Signs that You May Have a Thyroid Problem

Mister Bluebird on my shoulder

It's the truth, it's actch'll

Ev'rything is satisfactch'll

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay

Wonderful feeling, wonderful day!

(Song of the South-1946)



Raise your hand if you feel peppy like these lyrics when you wake up? Yes, no, maybe sometimes?

If you don’t have enough energy and feel like you’re missing a sense of well-being -you might want to check your thyroid.  The World Health Organization estimates that over 200 million people around the world are challenged by thyroid disease. This is one health problem that often goes untreated because people are used to feeling out of sorts.

Are you waking up tired, run down or just plain blue. Your thyroid health affects your sense of wellbeing, vitality and outlook. Take a look at some of the top indicators of thyroid imbalance.  You’ll notice some of these symptoms seem to be the opposite of one another. That’s because this is a symptom list for both underactive and overactive thyroid problems.

• Fatigue even after 8-10 hours of sleep                      
• Inability to lose weight-unexplainable weight gain            
• Difficulty swallowing or chronic sore throat
• Constipation

• Cold hands&feet-feeling cold regardless of how warm others feel
• Dry skin, brittle nails, hair loss
• Unexplainable hoarseness-sore throat                               
• Bags under the eyes 

• Outer third of eyebrow is overly thin                           
• Muscle and joint pain
• Brain fog, poor memory, focus                                         
• Mood swing, anxiety, depression

• Overly sensitive to heat-hot weather                                
• Increased Appetite
• Low sex drive, PMS, irregular or heavy menstrual periods 
• Restlessness, increased sweating
• Rapid-unexplainable weight loss                                    
• Too frequent bowel movements

 
If you have 4 or more of these symptoms do a basal temperature test on yourself at home. Basal temperature measures your body’s metabolism levels first thing in the morning. If it runs below 98 degrees you may have a sluggish metabolism which is an indicator of a possible thyroid imbalance.

Basal Temp Test: First thing as you wake up- before you get out of bed to urinate- take your temperature while you are calm and quiet. Put the thermometer under your arm- not under your tongue as this is a more accurate indicator of your body’s metabolism. Record your temps for at least 3 days.

It's possible for your basic blood work to indicate a normal thyroid yet these symptoms can persist. So talk to your health practitioner about your symptoms and your basal body temperature if it’s low. There are other tests that can be done to help determine if your thyroid and you could use some help. It is common for thyroid  problems to develop slowly over time and it might not be so noticeable until you realize that you are feeling poorly.

All I’m saying is be wise, be well and if you not feeling so great or struggling with some of these issues-think about your thyroid.

You might also enjoy:  Your Thyroid Gland and You