6. Trouble Concentrating vs. Trouble Remembering
Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can have negative effects on cognition. When your thyroid hormone is too low, you may experience memory problems, especially verbal memory. Untreated, hypothyroidism can actually shrink the volume of your hippocampus.
Hyperthyroidism can also cause cognitive impairment. In this case, patients suffer poor concentration, slowed reaction times, and decreased spatial organization and visual processing abilities.
7. Constipation vs. Diarrhea
Hypothyroidism impacts the health of your digestive system in a couple of ways. First, it slows metabolism and the action of the entire digestive tract. Second, it weakens the muscles that contract the colon and move stool along. The result is painful constipation.
Though hyperthyroidism also comes with muscle weakness, it typically speeds up your system and rushes food through the digestive tract. That tends to result in loose stools and wasted nutrition. Chronic diarrhea may also contribute to the weight loss common with hyperthyroidism.
8. Heavy Periods vs. Irregular Periods
Both overactive and underactive thyroid function can affect menstruation. With hypothyroidism, or low thyroid function, you may experience either heavy or irregular periods.
Your flow could be extremely heavy one month and missing the next. On the other hand, missed or unpredictable periods are more often associated with hyperthyroidism. Both conditions carry an increased risk of miscarriage and birth defects.
9. Muscle and Joint Weakness
When you have low thyroid levels, your metabolic switch flips toward catabolism. That’s when the body breaks down muscle tissue for energy rather than fat. Muscle strength decreases and leads to feelings of weakness. The process can also cause aches.
The reason that this same symptom occurs in patients with overactive thyroid glands is less clear. However, researchers suspect that excessive thyroid hormone levels can cause increased muscle protein degradation and muscle energy use. That will leave your muscles feeling sapped and weak.
10. Hair Loss
Hair follicles, like most cells, are regulated by thyroid hormone. Hair loss may occur with both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism because normal production of the hormones T3 and T4 is disrupted.
When this occurs, your natural hair loss (about 50-100 strands per day) is no longer replaced by fresh growth. The result is thinner hair overall, rather than noticeable bald patches. You may also notice it in your eyebrows and eyelashes.
Thyroid disorders are common and can be dangerous if left untreated. Unfortunately, none of the symptoms on their own are unique to thyroid conditions. Therefore, it is best to be aware of these symptoms as a group, especially if they show up suddenly at nearly the same time.
The good news is that thyroid conditions are highly treatable and the medication is relatively inexpensive. Don’t wait to talk to your doctor. Your quality of life can be greatly improved in no time with the right medical support.