Thyroid Symptoms

Overview

Thyroid symptoms are widespread because thyroid hormone acts throughout the body. An underactive thyroid slows everything down; an overactive thyroid speeds everything up. But most of these symptoms — tiredness, weight change, hair loss, mood change — are also common in people with normal thyroids, which is why symptoms alone cannot diagnose a thyroid problem. Blood testing is what separates a true thyroid cause from everything else.

This page is the symptom overview. For specific symptoms in depth, see Thyroid-related Fatigue, Thyroid-related Weight Changes, Thyroid-related Palpitations and Thyroid-related Hair Loss.

Underactive thyroid symptoms

• Tiredness and low energy.
• Weight gain or difficulty losing weight.
• Feeling cold.
• Dry skin, dry and brittle hair, hair loss.
• Constipation.
• Slow heart rate.
• Heavy or irregular periods.
• Low mood and slowed thinking.
• Muscle aches and puffiness.

Overactive thyroid symptoms

• Weight loss despite increased appetite.
• Heat intolerance and sweating.
• Palpitations, fast or irregular heartbeat.
• Anxiety, irritability and tremor.
• Frequent loose stools.
• Sleep difficulty.
• Muscle weakness.
• Eye changes in Graves’ disease.

Why symptoms are not enough

Because these symptoms are non-specific, attributing them to the thyroid without a blood test leads to both missed diagnoses (the real cause is something else) and unnecessary treatment (a normal thyroid is “treated”). A TSH test — with free T4 if abnormal — is the reliable way to confirm or exclude a thyroid cause.

When to be assessed

• A cluster of symptoms from the lists above.
• A family history of thyroid disease.
• A neck swelling or lump.
• Symptoms with an abnormal thyroid blood test.
• New symptoms after starting or changing thyroid medication.

How we help

Dr. Nayak assesses your symptoms in full, confirms or excludes a thyroid cause with appropriate testing, and looks for other explanations when the thyroid is normal. Consultations are available in-clinic in Bhubaneswar and over teleconsultation.

Related conditions and patient concerns

• Thyroid-related Fatigue
• Thyroid-related Weight Changes
• Thyroid-related Palpitations
• Thyroid-related Hair Loss
• Hypothyroidism
• Hyperthyroidism
• Fatigue, Weakness & General Symptoms