Hypothyroidism versus Hyperthyroidism

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Common signs & symptoms of each.

Hyper/Hypothyroid Common Signs and Symptoms



166542233-(1)Is it hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism? This maybe the question you have in mind when you arrived at this page. Below is a table of the most common signs and symptoms of an underactive (hypothyroid) and overactive (hyperthyroid) thyroid.

An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) will lead to a decrease in the level of circulating thyroid hormones. This will generally slow down your body's metabolism. It's like pressing the slow button on your Blu-ray or DVD player (or VCR? You still have one?!). When you press the slow button, everything slows down.

134459071-(1)An overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) will result in an increase in the level of circulating thyroid hormones. Your body's metabolism speeds up. This time you're pressing on the fast button on your player. Everything moves faster.

Sign or Symptom

 Hypothyroid

 Hyperthyroid
Gender Preference (more common among...)

 Female

 Female
Race Preference

 More or less equal among races

 More common among Caucasians (white people) and Asians
Age Preference

 Greater than 60 years old

 Greater than 60 years old
Mental State
  1. Difficulty in concentrating or inability to concentrate
  2. Poor memory
  3. Depression
  1. Difficulty in concentrating
  2. Insomnia and/or difficulty in going back to sleep after waking up
  3. Nervousness
  4. Irritability, easily agitated
  5. Anxious
Changes in your mood like:

  1. depression
  2. irrational and/or uncontrollable anger
  3. frequent mood swings
Blood Pressure
  1. Low blood pressure (hypotension)
  1. High blood pressure
    (hypertension)
Pulse/ Heart Rate
  1. Slow pulse rate/ Slow heart rate (bradycardia)
  1. Racing, fast pulse rate/ Fast heart rate
    (tachycardia)
  2. Pounding or loud heartbeat (palpitation)
Weight
  1. Weight gain
  1. Weight loss without you exercising or going on a diet
  2. Increased appetite for carbohydrates without gaining weight
Response to Temperature
  1. You have difficulty or inability to tolerate a cold environment (cold intolerance)
  2. You feel cold when others feel warm or hot
  1. You have difficulty or inability to tolerate a warm/hot environment (heat intolerance)
  2. You can also feel hot or warm when the people around you feel cold
  3. You can have mild (low grade) fever and/or sweat heavier than others
Level of Energy
  1. Low energy
  2. Hypoactive and get tired easily (easy fatigability)
  1. High energy – “Hyper”
  2. Hyperactive, but gets tired easily
  3. Unable to stand or sit still
  4. Restlessness
Nervous System and Muscular System
  1. Numbness and tingling sensation in the hands
  1. Tremors, shaking of your hands
  2. You are jumpy or you startle easily - “Boo!”
  3. Weakness of the muscles
  4. The muscles of your arms and legs easily get tired which could feel like:
    1. difficulty climbing stairs
    2. difficulty doing exercise
Reflexes
  1. Diminished response time when reflex is initiated (hyporeflexia)
  1. Overactive reflexes (hyperreflexia)
Skin
  1. Pale, dry skin
  2. Coarse, dry hair
  3. Lips are coloured purple
  4. Your skin becomes itchy
  5. Loss of hair
  6. Eyebrows are shortened
  1. Warm, moist skin
  2. Thinning of skin
  3. The skin colour deepens (hyperpigmentation)
  4. Your skin becomes itchy
  5. Loss of hair (not just the hair on your head!)
  6. Increase warmth and redness of palms and soles
Digestive and Urinary Systems
  1. Less frequent bowel movements, but extended time in the toilet because of difficulty in passing stools (constipation)
 More trips to the toilet and/or kitchen because of:

  1. Frequent bowel movements (diarrhea)
  2. Loose bowel movements
(diarrhea)

  1. Frequent urination
  2. Increased appetite especially for sugars (carbohydrates)
Changes in Body Appearance

 You appear fatter because of the following:

  1. Round, puffy face
  2. Swelling of the hands, lower limbs and eyelids
  3. Your abdominal girth increases (abdominal enlargement)
  1. Protruding or bulging of your eyeballs
  2. Drying and redness of your eyes
  3. Pain behind your eyes
Reproductive and Sexual Function
  1. Erectile dysfunction (males only)
  2. Loss of libido
  3. Infertility
  1. Erectile dysfunction (males only)
  2. Man breasts (males only) (gynecomastia)
  3. Loss of libido
  4. Infertility
  5. Spontaneous abortion
Menstruation
  1. Heavy flow
  2. Longer menstrual period
  3. More frequent periods
  1. Lighter flow
  2. Infrequent periods, can be absent
  3. Worsening PMS (premenstrual syndrome)


178843117Not all the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are listed in the table above. This table is to be used only as a guide to work out the likelihood whether you have an underactive or overactive thyroid. To know exactly which one you have (or don't have), consult your physician. Your physician will then have to identify the specific cause of your thyroid problem. Some of the signs mentioned here can only be discovered by your medical practitioner. You'll have a better understanding of your thyroid condition if you're aware of these signs. Your doctor might even be amazed. To read more about your thyroid please go to our thyroid series: What the Thyroid Does, Its Job (Part 1), Do You Have a Troubled Thyroid? (Part 2), How to Help Your Thyroid (Part 3).

Related Links

Meet Your Thyroid Part 1
Meet Your Thyroid Part 1
Common Causes Of Low Energy Levels
Common Causes Of Low Energy Levels
How your Metabolism Works
How your Metabolism Works
Why Am I Not Losing Weight?
Why Am I Not Losing Weight?
Thyroid Minerals
Thyroid Minerals
Trace Minerals Vitamins
Trace Minerals Vitamins
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