Among all the vital glands of the body, the thyroid gland is one of the most important glands. It is a butterfly-shaped small gland at the base of your neck. The thyroid gland is responsible for producing hormones that help regulate your metabolism, heart rate, levels of energy, and mood. Improper thyroid gland functioning can cause several health issues that can affect your health and well-being.
At Call My Doctor, we emphasize getting your thyroid test as a preventive measure to detect any problem or imbalance before it gets too late and you start experiencing severe health issues.
In this blog, we will discuss the most significant five signs that indicate that you need a thyroid checkup and why it is essential to seek medical attention.
Top 5 Signs that Indicate that You Need a Thyroid Test
Here are the top 5 signs that indicate that you need a test for thyroid and immediate medical attention:
1. Unexplained Weight Changes
One of the most common signs of thyroid dysfunction is sudden and unexplainable loss of weight. You might have a problem in the thyroid gland if you are experiencing sudden weight gain or weight loss without even trying, despite maintaining your diet and exercise routine.
The conditions that your thyroid may go through are:
Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) is a thyroid gland disorder that slows down the body’s metabolism, causing weight gain.
Hyperthyroidism: Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) is a thyroid gland disorder that speeds up your metabolism, causing weight loss.
2. Fatigue and Low Energy Levels
The thyroid hormones responsible for regulating your body’s energy production are T3 and T4. Persistent fatigue, insomnia, or restlessness may indicate your thyroid is malfunctioning.
Hypothyroidism: If you are suffering from Hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroid), then the low levels of thyroid hormone can lead to a decrease in the production of energy, causing constant exhaustion, fatigue, and tiredness.
Hyperthyroidism: If you are suffering from hyperthyroidism (higher levels of thyroid), then the high levels of thyroid hormone can lead to insomnia, restlessness, and an overactive body, still leaving you feeling drained.
3. Mood Changes and Mental Health Issues
The improper functioning and improper regulation of thyroid hormones don’t only affect your physical health; they also have a big impact on your mental health and can lead to various mental health symptoms that include:
Depression and anxiety: Both Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism cause stress on your mental well-being, as Hypothyroidism causes feelings of depression and low mood, while hyperthyroidism is responsible for causing anxiety, irritability, or restlessness.
Brain fog: An underactive thyroid may show symptoms like difficulty concentrating, forgetting things, and feeling of mental sluggishness.
4. Changes in Heart Rate
The thyroid hormones are responsible for directly affecting your heart rate. If you are experiencing sudden changes in your heart rate, whether it’s beating faster than usual or slower than usual, it can be a sign that your thyroid isn’t functioning properly.
Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism can affect your heart rate and make it slower. This condition is called bradycardia (slower heart rate). It makes you feel sluggish and weak.
Hyperthyroidism: Hyperthyroidism can affect your heart rate and make it faster. This condition is called tachycardia (faster heart rate) and results in palpitations or a pounding heartbeat.
5. Hair Loss and Skin Changes
Imbalances in thyroid hormones can affect your skin and hair and can cause dry skin and hair loss. So, changes in your skin texture and severe hair loss may also indicate thyroid dysfunction in your body.
Hair loss: Both hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism can lead to hair loss. This can be mostly noticeable when you start losing hair from your scalp and eyebrows.
Dry skin: An underactive thyroid can affect your skin texture and can cause dry, flaky skin due to a reduction in blood circulation and a slower metabolism.
Excessive sweating: An overactive thyroid can cause increased tremors, sweating, and heat sensitivity.
Why Choose Call My Doctor
At Call My Doctor, we provide convenient and accessible healthcare services. If you are experiencing any of the above-mentioned symptoms, then you should get your thyroid tests so that you can get your treatment before it is too late. Call My Doctor offers convenient home testing services that can make it easier for you to get your thyroid tests in the comfort of your home. Here, we offer quick results, and if our qualified team notices any alarming changes in your thyroid profile, a doctor from our team will contact you and guide you. So, don’t wait, and get your thyroid tests now.
Conclusion
The thyroid is a small gland with a big impact. So, if you are experiencing any symptoms like sudden weight gain, fatigue, mood changes, changes in heart rate, etc., it is very important to address these issues before it’s too late and get your thyroid tests as soon as possible so that proper treatment can be provided to save you from more concerning health issues related to thyroid.
