If you aren’t too sure what your thyroid is or what it does – don’t worry, you aren’t alone. The thyroid is an endocrine gland that’s responsible for production and storage of hormones that can affect nearly every organ in the body. It’s good to be aware of your thyroid since it can have a fairly significant impact on a host of bodily functions such as your heartbeat regularity, body temp and even metabolism. This way, if you are experiencing any changes in your body you can always check off to see whether they are being caused by this tricky gland.
Your thyroid is located in your neck, is shaped like a butterfly and due to genetics, pregnancy, stress, nutritional deficiencies and a host of other issues can end up sluggish or over active. When your thyroid becomes under or over active, a variety of symptoms can occur. Take a look at these signs you should get your thyroid checked to stay in tune with your thyroid health at all times.
- You feel like your heart is skipping. If your heart feels fluttery or like it’s beating super hard, this can be a sign of hyperthyroidism – meaning too many thyroid hormones are flooding your system all at once.
- You’re tired all the time. While exhaustion can certainly be associated with a host of other issues, feeling consistently tired can be a sign of an underactive thyroid. When you’re still tired after a great night’s sleep day in and day out, it may be time to see your doc.
- You feel wired, anxious and jittery. When an overly active thyroid is making too many thyroid hormones, your whole body can feel like it’s going into overdrive. If you’re feeling like you just can’t chill out and relax, you may be suffering from a hyperactive thyroid – and it’s time to get it checked out.
- You’re hungry all the time. You may not experience any weight gain, but an increased appetite is a common sign of hyperthyroidism.
- You can’t seem to find your sex drive. Hypothyroidism has been known to be a contributor to a low libido, but a lack of desire can also be affected by exhaustion, weight gain and general body aches.
- You have dry and itchy skin. Slowed metabolism can starve the skin of necessary moisture and can be caused by lowered thyroid hormone production. Brittle nails, reduced sweating and flaky skin can all be signs that it’s time to have your thyroid checked.
- You feel unusually down and out. An overactive thyroid can quickly result in feelings of sadness or depression because serotonin levels are affected by thyroid disorders.
Thyroid malfunction can affect so many parts of the body that this list is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to signs that you should get your thyroid checked. Have you ever suffered from any of these symptoms? Have you considered asking your doctor to check your thyroid function?
