2023-10-06 11:35:30
24vitaHealthy living
An underactive thyroid can manifest itself through various symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain or listlessness.
1 / 11Fatigue is one of the most typical symptoms of an underactive thyroid. Everyday life is then extremely difficult for many of those affected to cope with without treatment. Exhaustion is often initially attributed to stress, sleep disorders, lack of sleep or overwork. The majority do not initially know that being tired results from a hormone deficiency in the thyroid gland. It then produces too little thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which slows down the metabolism, which is sometimes noticeable in severe tiredness. (Symbolic image) © AntonioGuillem/Imago2 / 11Women are often said to freeze faster and more than Men. This can actually be explained biologically: muscles generate and store heat. Since men, on average, have more muscle mass than women, they are less likely to feel cold. However, if you are particularly sensitive to cold, this could also be a typical symptom of hypothyroidism. It is therefore always worth checking your thyroid levels if you have regular chilly attacks. (Symbolic image) © AntonioGuillem/Imago3 / 11In addition to fatigue, poor performance and poor concentration are common symptoms of hypothyroidism. Those affected feel listless and depressed. This can be explained by the fact that the thyroid hormones themselves act in the brain: The hormones cause brain cells to grow and promote the formation of nerve cells in the learning and memory center of the brain. If there is a lack of thyroid hormones, this is immediately noticeable in the concentration of those affected. (Symbolic image) © William Perugini/Imago4 / 11The lack of motivation is often accompanied by depressive moods and even depression. If disinterest and depression persist, a possible thyroid disease should definitely be clarified by a specialist – a gynecologist or endocrinologist – before those affected are treated for depression, according to the “German Thyroid Center”. (Symbolic image) © Monkey Business 2/Imago5 / 11Underactive thyroid can affect men’s potency and sexual pleasure. The poor performance and fatigue associated with hypothyroidism can also trigger impotence. Therefore, if men have erectile dysfunction and lack of sexual desire, always remember to have their thyroid levels checked. (Symbolic image) © AndreyPopov/Imago6 / 11In most cases, hypothyroidism is also reflected in weight gain without those affected changing their eating habits. At the same time, they have difficulty maintaining or losing weight because they lack the thyroid hormones needed to regulate blood sugar and break down fat. If you notice significant weight gain, contact a doctor to have your thyroid levels checked. (Symbolic image) © Ekaterina Yakunina/Imago7 / 11Excessive hair loss can have various genetic, immunological, inflammatory and also hormonal causes. The latter is a common and typical symptom of hypothyroidism because the metabolism is slowed down. This also has an impact on hair growth. The hair grows less quickly, is dry, brittle and more likely to fall out. Bald spots can appear, particularly on the outer edges of the eyebrows. If you notice noticeable hair loss, you should discuss this with your doctor and have your thyroid levels checked. Men with an undetected underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) will also be able to notice this when shaving, as the beard growth will then be significantly less. (Symbolic image) © AndreyPopov/Imago8 / 11If a couple does not become pregnant, the thyroid hormones should also be examined more closely as a reason. The thyroid and its hormones take on crucial functions in the female cycle and are important for pregnancy to occur. The hormones affect the metabolism and thus also the gonads. A malfunction of the thyroid gland can negatively affect the menstrual cycle and the maturation of the egg in women. If you want to have children, you should always have your thyroid checked to rule out whether you have an underactive thyroid and/or Hashimoto’s. (Symbolic image) © YakobchukOlena/Imago9 / 11A non-specific symptom that those affected rarely notice, let alone associate with the thyroid, is low blood pressure and a weak pulse. The reason for this: Due to the lack of thyroid hormones, the body is no longer supplied with enough blood and oxygen, so that the pulse and heartbeat become slower and weaker. (Symbolic image) © cience Photo Library/Imago10 / 11A thyroid disease also has an impact on the cardiovascular system. Conversely, a possible hypothyroidism should always be taken into account for all diseases of the cardiovascular system, according to the “German Thyroid Center”. We know from practice that in addition to a slowed pulse, those affected can also experience cardiac arrhythmias and, in the long term, heart weakness or heart failure. (Symbolic image) © AntonioGuillem/Imago11 / 11If there is an underactive thyroid and therefore fewer hormones are available in the body, less fat can be transported from the blood to the liver. This causes cholesterol levels and triglycerides in the blood to rise. High cholesterol levels usually do not cause any symptoms, which can be dangerous to the body in many ways. The risk of stroke and heart attack increases significantly. In the case of thyroid disease, in severe cases the high cholesterol shows up as small, yellow pimples on the skin, so-called xanthomas, which are the result of excess fat. (Symbolic image) © aoo3771/Imago
In Germany, around five out of 100 people suffer from an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). Women are affected five times more often than men. Those affected often do not know that their thyroid is affected because the symptoms such as constant tiredness, slow heart rate, low blood pressure, sensitivity to cold, depression, concentration problems and hair loss are rather unspecific and are not associated with the thyroid due to ignorance. The thyroid produces important hormones that actually influence the body’s entire metabolism.
Hypothyroidism: Non-specific symptoms in women and men
For example, if a couple is unable to get pregnant, their thyroid levels should definitely be taken closer to. It is not uncommon for the thyroid gland to be the cause of the unfulfilled desire to have children. If hypothyroidism occurs during pregnancy, special caution is required as this condition can harm the unborn child. If men have an underactive thyroid, this can lead to potency problems.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Unfortunately, our editorial team cannot answer individual questions about medical conditions.
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