| Your thyroid is the primary dictator of your metabolism | | | | reactions in your body. There will rarely be symptoms |
| and any malfunction or disease affecting your thyroid | | | | in the early stages, but over time if left untreated can |
| will cause you to have problems in metabolism leading | | | | cause a number of health problems, including obesity, |
| to a drastic change in your weight - you may either | | | | joint pain, and heart disease. |
| gain weight, lose weight, or may find that losing weight | | | | Hypothyroidism is usually an easy fix, treated with a |
| is much harder than usual. | | | | synthetic thyroid hormone. |
| Hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid, is a condition | | | | The signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism vary |
| where your thyroid gland is producing too much of the | | | | depending on the severity of the hormone deficiency |
| hormone thyroxine. Hyperthyroidism accelerates your | | | | and tend to develop slowly, often over a period of |
| body's metabolism causing sudden weight loss, an | | | | years. |
| irregular or rapid heartbeat, sweating, nervousness, and | | | | At first, you may barely notice the main symptoms |
| irritability. | | | | such as fatigue and sluggishness or you may assume |
| Doctors use anti-thyroid medications and on occasion | | | | they are a part of getting older. But as your |
| a radioactive iodine to slow the overproduction of the | | | | metabolism continues to slow, the symptoms may |
| hormones. Most people respond well to the treatment | | | | start. |
| once hyperthyroidism is diagnosed. | | | | Some of them include: |
| Hyperthyroidism can include any of these symptoms: | | | | - Weight gain |
| - Sudden weight loss, even with no changes in your | | | | - Fatigue |
| eating habits | | | | - Sensitive to cold |
| - Rapid or irregular heartbeat | | | | - Your skin is pale and dry |
| - Appetite increase | | | | - You have a puffy face |
| - Nervousness, even anxiety or anxiety attacks | | | | - Your voice is hoarse |
| - Tremors in the hand and finger areas | | | | - High blood cholesterol levels |
| - Irritability | | | | - Aching muscles |
| - Sweating | | | | - Pain, stiffness, or swelling in the joints |
| - Sensitive to heat | | | | - Muscle weakness |
| - An enlarged thyroid gland at the base of the neck | | | | - Hair and fingernails brittle |
| - Fatigue | | | | - Depressed |
| - Sleeping difficulties | | | | When hypothyroidism isn't treated, signs and |
| Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, is the | | | | symptoms can gradually become more severe. |
| condition where your thyroid gland under produces the | | | | Advanced hypothyroidism is unusual, but when it |
| related hormones. | | | | happens can be life threatening. Signs include low blood |
| Hypothyroidism is more common in women over 50. | | | | pressure, shallow breathing and a low body |
| Hypothyroidism upsets the balance of chemical | | | | temperature. |