If you think you may be experiencing symptoms of depression, speak to your doctor about it right away, especially if they come on suddenly or are interfering with daily life. A doctor can help determine if this is simply part of the hypothyroidism itself or an unrelated symptom that needs treatment by prescribing antidepressants (which don't interact with T4).

Infertility

You may be surprised to learn that hypothyroidism can affect fertility in both men and women. In fact, one in five women with a thyroid problem struggle with infertility.

The symptoms of hypothyroidism in women are:

• Weight gain or difficulty losing weight

• Hair loss (including eyebrows and eyelashes)

• Dry skin, especially on the legs and arms

• Painful menstrual periods, heavy bleeding during menstruation, irregular cycles or no menstrual cycle at all

Dry skin

Dry skin is a common symptom of hypothyroidism and is often caused by low levels of thyroid hormone. This means that the body's ability to produce oil (sebum) has been affected, which can lead to dryness and flakiness. The skin can become scaly, itchy or even cracked in some cases, so it's important to take care of your skin if you notice these issues—especially if they're accompanied by other signs like fatigue or weight gain.

The best way to treat dry skin caused by hypothyroidism is using moisturizer on your body and face twice daily.

Muscle aches and tenderness

Hypothyroidism can cause muscle aches and tenderness. Muscle aches are often caused by hypothyroidism.

Common causes of muscle aches include:

• Low levels of thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism)

• Bacterial or viral infections that affect the muscles, including strep throat, mononucleosis (glandular fever), and pericarditis (inflammation of the membrane around your heart)

Hair loss

A general thinning of the hair, or overall loss of hair can be a sign that you have hypothyroidism. But don't worry—it's not as dramatic as it sounds! Hair loss is usually gradual, and more common in women than men.

It is also important to note that while hair loss is a symptom of hypothyroidism, it's also possible for other conditions like menopause or even alopecia areata (hair loss caused by immune system malfunction) to cause your locks to fall out. So even if you do have an underactive thyroid gland controlling your metabolism and energy levels...it might not be the only thing going on inside your body!

Sensitivity to cold temperatures

One of the lesser-known symptoms of hypothyroidism is a sensitivity to cold temperatures. Hypothyroidism causes your body to produce less heat, which can make you feel like you're always cold. This symptom can also be caused by other conditions besides hypothyroidism, so it's important to be evaluated by your doctor before making any changes in your lifestyle. If you do have hypothyroidism, though, there are prescription drugs available that can help regulate your body temperature and treat this symptom.

Take it seriously.

People who suffer from hypothyroidism often don't take it seriously, even though hypothyroidism can be a serious condition. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, be sure to get tested for thyroid problems.

• Hypothyroidism is a common condition that affects millions of people in the U.S., but many cases go undiagnosed due to lack of awareness and understanding about what it entails or how it affects people's lives.

• There are many types of thyroid problems and each case requires different treatment options. In some cases, medication might not be necessary; instead, you might need simply change your diet or exercise routine to improve your health overall (this will help with both your energy levels as well as your mood). However if medications are needed these can come in pill form once per day or liquid form taken several times per day depending on which type works best for each person's needs

Conclusion

All of these symptoms may not seem like a big deal, but they can be an indicator that you need to make some lifestyle changes in order to stay healthy. If you experience one or more of them on a regular basis, it’s important that you visit your doctor as soon as possible so they can diagnose whether or not your thyroid gland is overproducing hormone levels.