How to Know if You Have Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a disorder of thyroid gland which is present in the neck. The thyroid gland produces a hormone called thyroxine (thyroid hormone) which is necessary for proper functioning of the body. In hypothyroidism, the thyroid produces insufficient quantities of thyroxine. The diagnosis of hypothyroidism relies mainly upon laboratory tests because of the lack of specificity of the symptoms associated with this disorder. Hypothyroidism can be diagnosed at its earliest stages by a blood test called TSH.
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Instructions
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Note your pace. A generalized slowing can occur including, easy fatigue, slow movement and slow speech.
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See if your tolerance for cold drops. You may find yourself wearing more clothes than everybody else especially in warm weather.
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Get on a scale. Weight gain may occur despite normal eating. Typically the legs swell up and you may notice thickening of skin.
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Explore any unusual soreness. Generalized muscle aches without any cause (myalgia) may occur.
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Listen to your body. In women, menstrual irregularities are significant indicators of thyroid disturbances. Constipation is a common symptom among men and women. Skin changes that may occur include decreased sweating, skin discoloration (yellowish tinge or tanning). Hair may become coarse and nails may become brittle.
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See your health care provider if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms.
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Be prepared to have following tests done:
1. Serum thyrotropin or TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Levels)
2. Serum free T4 (Thyroid hormone)
3. Thyroid Ultrasound Scan
4. Cholesterol panel
5. Blood electrolyte levels
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