• 26 July, 2024
• By Admin

Hyperthyroidism Or Hypothyroidism? Spotting The Symptoms

The thyroid gland, a small gland located in the neck at the base, has a crucial function in regulating many body functions. When this gland is not working properly, it can cause a range of issues, which frequently show their presence in minor signs. Now, it is time to take a closer look at some symptoms that may hint at a thyroid disorder.

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is a thyroid disorder characterized by the overproduction of hormones. This overactivity can lead to a spectrum of symptoms, including:

• Unexplained Weight Loss: While they have ideal appetite levels normally, many people with hyperthyroidism are known to develop weight loss.
• Rapid Heart Rate: Tachycardia, palpitations, or arrhythmia are the other signs that could be attributed to the overactivity of the thyroid gland.
• Nervousness and Anxiety: Common symptoms of the condition include increased heart rate, jitteriness, nervousness, and irritability.
• Tremors: Microtremors, especially finger shaking, are among the most frequent symptoms.
• Insomnia: Some of the symptoms include difficulty sleeping, struggling to go to sleep, or even staying asleep.
• Heat intolerance: When one feels warm or is showering with sweat, this is likely to indicate hyperthyroidism.
• Bulging Eyes: Sometimes, it is profound, and the eyes appear to bulge or are red, a situation referred to as exophthalmos.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a situation where the thyroid gland does not secrete adequate hormones. Oftentimes, symptoms appear gradually and may include:

• Fatigue: Fatigue is a common, prevailing symptom that the patients mention quite often.
• Weight Gain: Thus, people with hypothyroidism continue to gain weight even if their food intake is less than before.
• Cold intolerance: experiencing a high fever and developing Raynaud-like symptoms, that is, getting cold very easily in warm surroundings.
• Dry Skin and Hair: Dryness of skin and hair and dry and brittle hair are problems that can be linked to hypothyroidism.
• Constipation: Gastrointestinal problems like constipation are some of the signs that may be seen in a patient.
• Muscle Weakness and Pain: Headaches and sore muscles and joints may present themselves; there might be cases of arthritis and skin rashes.
• Depression: Regression, mood swings, and, most times, even depression are fairly dominant.

It is important to note that these symptoms may occur with other health diseases. If the signs mentioned above are experienced, one should seek medical attention from a specialist who will do a thorough assessment. The serum concentration of thyroid hormones is included among the blood tests to assess thyroid hormones.

As with any other form of disease, it is always advisable to seek early diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disorders. If not treated early, the two diseases can become very severe; hyperthyroidism can cause hypertension, and hypothyroidism can lead to heart disease.

Conclusion

Recognizing the subtle signs of thyroid dysfunction is key to timely intervention. Nevertheless, despite the differences in symptoms between both conditions, there is symptom crossover in the case of both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. If you experience such symptoms or have any doubt about having a thyroid problem, it is extremely advisable that you consult experienced doctors at UniQ Pathlab. The patient diagnosed with thyroid disorders should undergo primary examination and treatment as soon as possible so that the further development of complications is excluded.