subject: How do you know if your thyroid is low? [print this page] How do you know if your thyroid is low? How do you know if your thyroid is low?
You can suspect an underactive thyroid if you have any of the following symptoms:
- tired all the time
- trouble concentrating or bad memory
-dry skin
-retaining fluid
-reduce or no sex drive
- Are your hands and feet always cold?
- hair thinning
- fingernails thick or brittle
- high cholesterol
-trouble losing weight or gained weight recently
-depressed or anxious
- really bad PMS, trouble getting pregnant, or bad bleeding with menstruation
- muscles that feel weak, crampy or painful
-sensitivity to cold
- insomnia or difficult sleeping
Some of these take years to develop, and can be so subtle, or develop so gradually that you don't even notice them. Or if you do, you think it is normal to feel that way. This is particularly true if you are over 50, and think this is just part of getting older. And sometimes there may seem to be no apparent symptoms at all, and are only obvious to you in hindsight, once you have taken steps to support your thyroid.
If you do have any of these symptoms, speak to your doctor. Lab tests can show how well your thyroid is functioning, and whether or not you will be prescribed medication. There has even been a study that suggests that men and women over the age of 50 should be screened, given the prevalence of undiagnosed hypothyroidism.
It is also possible that your thyroid may be in the normal range, but still low enough to be causing you problems. So you may be told that your thyroid is fine, and your doctor will monitor your levels and your symptoms until he/she determines that it is time for medication.
Why wait for that? Wouldn't you rather feel better, and have more energy and vitality now? If you have any of these symptoms, you can be proactive and take steps to try and support your thyroid and keep and make it healthy. Why let it go to the point of needing medication when there are things that you can do to make you feel better now?
Even if you have no or low symptoms of hypothyroidism, it is still healthy and helpful for you to take steps to ensure that your thyroid stays healthy. If your thyroid is low or not, you can take the same steps to improve your health and your thyroid function reduce stress, eat a thyroid-healthy diet, exercise, avoid toxins in your environment.
A thyroid healthy diet alone can make a difference in how you feel by providing your body with the proper nutrients that may result in better sleep, more energy and a whole host of other benefits.
If your feel that your thyroid is low, do something about it see your doctor and adopt a diet and lifestyle that supports your thyroid function.
To learn more about what you can do for yourself, click here.
