tired of feeling tired? fatigue and sudden weight gain are commonly overlooked symptoms of hypothyroidism
3 minute read
“feeling tired is a normal part of life” says dr. ronald goldenberg, an endocrinologist at lmc diabetes & endocrinology. “but consistent low energy and fatigue may be indicative of a broader health issue.” getty
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this story was created by content works, postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of a client.
we take for granted that, as we age, our bodies might not be quite what they used to. and for women over the age of 50, putting on weight and having less energy could be dismissed as simply a natural part of getting older. but these are also symptoms of hypothyroidism, a treatable disease of the thyroid gland that is more common in women and older individuals.
and while many of the symptoms of this disease — like fatigue, depression and feeling cold — can appear to be unrelated, experiencing more than one of them could be a sign of thyroid disease.
the regulator of your metabolism
the thyroid is a small gland in your neck, close to the adam’s apple. it produces two main hormones that affect every cell in the body — thyroxine, commonly known as “t-4,” and triiodothyronine, commonly known as “t-3.” when your thyroid is underactive, it produces less of these hormones, which abnormally slows your metabolism.
“hypothyroidism sufferers feel like their body has slowed down” explains dr. ronald goldenberg, an endocrinologist at lmc diabetes & endocrinology. “they experience symptoms like dry skin, fatigue, weight gain, feeling cold, constipation and depression.
“typically, these symptoms develop slowly and can be easily ignored or confused with aging.”
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sudden weight gain and persistent fatigue
hypothyroidism has many symptoms that can appear differently in different people. but one of the most common is weight gain, even with a decrease in appetite. the connection between weight gain and the thyroid is complex; however, it’s believed that the excess weight directly attributable to hypothyroidism might not be from fat, but from water and salt.
depending on the severity of the disease, this is typically between five to 10 pounds. this is weight that would not be shed from fat loss.
of course, other symptoms of hypothyroidism have also been associated with weight gain. depression, for example, has a well-established connection to obesity and higher bmi.
another common symptom of hypothyroidism that affects quality of life is persistent fatigue, or the feeling of being tired all the time.
regardless of its effect on weight management, having low energy can impact almost every aspect of your day-to-day life.
“feeling tired is a normal part of life” says dr. goldenberg. “but consistent low energy and fatigue may be indicative of a broader health issue. despite being a small gland located in the neck, the thyroid plays a big role in controlling and regulating the body’s metabolism. when a thyroid is underactive, your body’s metabolism slows down making you feel low in energy and fatigued.”
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a complex spectrum of symptoms
although some symptoms of hypothyroidism are more common than others, the disease has a broad range of symptoms. everyone is different, and because the thyroid affects nearly every system in the body, one person’s hypothyroidism could appear quite differently from another’s.
other symptoms to look out for include:
- sensitivity to cold temperatures
- sleep apnea
- constipation
- dry skin and hair
- difficulty concentrating
- swollen face
testing for hypothyroidism
luckily, the test for hypothyroidism is simple, and the disease is treatable. your doctor can order a blood test to assess levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (tsh), which will enable them to provide a diagnosis.
most of the time, those with hypothyroidism have high tsh levels and lower levels of thyroid hormones. there is a range of normal tsh levels from 0.45 to 4.12 miu/l, but values over 4.14 miu/l are indicative of hypothyroidism.
experts recommend that adults should be tested for thyroid disease at age 35, and every 5 years after.
talk about the disease – not just the symptoms
if you experience multiple symptoms of hypothyroidism, consider them holistically when talking to your health-care provider. individual symptoms may not necessarily seem connected at first glance, but with the range of possible symptoms, hypothyroidism might be the underlying cause.
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talking to your doctor about all of your symptoms together can help ensure you get the right diagnosis and can access treatment that will help you feel better. after all, seeking treatment for sudden, unexplained weight gain or fatigue on its own wouldn’t necessarily be indicative of an underlying disease.
learn more with a self-assessment
hypothyroidism is a complex disease, but it is treatable. visit thyroidsymptoms.ca to see how many symptoms of hypothyroidism you’re experiencing, then download your results to help you prepare for a chat with your health-care provider.
this story was created by content works, healthing.ca’s commercial content division, and sponsored by viatris.
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