10 Symptoms of Thyroid Problems Your Doctor May Miss

Posted: 14 Dec 2014 07:00 AM PST

About 12% of Americans develop thyroid disease, and of those who get it 60% will never know they have it. ^[1] That's a problem. The thyroid regulates hormone balance and function and contributes to weight, mood, and mental stability. Untreated, a thyroid imbalance can develop into very serious medical conditions. The best answer in today's healthcare environment is to stay informed. To help with that, here are 10 symptoms of thyroid disease that can be easily missed.

1. Cholesterol That's Too High or Too Low

Too much fat in the diet causes high cholesterol, right? Wrong. High cholesterol can occur for a wide variety of reasons, and diet is only a small contributor compared to other factors. When diet and exercise don’t help, it may be time to consider that there is an underlying problem. If you take medication for cholesterol and it's not working, then definitely have your thyroid checked. You may have hypothyroidism, or low thyroid hormone levels. In some cases, low cholesterol may be a problem. Before you begin treatments, you probably should get tested for hyperthyroidism, a condition characterized by too much circulating thyroid hormone.

2. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome as well as tendon and joint pain may be symptoms of thyroid disease. Thyroid treatments have successfully eliminated wrist pain and burning as well as tingling feelings in the bottom of the feet in a small number of cases. ^[2] In one case, a 60 year-old Italian woman suffering from this burning sensation showed symptoms of hypothyroidism. As she progressed with her thyroid treatment, the pain went away. ^[3] It appears thyroid diseases, both hypo- and hyperthyroidism cause neuropathy, or nerve pain, in a percentage of those suffering from thyroid disease.

3. Heart Disease

Checking your thyroid may be a good plan if you discover you have heart disease. Thyroid hormones play a direct role in many factors affecting heart health. A 2014 study out of John Hopkins University reported low thyroid hormone levels were common in young and middle-aged adults with early stage coronary artery disease and blood vessel calcification. ^[4] A Polish study similarly compared 25 patients with low levels of thyroid stimulating hormone to 25 patients with normal levels. Those with the lower levels demonstrated an increased risk for cardiac events. ^[5] Get your hormone levels right and your body is more likely to function correctly.

4. Weak, Fragile Fingernails

Don't ignore your nails when they crack or flake; it may reflect a bigger health concern. Those with hypothyroidism often have soft, fragile nails, and those with hyperthyroidism may find the nail coming off its bed on the fingertip. ^[6] Dry skin and brittle hair often accompanies this symptom.

5. Depression or Anxiety

A lot of how you feel depends on hormone levels. Low hormone levels, such as in the case of hypothyroidism, can leave you feeling depressed. An excess of hormones leads to frequent anxiety or panic attacks. If you have regular feelings like this, it would be a good idea to get your thyroid tested before considering any psychiatric drugs that have side effects that may make your problems worse.

6. Unexpected Weight Gain or Loss

If you can't lose or gain weight no matter your effort, it could be your thyroid. How fast or slow your metabolism is directly depends on hormone activity. A sudden change in weight, up or down, can also indicate a thyroid condition.

7. Constant Fatigue

This symptom is common, yet the problem is ignored too often. Many young adults write fatigue and poor energy off as a sign of their lifestyle; but, if you've got a pretty set routine and get regular sleep, you shouldn't ignore chronic fatigue. Do you get 7-8 hours of sleep and feel like it's not enough? It could be an early symptom of a thyroid issue. Those suffering from hyperthyroidism may find it hard to fall asleep, which can leave you dragging during waking hours.

8. Low Libido

Since the thyroid is all about hormones, it comes as no surprise men and women experience problems with their reproductive organs. Women can have a more frequent, longer menstruation with low hormones and short, light menstruation–or have a cycle stop altogether–with too many circulating hormones. Fertility may also be a problem. Men experience infertility, low libido, and may even develop enlarged breasts when sex hormones and the thyroid become imbalanced.

9. Gut Problems

IBS isn't always caused by what you eat. In fact, it may be that your metabolism isn't working right. This prevents necessary enzymes from getting to the gut to help with digestion. If constipation, diarrhea, or IBS are ongoing problems and therapies aren't helping, it may be time to consider checking your thyroid.

10. Weakness

As hormone levels get out of whack, the body steals energy to try to make things right. You know fatigue could be the problem, but the fatigue could spread throughout the body leaving you feeling weak and even feeble. It would be like feeling run-down and sick with a cold without the fever or classic symptoms of any illness.

One Final Thought

Take these simple steps to support your thyroid and reduce your chance of developing thyroid disease.

1. Eat lots of iodine-rich foods like cod, salmon, yogurt, sea vegetables (such as dulse seaweed), and eggs.
2. Exercise regularly. It doesn't have to be hard. A pleasant stroll every day could be enough.
3. Eat a varied diet to get the essential vitamins and minerals needed to maintain healthy hormone levels.

And finally, if you think you might need additional hormonal support, consider supplementing. As it gets increasingly difficult to get good healthcare, you need to take charge of your health. Ask your doctor to check your iodine levels, too, as this nutrient is needed for stabilizing the thyroid. Taking an iodine supplement may be helpful for balancing thyroid hormones.

-Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM