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Thyroid hormone influences how fast the body produces and uses
energy; an insufficient level of thyroid hormone slows down the
body. For example, the brain, heart, blood vessels, liver, muscles,
skin, and reproductive system all require thyroid hormone to function
normally. If the level of thyroid hormone in the blood is too
low, these parts of the body can begin to function poorly and
produce a variety of signs and symptoms:
- fatigue
- drowsiness
- feeling cold
- difficulty concentrating
- poor memory
- feeling "blue"
- difficulty losing weight
- loss of appetite
- dry, itchy skin
- hair loss
- dry, brittle hair
- brittle nails
- puffiness around the eyes
- hoarseness
- muscle pain and cramps
- constipation
- an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter)
- slow heart rate
- slow reflexes
- elevated cholesterol
- heavy menstrual periods
- loss of interest in sex
- difficulty conceiving
- miscarriage
The type and severity of the signs and symptoms vary from patient
to patient. Hypothyroidism can develop slowly, over time, and
some patients may be unaware of any symptoms during the first
stages of the disease. On the other hand, those patients who do
not feel well will often describe symptoms such as feeling tired
and sleepy, being cold all the time, losing their hair, being
depressed, having difficulty concentrating, and finding it difficult
to lose weight.
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