The hypothyroidism is one of the silent conditions in society. Its symptoms are not difficult to decipher, however, it can be confused with the signs of other pathologies that results in its unnoticed importance. It is important to know the signs that you have hypothyroidism and thus take immediate action on it.

According to the WHO (World Health Organization), 3% of the population suffers from hypothyroidism . Specifically, this pathology is due to low levels of thyroid hormone production that runs through the bloodstream. In addition, it has been proven that it is more frequent in women than in men. The age at which it is most often seen is in the 50s and older and after delivery.

This hormone is produced by the thyroid, a gland that is located above the trachea and whose function is to regulate the general metabolism of the body and the production of the hormone in question.

Signs that you have hypothyroidism

The signs to know if you suffer from hypothyroidism are represented by the symptoms of this metabolic disorder. The most frequent ones are mentioned below and with which it could be deduced that one suffers from it.

  • Suffering from constipation despite eating a healthy diet based on vitamins, water and fiber.
  • People with hypothyroidism often have a pale, yellowish skin color .
  • Exhaustion and tiredness, the person often feels that despite not doing significant physical activities, his feeling of exhaustion is permanent.
  • One of the signs that you suffer from hypothyroidism can be when fluid retention occurs , which in the medium and long term is denoted in the face. This accumulation causes the face to puff up in the morning, the bags under the eyes give the appearance of exhaustion.
  • The cold is constant despite high temperatures, in the early stages it is not very noticeable, but if you have suffered from hypothyroidism for years it may be easy to assimilate it.
  • Hypothyroidism causes unexplained weight gain or, it prevents a person from dropping some sizes despite – even – extreme efforts. It should be noted that in some cases the opposite happens, it is not possible to gain weight despite a diet rich in carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and others.
  • In the later stages of hypothyroidism, people may begin to notice a lack of concentration in the activities they do.
  • Headaches increase for no reason also with this condition.
  • One of the signs that you have hypothyroidism is a double chin or double chin, the latter is noticeable as a ball hanging from the neck, just in front of the windpipe. This is nothing more than the hypertrophied (enlarged) gland.
  • Despite the fluid retention, the skin begins to show dryness. That is why the need to drink water increases.
  • Another symptom of hypothyroidism is a lack of hair on the eyebrows. Despite this clear sign, few people know that it is a metabolic problem caused by the thyroid .
  • In women, the hormonal imbalance that causes this pathology can prevent them from becoming pregnant.

Rule out other diseases

The problem with not knowing that you have hypothyroidism is that its symptoms can be confused with other diseases . Headaches, for example, their constant appearances can lead to believe that it is a migraine. Fluid retention can resemble a kidney condition, among other cases.

A test to rule out or reaffirm hypothyroidism

This process is homemade and very simple to do. The first thing to do is leave a thermometer next to the bed at night, the next day in the morning, before doing anything you should measure the body temperature with that thermometer. This test is done in at least five days.

Write the result in a notebook. The mean temperature of these data results in thyroid function. If it is between 32.2 – 36.7 degrees Celsius, then it is normal. If it is less than 36.2 degrees, then it is a clear sign that the thyroid has an alteration, in which case the first act to perform is to go to a specialist.

A couple of details should be clarified at the time of this test. First, in women the data can be altered during the first days of the period or, during ovulation, the increase in temperature is normal and could not reveal a thyroid problem . Avoid this test during pregnancy, especially in the last months, the metabolism in this case varies in peaks and would not give successful results.

By Dr. Eric Jackson

Dr. Eric Jackson provides primary Internal Medicine care for men and women and treats patients with bone and mineral diseases, diabetes, heart conditions, and other chronic illnesses. He is a Washington University Bone Health Program physician and is a certified Bone Densitometrist. Dr. Avery is consistently recognized in "The Best Doctors in America" list.

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