Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

Definition of hypothyroidism

When the thyroid gland produces less thyroid hormone than it is supposed to, the endocrine disorder known as hypothyroidism arises. There are many causes of this disorder and the most common one is the hHashimoto’sthyroiditis. This is an autoimmune disease. The thyroid gland controls the metabolic process of the body and most of the symptoms of hypothyroidism are as a result of a metabolic process that has slowed down.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

1. Weight gain. When the metabolic rate of the body slows down, most of the calories that are consumed are stored as fat in the body. A person may eat less food but still gain a lot of weight and experience difficulties in losing it. The person also still gains weight by eating the normal amount of food they are used to.
2. Sensitivity to cold. When the metabolic rate of the body is high, heat is produced and the calories in the body are converted into usable energy. When the metabolic rate slows down, the body cools and becomes more sensitive to cold. There is also very little energy available for the functioning of the cells and this causes the body to feel extremely tired. The muscles may ache too.
3. Neck tenderness and change in voice tone. When someone suffers from hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland swells and the neck becomes tender. This, in turn, makes the voice become deeper.
4. Digestive problems. When the metabolic rate slows down, the digestion process slows down. Few nutrients are then metabolized and constipation arises.
5. Depression. Depression arises due to the decreased metabolic rate. The weight gain, digestive problems and fatigue also make the hypothyroidism patient feel depressed.

There is however some vague symptoms associated with hypothyroidism. Dry hair and skin may be dye to hypothyroidism or the weather. Decreased libido and irritability could also be either due to hypothyroidism or lifestyle change. These two symptoms are vague. Having them does not necessarily mean that you have hypothyroidism.

If you see a large number of these symptoms on your body and you suspect that you have hypothyroidism or it is slowly developing, contact the doctor then get your thyroid tested. Exercising regularly will increase your metabolic rate and reduce most of the symptoms that are associated with metabolism. If weight gain is your main issue, change your diet and see the changes that will occur.

Warning Sign of Hypothyroidism: Salt Craving

Having a salt craving is not necessarily a bad thing; this is because normally when one suffers from hypothyroidism, he or she is unable to absorb magnesium or salt. This means that if you have a craving for salt, then that is a hint that the body wants more iodine in the body, the result being one starts to feel better and has an increased energy level. According to Dr. Ray Peat, the more one takes salt, then the more production of thyroid in the body.

The Function of Aldosterone

Aldosterone helps the body to control the intake of sodium levels in a person’s body. As such, it also prevents the body from losing magnesium, this is because magnesium is a very necessary as it makes the body respond positively to the hormones produced by the thyroid.

Other Symptoms

A person suffering from hypothyroidism normally urinates a lot. This is because with low levels of aldosterone, the kidney starts to excrete salt and the overall results in addition to frequent urination are excessive sweating and thirst. When the kidney does not retain the necessary salt required for the body, it also results to low blood pressure, dizziness and a feeling of lightheadedness. It is aa this moment that one starts to experience fatigue because the body is struggling to maintain sodium levels which it is unable to.

Advice: Doctors and experts advise that people should add salt to their diet. You can use sea salt or ordinary salt. It is however advised to use the sea salt because it contains some mineral salts that the table salt does not.